What do a tick and a bedbug look like? - briefly
Ticks are oval, reddish‑brown arachnids about 3–5 mm long, with a flattened, engorged abdomen when fed. Bedbugs are small, flat, tan insects roughly 4–5 mm in size, featuring a pointed head, visible dark spots on the wings, and a silvery‑gray underside.
What do a tick and a bedbug look like? - in detail
Ticks are arachnids with a compact, oval body measuring 2–5 mm when unfed and up to 10 mm after a blood meal. The anterior segment, the capitulum, bears forward‑projecting chelicerae and a pair of sensory palps. The dorsal shield (scutum) is smooth, often dark brown or reddish, and may display faint patterns of lighter spots. Legs are eight, jointed, and extend laterally; they are covered in fine hairs that enhance grip on host skin. The ventral surface is softer, with a mouthpart (hypostome) adapted for deep tissue penetration, featuring rows of backward‑pointing barbs.
Bedbugs belong to the order Hemiptera and exhibit a flat, elongated, pear‑shaped body 4–5 mm long, expanding to 7 mm after feeding. The dorsal surface is matte brown, marked by two dark, parallel longitudinal stripes on the pronotum and a lighter, honey‑colored margin along the edges. Antennae consist of four short segments, each tipped with sensory cones. The head is concealed beneath the pronotum, giving the insect a seamless appearance. Six legs arise from the thorax; each leg ends in a curved claw for clinging to fabric. The rostrum, a needle‑like beak, extends forward from the head and is used to pierce skin. Abdomen segments are clearly visible, with a slightly bulging post‑feeding abdomen that appears reddish‑brown.
Key visual differences:
- Body shape: tick – round, compact; bedbug – elongated, flat.
- Size range: tick – up to 10 mm after engorgement; bedbug – up to 7 mm.
- Surface texture: tick – smooth scutum; bedbug – matte with distinct stripes.
- Leg count: tick – eight legs; bedbug – six legs.
- Mouthparts: tick – chelicerae and barbed hypostome; bedbug – piercing rostrum.