What do they look like?
Adult bed bugs are oval shaped, flattened and about 6mm long. When unfed they are pale brown in colour but become reddish brown to mahogany when full of blood. Young bugs (nymphs) are nearly colourless, becoming brownish as they mature. The legs are well developed and they can crawl up vertical surfaces of wood, paper and plaster. They are unable to crawl up smooth polished surfaces.
Where do they live?
Bed bugs are usually found in areas such as in floor cracks, under carpets, behind loose wallpaper, wall pictures, loose skirting boards and door frames, and in the seams of bed mattresses etc. What do they eat?
Bed bugs feed exclusively on blood, generally only in darkness. Although human blood is preferred, they can survive on other blood from rabbits, rodents etc. Bed bugs can survive extremes of starvation, and have been known to survive for up to 12 months without feeding.
Pest status
Disease Transmission; Bed bugs are not thought to transmit any serious illnesses to humans. However, the bite can cause considerable irritation and may result in loss of sleep and lowering of general health.
Control
- Hygiene; The routine washing of bedding and clothing, followed by drying in a tumble dryer at normal temperature, will kill any bedbugs and eggs present.
- Chemical; treatment for bed bugs is complex and may involve the use of several different chemicals across a number of treatments and should be carried out by a qualified operative.
When using pesticides always follow the instructions on the label