Appearance:

• The eggs are tiny and hard to see with a white cap
• Adults – around 6mm their bodies are oval and flattened.
• Recently fed they will then change to a red – brown colour.
• They have piercing mouthparts adapted for sucking, simple antennae, legs and claws for clinging on to hosts, whilst feeding.

Lifecycle:

• Eggs – Up to 200 are laid in a life time.
• 4 – 5 are laid per day and are glued in cracks and crevices.
• Newly hatched nymphs are no bigger than a pinhead.
• These only hatch above 13°C.- Nymphs – 5 moults taking from a few weeks to several months depending on food and conditions.
• Limited access to a blood meal extends the development time. As they grow, they shed their skin.
• A blood meal is needed between each successive moult.

Habits & Behaviour:

• They can be found in any cracks and crevices such as: headboards, behind peeling wallpaper, broken plaster, light switches, plug sockets, under carpets and skirting boards.
• Their flattened bodies enable them to fit into tiny crevices but are also found in soft furnishings such as clothes, mattresses seams, curtains, bed sheets.
• Feeding usually takes around 10 minutes and although nocturnal they may appear in the day when hungry.
• Bed Bugs prefer to hide close to where people sleep.
• They lay dormant and wait until a host is asleep before feeding.
• Many people will be bitten without even seeing any evidence of the bugs.- Although Bed Bugs prefer feeding on humans, they will also bite other warm-blooded animals, including pets.

Important:

• Bed Bugs can be transported on clothing, in luggage, bedding and furniture but are very rarely found on hosts.
• They can ingest 7 times their body weight in blood.
• This enables them to go for prolonged periods without feeding.
• The adults are highly resistant to starvation (up to one year) and low temperatures so thorough treatments of surrounding areas must be carried out.