What do bedbugs and ticks look like in a house? - briefly
Bedbugs are tiny, reddish‑brown, oval insects about 4–5 mm long with a flat, wingless body that hides in mattress seams, furniture cracks, and baseboards. Ticks are larger, dark brown to black arachnids ranging from 2 mm to over 1 cm, with a round, flattened body and eight visible legs often found in carpet edges or pet bedding.
What do bedbugs and ticks look like in a house? - in detail
Bedbugs are small, oval insects about 4–5 mm long when fully grown. Their bodies are flat when unfed and become swollen and reddish‑brown after feeding. The dorsal surface is matte, lacking any distinct markings, while the ventral side shows a lighter, cream‑colored abdomen. Antennae are short, consisting of five segments, and the legs are thin and positioned near the front of the body. Nymphs resemble adults but are lighter in color and 1–2 mm in length; each molt adds a darker hue. Eggs are tiny, white, and roughly 0.5 mm, often deposited in clusters.
Ticks are arachnids ranging from 2 mm to over 10 mm, depending on species and feeding stage. Unfed ticks have a hard, shield‑shaped scutum on the dorsal side; the scutum is brown to reddish‑brown and may display faint patterns or speckles. The body behind the scutum (the idiosoma) is lighter, often pale cream. Legs are eight, long, and clearly segmented, giving a spider‑like appearance. After a blood meal, ticks expand dramatically, becoming rounder and markedly engorged; the abdomen can swell to several times the unfed size and turn a deep reddish or bluish hue. Soft ticks lack a scutum, have a more leathery appearance, and their bodies are uniformly rounded, turning dark reddish after feeding.
Visual cues for locating these pests in a residence include:
- Bedbugs: tiny dark spots on mattress seams, headboards, and furniture; shed skins (exuviae) near hiding places; small blood stains on sheets.
- Ticks: attached, engorged specimens on pets or humans; detached, empty exoskeletons in cracks, baseboards, or under furniture; dark, oval bodies on walls or in pet bedding.
Recognizing size, shape, coloration, and body structures distinguishes these two parasites and aids in early detection.