They are wingless insects of the family cimicidae in the order Hemiptera. Hemipteran insects have a mouthpart called a proboscis that is used for sucking fluids, in this case blood.

Bed bugs are big enough to be seen with the naked eye. Adults are about the size of an apple seed with flat, oval, reddish-brown bodies. Nymphs (young) are a translucent yellow and slightly smaller.

Bed bugs are not associated with unsanitary conditions. They do not feed on crumbs, dirt or debris. They feed on blood. They are insects of convenience and may invade any environment that houses warm-blooded hosts (people), including hostels, motels, hotels, homes, hospitals, nursing homes, cruise ships, trains, etc.

Bed bugs feed on human and animal blood. They are active at night and bite any areas of exposed skin, often feeding for 3 to 10 minutes at a time. One bed bug can suck up to six times its weight in blood.

They hide in tiny crevices or cracks around beds. They may hide in the folds of sheets and blankets, in mattresses, behind wallpaper or molding, and in cracks in floorboards or furniture.

All bed bugs bite; it’s how they feed. Not all people react to bed bug bites, but those who do experience localized swelling and itching. When a bed bug inserts its proboscis into the skin of a host, its saliva contains an anticoagulant to promote blood flow. Most people react to the salivary proteins which cause an allergic reaction, much like our reaction to mosquito bites. Bites produce a round, raised, reddish welt that may itch intensely for days. Areas may become inflamed or infected when scratched. Those frequently bitten may develop a sensitivity “syndrome” that can include nervousness, jumpiness and sleeplessness.

Do bed bugs carry diseases?

Bed bugs are a nuisance pest like fleas or lice. They are not believed to transmit diseases to humans, though known pathogens are capable of living inside a bed bug or on its mouthparts. In rare cases, bed bug saliva may cause anaphylactic shock.

Bed bugs live 6 to 12 months. Females lay from 200 to 500 eggs at a time which are covered with a glue and hatch in about 10 days. One female can produce three to four generations per year. There are five progressively larger nymphal stages, each requiring a single blood meal before molting to the next stage. Bed bugs can go without feeding for as long as a year.

Bed bugs leave fecal smears on bedding and mattresses. Look for rusty or tarry spots of dried blood along mattress seams, boxsprings, behind headboards or on furniture. You may see cast skins, the hollowed out shells left behind as they shed a nymphal stage. Tiny pea-shaped, pearly-white egg clusters may be visible but are often buried in cracks or crevices and are generally difficult to see. Bed bugs give off a musty, sweet odor often likened to raspberries or coriander that is noticeable to some. Bed bugs can be confused with other insects. To be 100% certain you have bed bugs, you’ll need to have an inspection done by a reputable professional pest control company.

Easily. Bed bugs can be carried from one site to another on clothing, cardboard boxes, used furniture, luggage, bedding, mattresses, etc. They move readily through wall voids, ducts and elevator shafts making it difficult to contain an outbreak.

Call the bed bugs experts at Stern Environmental Group immediately. Applying chemicals yourself or disturbing the area will only cause bed bugs to spread or migrate, making your life even more miserable. Click the post title for more information on bed bugs and how to get rid of them.