Bed Bugs

The adult bed bug is oval shaped, 3/16? long, and a rusty brown colour. The bed bug is completely flat but becomes elongated as it fills with blood. Adult bed bugs measure only an eighth of an inch in length, and are reddish-brown in color, with oval-shaped and flattened bodies. The immature nymphs resemble the adults but are smaller and lighter in color. Nymphs must molt five times before maturing and require a blood meal between each molt. Females can lay about five eggs a day and up to 500 in a lifetime. Eggs take 7-10 days to hatch. Without the aid of magnification, newly hatched nymphs are hard to see, and they are small enough to crawl through the stitching hole in a mattress. Development from egg to adult takes approximately 30-60 days, under normal conditions (it can take much longer if adequate food is not available). If a blood host is not found, newly molted nymphs can survive close to two months, and adults can survive for an entire year without a blood meal.

Family
Heteroptera/Cimicidae

Scientific Name
Cimex Lectularius

Biology
The female bed bug can lay one to five eggs per day and 200-500 in her lifetime. The eggs hatch in the span of about 7 days and moults 5 times, taking a blood meal between each moult. Development time from egg to adult takes about 21 days.

Behaviour
Bed bugs hide in cracks and crevices during the day and will leave its harbourage area at night to feed on its 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.

Control & Prevention
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.

It is not advisable to purchase used furniture, bedding or electronics. When travelling be vigilant about bed bugs, check your hotel room particularly your bedding. When returning home, thoroughly launder all clothing and thoroughly inspect suitcases ideally on the outside of the home.

At Least Two Treatments Will Be Required

After inspection, two treatments minimum are most often recommended – the initial treatment and a follow-up treatment in order to obtain the best results. The technician will advise you for any reason if he/she feels less or more treatments are required.

Need help with Bed Bugs extermination?
Call Nikol Pest Control at 604-364-3201 for a free estimate.