Short Interesting Facts About Us, the Human Body & More…
Did You Know That…

Bed bugs are reddish-brown, oval-shaped, wingless, flattened insects about 1/4 inch long. Bed bugs can be transported long distances in the seams of clothing, luggage, bedding and furniture; are commonly found in apartments, dorms, prisons, hospitals, hotels, and in private homes; and occur in poor, unsanitary conditions, and in very clean environments.

Bed bugs feed on the blood of humans usually during the night hours, and during the day they hide – and lay eggs – in cracks, crevices and recesses of furniture, mattresses, and in walls usually close to where humans sleep. Bed bugs will come out to feed during the day if they are really hungry. Most people experience itching, pain and/or swelling of the skin where a bed bug bite occurs. The good news… bed bugs are not known to transmit disease.

Insect repellents are not effective against bed bugs. For effective treatment, it is advisable to contact a pest control company. When disposing of infested beds, mattresses and upholstered furniture, bag them so the bugs are not dislodged on the way to the dumpster, and label them “bed bug infested” to prevent them from being taken and used by others. Be cautious when acquiring second-hand furniture, such as mattresses, couches, and curbside items.

Life Cycle of a Bed Bug
Female bed bugs (1) lay about five eggs daily throughout their adult lives in a sheltered location like mattress seams, crevices in box springs, spaces under baseboards, etc.

Eggs hatch in about 4 to 12 days into first instar nymphs (2) which must take a blood meal before molting to the next stage.

The bugs will undergo five nymphal stages (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), each one requiring a blood meal before molting to the next stage, with the fifth stage molting into an adult (7).

The photo below is oversized for veiwing purposes.