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Bed Bug

Bed Bugs, Cimex lectularius are parasitic insects of the cimicid family that feed exclusively on blood. The common bed bug is the best known as it prefers to feed on human blood. 

The name €˜bed bug€™ is derived from the preferred habitat of Cimex lectularius; warm houses and especially nearby or inside beds and bedding or other sleep areas. Bed bugs are mainly active at night, but are not exclusively nocturnal. They usually feed on their hosts without being noticed. A number of adverse health effects may result from bed bug bites, including skin rashes and allergic reactions.

Adult bed bugs are light brown to reddish brown, flattened, oval shaped and have no hind wings. They have segmented abdomens with microscopic hairs that give the appearance of being banded. Adults grow to 4-5 mm in length and 1.5-3 mm wide. Bed bugs can survive a wide range of temperatures at atmospheric conditions.

Biology
  • The life cycle of a bed bug is egg> nymph> adult
  • Bed bugs have 5 nymphal stages until they reach maturity. Newly hatched nymphs are translucent, lighter in colour and become browner as they moult 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 will fade to brown, then over the following days to an opaque black. This colouring is the reason bed bugs are often mistaken for other insects such as book lice or carpet beetles.

Monitoring

Russell IPM supply a small, robust bed bug detector for the monitoring of infestation levels. It is a discreet, pre-baited, clear plastic unit, smaller than a credit card, which can be placed throughout premises to detect the early presence of bed bugs.

BB Monitors are solid as units made of clear plastic. They contain a glue surface inside, made with long lasting dry touch glue for trapping bed bugs. Incorporated within the glue is an aggregation semio-chemical bed bug attractant that mimics the scent of human skill and draws the insect to the monitor.

The monitor works best when placed in all four corners of the bed, between the mattress and the bed frame. The monitor will provide non toxic detection for up to 6 months and will not crush.

This unit is simple, effective and easy to use, and is proven effective and widely used in the USA.

Nature of Damage

Bed bugs locate their warm-blooded hosts by detecting exhaled carbon dioxide. The hungry pests can also sense warmth and moisture from the bodies of potential victims. Bed bug excrement appears as dark spots, and crushed bed bugs will leave blood marks on bed linens.
Continued exposure to bites from bed bugs can cause sensitivity to the saliva injected into the skin during a bite. It is then possible for people to become allergic to bed bug bites. The skin lesion produced by the bite of a bed bug resembles those caused by many other kinds of blood feeding insects, such as mosquitoes and fleas.