What form of metamorphosis do bed bugs undergo?

Bed bugs undergo a process known as incomplete metamorphosis, which is characterized by three distinct life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. In this type of metamorphosis, the immature forms (nymphs) resemble smaller versions of the adults and undergo several molts as they grow, eventually reaching the adult stage.

During this process, bed bug nymphs resemble adults and do not have a distinct pupal stage that is seen in complete metamorphosis, where insects like butterflies undergo a complete transformation from larva to pupa to adult. Instead, nymphs of bed bugs steadily develop through successive molts, gaining size and maturity with each stage until they become full-grown adults.

Due to this characteristic of nymphs closely resembling adults and the absence of a pupal stage, the correct classification for the metamorphosis of bed bugs is incomplete metamorphosis. Understanding this helps pest control operators identify and manage bed bug populations effectively at various life stages.