What does a turtle-like bed bug look like? - briefly
The insect resembles a small, oval‑shaped bug with a hardened, dome‑like back reminiscent of a turtle shell, brown to reddish‑brown in color, six legs, and short, leathery wings covering the abdomen. Adult size ranges from 4 to 5 mm, and the body becomes engorged and darker after feeding.
What does a turtle-like bed bug look like? - in detail
The insect resembles a typical bed bug but possesses a markedly convex, shield‑like dorsal surface that gives it a turtle‑like silhouette. Its body length ranges from 4 to 6 mm, with a width of about 2 mm at the widest point of the dorsal shield. The coloration is a uniform reddish‑brown, fading to a lighter hue on the edges of the shield. Key visual characteristics include:
- A broad, rounded carapace that arches upward, creating a dome comparable to a turtle’s shell.
- Pronounced, flattened abdominal segments that follow the curvature of the shield.
- Six short, robust legs positioned near the ventral margin; each leg ends in a tiny claw for clinging to fabric.
- Two slender, filiform antennae extending forward from the head, each bearing four sensory pits.
- Mouthparts concealed beneath the head capsule, adapted for piercing and sucking blood.
- Fine, sparse setae covering the dorsal surface, giving a slightly velvety texture.
The overall profile appears broader and more elevated than that of a common bed bug, with the dorsal shield providing a distinctive, turtle‑reminiscent outline that aids identification in field inspections.