What does a small red bedbug look like? - briefly
It is a flattened, oval insect about 2–3 mm long, bright reddish‑brown to scarlet in color, with six legs, a pair of antennae, and no wings. The smooth dorsal surface and slightly orange‑tinged abdomen complete its distinctive appearance.
What does a small red bedbug look like? - in detail
A diminutive crimson bed bug measures approximately 1.5–2 mm in length when unfed and expands to about 3 mm after a blood meal. The exoskeleton is uniformly reddish‑brown, lacking distinct patterns or stripes. The body is oval, flattened laterally, and covered by a smooth, glossy cuticle that reflects faint light.
Key morphological traits include:
- Six short, sturdy legs attached to the thorax; each leg ends in a tiny claw for gripping fabric fibers.
- Pair of elongated antennae, each composed of four segments, positioned near the head and used for detecting host cues.
- Two compound eyes situated on the dorsal surface, each consisting of numerous ommatidia that provide limited vision.
- Wing pads (elytra) reduced to vestigial structures that do not permit flight; they remain concealed beneath the dorsal plates.
- A pronounced, beak‑like proboscis concealed within the head capsule, employed for piercing skin and ingesting blood.
The abdomen is segmented, with visible dorsal plates (tergites) that expand noticeably after feeding. The ventral side bears small, hooked claws that enable the insect to cling to seams and crevices in bedding.
These characteristics differentiate the tiny red bed bug from other hematophagous arthropods such as fleas (which are larger, dark brown, and possess jumping hind legs) and mites (which lack the distinct oval shape and have a softer, less sclerotized body).