Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the ultrastructural morphology displayed on the rostral head region of a bedbug, Cimex lectularius. Note the proximal anatomical relationships the insect's skin piercing mouthparts it uses to obtain its blood meal, and how they join the head. Although bedbugs have been found naturally-infected with blood-borne pathogens, they are not effective vectors of disease. The primary medical importance is inflammation associated with their bites (due to allergic reactions to components in their saliva).

---

Size: 4500px × 3059px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anatomical, arthropod, bed, bed-bug, bedbug, biting, blood, bug, bw, cimex, cimicid, cimicidae, cimicoidea, cimicomorpha, common, displayed, electron, em, head, hemiptera, heteroptera, household, human, insect, lectularius, meal, micrograph, microscopic, morphology, mouthparts, note, obtain, parasite, pest, piercing, proximal, region, relationships, revealed, rostral, scanning, science, sem, skin, true, ultrastructural, zoology