What do rat bedbugs look like? - briefly
They are tiny, oval insects about 1–5 mm long, reddish‑brown to tan, with a flattened, wingless body and six legs. After feeding on a rat’s blood they swell and appear bright red or darkened, resembling small ticks.
What do rat bedbugs look like? - in detail
Rat bedbugs are small, wingless insects measuring 4‑5 mm in length when fully grown. Their bodies are flattened laterally, enabling them to move easily through narrow crevices and burrows. The dorsal surface displays a reddish‑brown hue that darkens after a blood meal, while the ventral side remains lighter, often pale tan. Each adult possesses six legs, each ending in a pair of tiny claws that grip rough surfaces. Antennae are slender, segmented into four parts, and positioned near the head. The head bears a short, beak‑like proboscis used for piercing skin and feeding on blood. Abdomen consists of five visible segments, each bearing fine, hair‑like setae that give a slightly fuzzy texture. In nymphal stages, the insects are translucent or pale yellow, becoming progressively darker with each molt. Eggs are tiny (≈1 mm), oval, and white, deposited in hidden cracks. The overall morphology—flattened body, reddish coloration, clawed legs, and elongated proboscis—distinguishes rat bedbugs from common household bedbugs, which are larger (≈5‑7 mm) and exhibit a more pronounced orange‑red coloration after feeding.