Everything you need to know about the bedbugs at a glance

01. What are Bed Bugs?
02. Description and Biology
03. Life Cycle and Habits
04. Host(s)
05. Damage/Symptoms
06. Where Can They Be found?
07. The History of the Bed Bugs
08. Causes for Concern
09. Getting Rid of Bed Bugs
10. How Infestations Originate
11. Are Only "Dirty" People Affected?
12. What are the Tell Tale Signs that Bed Bugs are Present?

01. What are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs (also known as Cimex lectularius) and their relatives represent a small group of ectoparasites which require a blood meal in order to complete their life cycles. They are frequently encountered in homes and if left uncontrolled, may quickly become established and infest adjoining rooms and dwellings.

02. Description and Biology
Adult bed bugs measure approximately 1/5 inch in length by 1/8 inch in width. They are reddish-brown in color and typically oval and flattened in shape. After feeding, the abdomen becomes engorged giving the bed bug a somewhat elongated appearance. Immatures are yellowish-white in color. The head bears piercing-sucking mouthparts which enable bed bugs to pierce the skin and retrieve blood from their hosts. The antennae have four segments and two compound eyes are visible. The wings are reduced to short pads and incapable of generating flight. Eggs are white and approximately 1/32 inch long.

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03. Life Cycle and Habits
Bed bugs are nocturnal in their feeding habits, hiding in crevices and cracks during the day. A female can lay a total of 200 to 500 eggs. The eggs are laid in batches of 10 to 50 in areas where the insects hide. The young are hatched in four to 28 (usually about 10) days, depending upon temperature. Newly hatched bed bugs feed and molt five times before reaching maturity. All of the instars are tolerant to starvation and can endure several months or more without a blood meal. In one year, there may be three or more generations. Usually, one blood meal is taken between egg deposition and each instar molt.

04. Host(s)
Hosts include man, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, bats, poultry, birds and other warm-blooded animals.

05. Damage/Symptoms
When bed bugs bite, they become completely engorged with blood in from three to fifteen minutes, depending on the bed bugs age and sex. A fluid is injected into the wound while feeding which may cause irritation and inflammation. In many cases welts develop, however, persons bitten by bed bugs may react differently. In some cases, the bite causes little inconvenience. The fact that bed bugs take at least five blood meals prior to maturity has placed these insects under suspicion as potential vectors of disease. However, there is no convincing evidence that this is true.

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06. Where can Bed Bugs Be Found?
Initially, bed bugs are found in bedding and associated tufts, seams, and folds of infested mattresses. As the insects multiply, they spread to window and door casings, pictures, loosened wallpaper, plaster cracks, baseboards and partitions. They are readily moved about in clothing, traveling bags and suitcases, laundry, second hand beds and furniture. Bed bugs are found in just about any habitat which offers darkness, isolation, and protection. This includes new and old buildings.

07. The History of the Bed Bugs
The human-host relationship may have evolved when humans still lived in caves and were exposed to cave bats. According to Usinger (1966), the two species of Cimex that feed on humans are related to Old World bat-infesting members of the genus that originated in the Palearctic region. These species were inadvertently spread by explorers to Africa, Australia, and the New World and became cosmopolitan urban pest species.
In the early 20th century, with the introduction of central heating, the common bed bug spread farther north and became a more serious pest in parts of northern Europe than it had previously been. But with the development of synthetic insecticides such as DDT and spray systems during the Second World War, humans finally gained the upper hand (Usinger, 1966).
Over the past half a century, bed bugs have become a rarity, associated with the most marginal of human living conditions. Unfortunately, to the consternation of urban entomologists and public health officials, bed bugs are once again on the rise. A general global resurgence has been reported in Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia.
The reasons for this phenomenal resurgence are not yet clearly understood. Many factors may be playing a role. Among these factors may be:
Changes in registered pesticides, use patterns, residual levels, and pesticide resistance;
Socioeconomic conditions leading to increased levels of homeless people living under conditions in which it is difficult to maintain hygiene;

A populace that has forgotten how to monitor for and control bed bugs;
Greater mobility that allows bed bugs to spread more quickly to a wide number of establishments, including hostels, shelters, bus stations, dormitories, prisons, hospitals, and hotels.

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08. Causes for Concern
The rise of bed bugs is a concern for many reasons. First, the nocturnal blood-sucking habits of the bugs induce anxiety, worry, stress, and sleeplessness for those infested.
The initial bite, though usually painless, may develop into a welt that remains itchy for weeks. With scratching and subsequent infections, these welts can develop into severe skin conditions. This psychological torment alone should justify public health concern.

09. Getting Rid of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are by far one of the most difficult indoor pests to rid. Professional pest control companies normally have technicians that are skilled in the treatment of bed bugs.
Early reporting and action improves the chance of quick control. Bed bugs can be controlled in part using chemical pesticide products.
Bed bug infestations can sometimes be substantially suppressed without pesticides by cleaning and sanitizing dwellings, laundering bedding and clothing, frequent vacuuming, and other mechanical means such as using a scrub brush to scrape bugs and eggs off the seams of mattresses.
These mechanical controls may not kill every bug or egg on the first try, but should be effective when repeated on a regular basis and used in conjunction with pesticide treatments.

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10. How Infestations Originate
It often seems that bed bugs arise from nowhere. The bugs are efficient hitchhikers and are usually transported in on luggage, clothing, beds, furniture, etc. Outbreaks can often be traced to travel, especially in countries or cities where bed bugs are common. This is a particular problem for hotels, motels, and apartments, where turnover of occupants is constant. Bed bugs are small, cryptic and agile, escaping detection after crawling into suitcases, boxes, and belongings. The eggs are almost impossible to see when laid on most surfaces. Use of secondhand beds, couches, and furniture is another way that the bugs are transported into previously non-infested dwellings.

11. Are Only "Dirty" People Affected?
Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions is that bed bugs are associated with unsanitary conditions. This could not be further from the truth.
The fact is that bed bugs do not feed on crumbs, dirt, or debris associated with uncleanliness. The feed on blood.
What this means is that any environment with warm blooded hosts is likely suitable for bed bugs. This includes hostels, inns, hotels, homes, hospitals, care homes, cruise ships, and other modes of transportation to name a few.

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12. What are the Tell Tale Signs that Bed Bugs are Present?
Bites - Note: Not all bites suffered at night are from bed bugs
Fecal Spots - Dots of dried blood along mattress seams, the boxspring, behind the headboard, or anywhere else bed bugs harbour
Cast Skins - These appear to be hollowed out bed bugs and are the sheds from the nymphal stage
Eggs - About 1mm long and rice shaped these can be difficult to see
To be 100% certain that bed bugs are present it is best to have a reputable pest professional perform an inspection.

Further information can be obtained from :
Department of Entomology, North Dakota State University, Fargo North Dakota
Centre for Urban and Community Studies, University of Toronton
Bed bug resource centre - independent
Bed Bug information resource - Harvard School of Public Health

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