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Bed Bug
| Order / Family: | Hemiptera / Cimicidae |
| Scientific Name: | Cimex lectularius |
Bed Bug Identification
Bed bugs are gray to reddish-brown in colour, are oval and flat, and are approximately 1 to 5 mm (1/16" to 3/16") in size. Bed bugs will be closely associated with the bed and surrounding objects such as headboards and end tables. The bat bug is similar in appearance to the bedbug, but has a heavier amount of setae on the pronotum and differs greatly in preferred habitat. Upon hatching, the nymph is a translucent flesh color which makes it difficult to see until it acquires its first blood meal - at which time is easily visible because of the red blood.
Bed Bug Habitat
The location where the insects are found can help distinguish between them. Bat bugs feed on bats and will originate in attics and wall voids where bats are roosting. Insects found in the middle of the floor, especially during the day, with no specimens found around the bed may indicate a bat bug infestation with entry into the living space via gaps around ceiling lights and other fixtures. Once the type of insect has been determined the appropriate control measures can be implemented.
Bed Bug Life Cycle
A female bed bug may deposit 1 to 5 eggs per day and may lay a total of 300-500 eggs within her lifetime. Their eggs are 1 mm long and slightly bent. They are often deposited in clusters and attached to cracks, crevices or rough surfaces near adult dwellings. The female bed bug produces a clear, sticky substance that she uses to attach each egg to the chosen surface.
Eggs hatch in 7 to 12 days depending on the conditions. There are 5 stages before a nymph bed bug reaches full maturity - each stage requires a blood feeding. This process takes approximately 4 weeks. Adult bed bugs can survive for up to one year without a blood meal.
Bed Bug Behaviour
Bedbugs harbour in hidden cracks and crevices during the day and emerge at night to take a blood meal from unsuspecting hosts. They are often associated with the sleeping quarters of an infested location as this offers a close proximity to the host. However, bedbugs can travel 10 to 100 feet for a blood meal, and will disperse to more remote areas as the infestation grows.
Bed Bug Prevention
A visual inspection of the bed mattress, headboard and linens need to be performed inspecting typical focal areas of infestation. Immediate action should be taken when bloodspots or actual bedbugs are present. A systematic approach must be taken to verify all existing and potential bedbug harbourage sites are identified and that their treatment is thorough enough to achieve control.
If you require professional bed bug removal or control, please send us your information and we will be happy to help!
Preparation Guidelines for Bed Bug Treatment
If you are scheduled to receive treatment from Abell Pest Control in the near future, use these guidelines to prepare the area.
- Remove all electrical wall plates, phone jack plates and light switch covers.
- Remove paintings, mirrors, and headboards from walls.
- Remove television sets from wall units, if applicable.
- All electronic equipment should remain in the areas for treatment.
- Remove tacking from the base of box springs, sofa beds and chairs. If they are going to be re-fitted, place in plastic bags and transport to the laundry room only when they can be placed directly into the washing machine using hot water.
- Open fire and CO2 detectors and remove batteries if possible.
- Remove the front panel from heating/air conditioning units if in close proximity to bed.
- Remove all bedding and pillows, place in bags and take to the laundry room only when they can be placed directly into the washing machine using hot water.
- Dispose of old mattresses and box springs that are in poor condition. When new mattresses and box springs are re-introduced immediately after treatment, please leave in the plastic wrap or a sealed zippered mattress cover. This will protect the mattress and box spring from re-infestation. Leave the covers on until the population has been eliminated.
- Remove mattress & box spring from the bed frame and place upright against a wall.
- Disassemble Bed frame.
- Take clothing and other belongings out of all drawers, nightstands, tables, closets, wardrobes and similarstorage areas. Ensure all garments are transported from the infested area in sealed bags or containers to prevent spreading of the insect’s to non infested areas. It is strongly recommended all of these garments are washed to ensure the treatment program does not fail with the re-introduction of bedbugs from infested clothing.
- Remove drapery in rooms, bag and immediately launder professionally. Alternatively, Drapery may be vacuumed and treated with steam while hanging in the infested room. Followed by a residual insecticide treatment.
- Vacuum the floor, bed frame extensively. Remove the vacuum bag immediately and discard in an exterior garbage receptacle.
- Pry baseboards away from walls where possible or when instructed by service technician.
- Vacate premises during service and do not re-enter until at least 4 hours after treatment. Infants and pregnant women and people suffering from heart, kidney, respiratory ailments or allergies should remain away for at least 24 hours.
If you require professional bed bug extermination or control, please send us your information and we will be happy to help!
