Bed Bugs

Latin Name: Cimex lectularius

Months of Activity: January - December

The common bed bug is the best adapted to human environments. It is found in temperate climates throughout the world and has been known since ancient times. Small, nocturnal insects, bed bugs feed on the blood of humans, occasionally causing skin infections and scars when the bites are scratched.

While bed bugs have been known to harbour pathogens in their bodies, including plague and hepatitis B, they have not been linked to the transmission of any disease and are not regarded as a medical threat.

What your bed is made from will make no difference to whether you get bed bugs or not. Whether you have a wooden bed or metal bed (wood or metal beds from time4sleep.co.uk) precautions need to be made.

Appearance

• Adult bed bugs are 4-5mm long and reddish-brown in colour. They appear flattened, oval, and are wingless.
• Newly hatched nymphs are translucent and lighter in colour than the adults.

Lifecycle

Female bed bugs lay between 200-500 eggs over a two month period, and are able to reproduce all year round. The eggs are visible to the naked eye measuring 1 mm in length and are a milky-white tone in colour.

The eggs hatch in one to two weeks, with the hatchlings beginning to feed immediately. They pass through five moulting stages before reaching maturity, requiring a feed during each of these stages.

At room temperature, it takes about 5 weeks for a bed bug to pass from hatching, through to maturity, at which point they become reproductively active.

Pest Control

Having once been almost eradicated in the UK, bed bugs are beginning to make comeback, presenting new challenges for pest control. Without DDT and similar banned agents, there is no fully effective treatment available.

DIY pest control on bed bugs has had limited success, so it is always advisable to get a reputable pest control company in to advise and perform treatment as necessary.

Latest News about Bed Bugs

Bed Bug Encasements
Bed bugs are proving to be one of the most challenging bugs pest management professionals have ever faced. The resiliency of this insect is nothing short of amazing. In addition to being capable of withstanding weeks of freezing temperatures and the... [more]

Market Report Reveals Growth
Apex Insight, a new research company based in London, has published research on the UK pest control industry. This quantifies the market size and historical patterns of growth, probes key trends behind the figures, profiles and explores the performan... [more]

Battle Those Pests
It's important to get rid of certain insects and animals because they're destructive to our homes and landscaping. With that in mind, this article offers an insight into how to track down your pests and get rid of them. Bed Bugs According to many s... [more]

What is Integrated Pest Management?
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a program of prevention, monitoring, and control which offers the opportunity to eliminate or drastically reduce the use of pesticides, and to minimise the toxicity of and exposure to any products which are used. ... [more]

Romantic Insects
Some of the mating rituals of pests can put your first date to shame. Male insects offer gifts, song and even dance to impress the female. But remember, this is not Love Story - this is Fatal Attraction, which can cause many headaches for homeowners.... [more]

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