Identifying Bed Bugs

The size of bed bugs ranges from 2.5mm in infancy to 4.5mm in adulthood. Identifying bed bugs relies on recognizing their oval shape, length, and rusty brown colour. While usually flat, the size of bed bugs increases as they drink blood. When this occurs, they grow longer and fuller in shape. Identifying bed bugs can also be done by looking for reddish brown stains or eggs on your bed sheets.

Order/Family

Heteroptera/Cimicidae

Scientific Name

Cimex Lectularius

Biology

The typical bed bug lifespan is 4-6 months, however they can live as long as five years and go months without feeding. In a single female bed bug life span, they can lay anywhere between 200-500 eggs, which is one to five a day. The eggs hatch in the span of about 7 days, and molts 5 times, taking a blood meal between each molt. Development time from egg to adult takes roughly 21 days.

Behaviour

Bed bugs hide in cracks and crevices during the day, leaving harbourage areas at night to feed on hosts. The blood meal takes about 3-10 minutes to complete, and usually goes without notice to the host. After feeding, the bed bug bite may become inflamed and itchy on the host. Visit our dedicated ‘How Do You Get Bed Bugs?‘ page for more general information on their behaviours.

Control

A thorough inspection is necessary in order to locate the harbourage areas. Vacuuming the harbourage areas will help collect the eggs and live bed bugs, followed by a treatment with a residual pesticide. Dusts can be used in void spaces such as behind electrical face plates.