Bed bug. Coloured Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) of a bed bug,Cimex lectularius. The head of the insect (lower centre) has a pair of compound eyes with small facets,two antennae,and piercing mouthparts. It has a broad,flat,chestnut body devoid of wings,and six walking legs. A regular diet of blood is necessary for bed bugs to reach maturity,and after a blood meal the body becomes quite swollen. The bite of a bed bug produces swellings on the skin. These swellings are usually only detected after the bed bug has retreated to its day-time resting place such as on mattresses,floors,or in tears in furniture. Magnification: x8 at 35mm size. x50 at 8x10 inch print size |