The BED BUG
Cimex lectularius (common bed bug)
The BED BUG
Cimex lectularius (common bed bug)
Bed bugs have small, flat, oval-shaped bodies and are roughly the size of an apple seed. They are reddish-brown and can be squished fairly easily.
Adult bed bugs can be as long as 10 mm. They have an oval, broad, flat body to squeeze into tight cracks and a short, broad head. Adult bed bugs are brown, but darken to a blood red colour after feeding.
Bed bug nymphs (young bed bugs) are a lighter, more translucent yellow in color and are slightly smaller (approx 1.5mm). They also darken after feeding (canada.ca).
FIGURE 4. An adult female bed bug
SIMILAR LOOKING PESTS VS BEDBUGS
FIGURE 5. This montage of some parasitic arthropods includes a head louse, Pediculus humanus var. capitis (TOP LEFT), a pubic louse, Pediculus humanus var. pubis (TOP RIGHT), a kissing bug, Triatoma infestans (BOTTOM LEFT), and a bed bug, Cimex lectularius (BOTTOM RIGHT) (CDC 2023)
IF YOU SEE A PEST AND YOU'RE UNSURE, GIVE US A CALL...
Bed bugs have small, flat, oval-shaped bodies and are roughly the size of an apple seed. They are reddish-brown and can be squished fairly easily.
Adult bed bugs can be as long as 10 mm. They have an oval, broad, flat body to squeeze into tight cracks and a short, broad head. Adult bed bugs are brown, but darken to a blood red colour after feeding.
Bed bug nymphs (young bed bugs) are a lighter, more translucent yellow in color and are slightly smaller (approx 1.5mm). They also darken after feeding (canada.ca).
FIGURE 4. An adult female bed bug
SIMILAR LOOKING PESTS VS BEDBUGS
FIGURE 5. This montage of some parasitic arthropods includes a head louse, Pediculus humanus var. capitis (TOP LEFT), a pubic louse, Pediculus humanus var. pubis (TOP RIGHT), a kissing bug, Triatoma infestans (BOTTOM LEFT), and a bed bug, Cimex lectularius (BOTTOM RIGHT) (CDC 2023)
IF YOU SEE A PEST AND YOU'RE UNSURE, GIVE US A CALL...
LIFE CYCLE OF A BED BUG
FIGURE 2. Diagram displaying the life cycle of a bed bug. Each "stage," also called instar, is seperated by a molting of their hard external skin (exoskeleton). A bed bug must feed to molt, but can complete this cycle in as fast as 5 weeks with constant feeding.
Bed bugs will complete their lifecycle over a total of 7 stages (see Figure 3., above). The first stage is as an egg, followed by 5 nymphal stages, or instars, before finally entering adult stage.
Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. The world's most avid hitchhiker, they are easily moved from room to room on infested objects and picked up in public areas. Bed bugs cannot easily climb slippery surfaces (under-furniture monitor traps rely on this quality) and cannot fly or jump.
FIGURE 3. This photograph depicted a dorsal view of two bed bugs, Cimex lectularius. A male on the left, and a female on the right. Note the male’s slightly pointed distal abdomen, where in females, it is rounded. Lengthwise, females are slightly larger than males (CDC)
FIGURE 2. Diagram displaying the life cycle of a bed bug. Each "stage," also called instar, is seperated by a molting of their hard external skin (exoskeleton). A bed bug must feed to molt, but can complete this cycle in as fast as 5 weeks with constant feeding.
Bed bugs will complete their lifecycle over a total of 7 stages (see Figure 3., above). The first stage is as an egg, followed by 5 nymphal stages, or instars, before finally entering adult stage.
Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. The world's most avid hitchhiker, they are easily moved from room to room on infested objects and picked up in public areas. Bed bugs cannot easily climb slippery surfaces (under-furniture monitor traps rely on this quality) and cannot fly or jump.
FIGURE 3. This photograph depicted a dorsal view of two bed bugs, Cimex lectularius. A male on the left, and a female on the right. Note the male’s slightly pointed distal abdomen, where in females, it is rounded. Lengthwise, females are slightly larger than males (CDC)
These instars are separated by a molting of their hard external skin (exoskeleton) before they can enter the next stage - and in order to do so, they must feed.
Bed bugs are much less active during the winter months, slower moving and feeding less, but during the warm summer months, a bed bug may complete its entire nymphal cycle in as little as 5 weeks with constant access to a food source. Once an adult, a bed bug may live for over a year.
WHO CAN GET BEDBUGS?
FIGURE 5. Bedbugs of all life stages, casings, frass, and eggs on the side of a mattress.
Even the MOST spotless home can get bedbugs. It is a common misconception that housekeeping and cleanliness are related to bedbug infestations.
These tiny hitchhikers can be picked up in taxi cabs, movie theatre seats, restaurants, public transportation, during travel, and even campgrounds during the summer.
The female bed bug will typically lay at least 200 eggs in her lifetime, at a rate of about 2-4 eggs per day.
That's a lot of eggs!
Bed bug eggs are small, oblong, and pearl white. The eggs have a sticky coating which allows them to be stuck to various (oftentimes hidden) surfaces.
The female bed bug will typically lay at least 200 eggs in her lifetime, at a rate of about 2-4 eggs per day.
That's a lot of eggs!
Bed bug eggs are small, oblong, and pearl white. The eggs have a sticky coating which allows them to be stuck to various (oftentimes hidden) surfaces.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
FIGURE 5. Bed bugs, bed bug eggs, and frass (dried blood and enzyme)
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Small blood spots on sheets or mattress
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Bed bug moltings (shed exoskeleton casing)
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Pearl white, sticky, oblong eggs
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Bed bug droppings, a mixture of blood and enzymes, or the small stains left behind by them (may be seen on walls, furniture, sheets, or mattresses.
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In cases of extreme infestation, bed bugs may be accompanied by a sweet or somewhat acidic smell, sometimes compared to the scent of berries
BED BUG BITES
Did you know it can take up to 14 days for bed bug bites to appear on the skin?
For some - there will be no reaction at all!
Typically, bites can be most noticed on body parts not covered up during rest, such as legs or arms.
If you do notice any bites, try not to scratch! Although bed bugs are not known to transmit any diseases, there may be varying degrees of allergic reaction. Try not to scratch!
FIGURE 6. Wounded arm of resident in bed bug infested property
WHO CAN GET BED BUGS?
FIGURE 4: Bed bugs of all life stages, casings, frass, and eggs on the side of a mattress and baseboards.
FIGURE 1. Bed bug inspection of mattress. Nymphal bed bug can be seen near thumb, characterized by its lighter colour
Even the MOST spotless home can get bed bugs. It is a common misconception that housekeeping and cleanliness are related to bed bug infestations.
These tiny hitchhikers can be picked up in taxi cabs, movie theatre seats, restaurants, public transportation, during travel, and even campgrounds during the summer.
FIGURE 1. Bed bug inspection of mattress. Nymphal bed bug can be seen near thumb, characterized by its lighter colour
