What do raspberry bedbugs look like? - briefly
Raspberry bedbugs are tiny, oval-shaped insects about 2–3 mm long, reddish‑brown to dark brown in color, with a flattened dorsal surface and short antennae. They are wingless, their bodies are covered with fine hairs, giving a slightly fuzzy appearance.
What do raspberry bedbugs look like? - in detail
Raspberry bedbugs are small, oval insects that measure approximately 4–5 mm in length as adults. Their bodies are dorsoventrally flattened, allowing them to hide in tight crevices among fruit clusters and leaf litter. The exoskeleton is a matte, reddish‑brown hue that blends with the skin of ripe raspberries, while the ventral surface is lighter, often pale yellowish.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Head: tiny, concealed beneath the thorax; eyes are simple ocelli, not prominent.
- Antennae: three short segments, each bearing fine sensory hairs.
- Thorax: broader than the head, covered with fine, short setae that give a slightly fuzzy appearance.
- Legs: six slender legs, each ending in tiny claws adapted for gripping smooth fruit surfaces.
- Abdomen: segmented, with a subtle pattern of faint, darker bands that become more pronounced after feeding.
- Mouthparts: elongated proboscis used to pierce raspberry skin and extract sap.
In immature stages (nymphs), the insects are lighter in color, ranging from pale amber to light brown, and lack the distinct abdominal banding seen in mature individuals. Nymphs undergo three molts before reaching adulthood, each molt resulting in a slight increase in size and darkening of the cuticle.
When engorged after a blood‑like meal of plant sap, the bug swells considerably, turning a deep, almost black shade and expanding up to 7 mm in length. The abdomen becomes distended and glossy, making the insect appear markedly larger than when unfed.
These morphological traits distinguish raspberry bedbugs from other common pests such as aphids, which are smaller (1–3 mm), possess cornicle structures on the abdomen, and exhibit a more uniform green or black coloration.