Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed exclusively on blood. They are most active at night and bite any exposed areas of skin while an individual is sleeping. The face, neck, hands, and arms are common sites for bedbug bites. The bite itself is painless and is not noticed. Small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin are the most common sign; redness, swelling, and itching commonly occur. If scratched, the bite areas can become infected. A peculiarity of bedbug bites is the tendency to find several bites near each other. Often the bites are in lines. Bed bugs don't necessarily like to crawl on you. They only want your blood. They will perch on a fold of a sheet or pillow along your body. They bite...then move left or right along the fold, etc.. The result is a line of bites.
Adult bed bugs are light brown to reddish-brown, flattened, oval-shaped and have no hind wings. Bed bugs have segmented abdomens with microscopic hairs that give them a banded appearance. Adults grow to 4–5 mm in length and 1.5–3 mm wide.
Newly hatched nymphs are translucent, lighter in color and become browner as they grow and reach maturity. A bed bug of any age that has just consumed a blood meal will appear to have a bright red translucent abdomen; this color will fade to brown over the next several hours and within two days will become opaque and black as the insect digests its meal.
Bedbug bites may go unnoticed or be mistaken for flea or mosquito bites or other types of rash or skin conditions, since they are difficult to distinguish from other bites. Bedbugs also have glands whose secretions may leave odors, and they also may leave dark fecal spots on bedsheets and around their hiding places.
Adult bed bugs are light brown to reddish-brown, flattened, oval-shaped and have no hind wings. Bed bugs have segmented abdomens with microscopic hairs that give them a banded appearance. Adults grow to 4–5 mm in length and 1.5–3 mm wide.
Newly hatched nymphs are translucent, lighter in color and become browner as they grow and reach maturity. A bed bug of any age that has just consumed a blood meal will appear to have a bright red translucent abdomen; this color will fade to brown over the next several hours and within two days will become opaque and black as the insect digests its meal.
Bedbug bites may go unnoticed or be mistaken for flea or mosquito bites or other types of rash or skin conditions, since they are difficult to distinguish from other bites. Bedbugs also have glands whose secretions may leave odors, and they also may leave dark fecal spots on bedsheets and around their hiding places.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Do bed bugs only live in beds? No. Bed bugs don't just live in beds. They go everywhere a human goes. A more fitting name would be "human bugs".
2) Do bed bugs like certain people better then others? No. Bed bugs don't discriminate. They don't care about income, color, race, age, cleanliness, or sex.
3) Do over-the-counter pesticides kill bed bugs? Not well enough to eliminate an infestation. Some very effective pesticides were found to be dangerous to humans and removed from stores many years ago. Bed bugs have developed an immunity to the remaining over-the-counter pesticides. Exterminators have access to pesticides that the public cannot buy. There are only 2 that M2 has found to be useful
4) Are bed bugs drawn to filthy people? No. clean people get bed bugs too. Having bed bugs does not mean that you are a filthy person.
5) Do bed bugs jump or fly? No. Bed bugs crawl…slowly when compared to many other bugs.
6) Why can't I find bed bugs myself? Sometimes you can. The likelihood that you will find all of them and all of the eggs is small. Bed bugs like it dark. The darker, the better. They have a talent for finding seams and cracks where they can snuggle in until it is dark. They have been hiding from humans for a long time and have become really good at it.
7) Do bed begs transmit disease? No, There is no proof that bed bugs transmit disease.
8) How long can bed bugs live without a food source? "Bed bugs can go without feeding for 20 to 400 days, depending on temperature and humidity. Older stages of nymphs can survive longer without feeding that younger ones, and adults have survived without food for more then 400 days in the laboratory at low temperatures." - University of California, Davis.
2) Do bed bugs like certain people better then others? No. Bed bugs don't discriminate. They don't care about income, color, race, age, cleanliness, or sex.
3) Do over-the-counter pesticides kill bed bugs? Not well enough to eliminate an infestation. Some very effective pesticides were found to be dangerous to humans and removed from stores many years ago. Bed bugs have developed an immunity to the remaining over-the-counter pesticides. Exterminators have access to pesticides that the public cannot buy. There are only 2 that M2 has found to be useful
4) Are bed bugs drawn to filthy people? No. clean people get bed bugs too. Having bed bugs does not mean that you are a filthy person.
5) Do bed bugs jump or fly? No. Bed bugs crawl…slowly when compared to many other bugs.
6) Why can't I find bed bugs myself? Sometimes you can. The likelihood that you will find all of them and all of the eggs is small. Bed bugs like it dark. The darker, the better. They have a talent for finding seams and cracks where they can snuggle in until it is dark. They have been hiding from humans for a long time and have become really good at it.
7) Do bed begs transmit disease? No, There is no proof that bed bugs transmit disease.
8) How long can bed bugs live without a food source? "Bed bugs can go without feeding for 20 to 400 days, depending on temperature and humidity. Older stages of nymphs can survive longer without feeding that younger ones, and adults have survived without food for more then 400 days in the laboratory at low temperatures." - University of California, Davis.
Why use heat as an extermination method?
Bed Bugs can't run or hide from heat. If they are in a confined space like an apartment or bedroom they can be exterminated with heat. Heat will be circulated through the space at about 135 degrees for several hours. There is no place to hide. They will run in circles trying to find a cool place, but the circles are only about the size of a quarter. Eventually the heat will win.