Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius)

Bed bugs resemble flattened apple seeds in their size, shape and color. They are about 1/4 to 5/8 of an inch long and are reddish-brown to brown in colour.

Bed bugs have specialized mouthparts for piercing and sucking. They grab skin with their forelegs, pierce the skin, and inject their saliva, which has anticoagulant and anesthetic properties. Because of this anesthetic property, most people do not feel the bite of a bed bug. A bed bug feeds about once a week, usually for 3 to 12 minutes and can survive for 6 to 12 months on a single feed.

The lifecycle of a bed bug is complete in
4 to 5 weeks under optimal conditions.

Most people don’t realize they have a bed bug infestation until they begin getting bites. People react differently to bed bug bites: some will develop itchy, red welts, while others show no reaction at all. How people react depends on their own sensitivity, much like allergies.

Finding bed bugs can be difficult. Look in the following areas:

• Mattress and boxspring seams
• Bedframes and headboards
• Bedside tables
• Dresser drawers
• Wall voids
• Behind pictures and wallpaper
• Any other warm, dark cracks and crevices especially if they are close to a bed or couch.

Look for brown or black fecal material near the hiding places as well as blood spots on sheets and bedding.

Once an infestation has been identified, contact us to discuss treatment options. In all cases, the proper preparation must be completed prior to any treatment.

Photo showing bedbugs, eggs, and cast skins on the underside of an upholstered couch.

Photo showing improper preparation. While some belongings are in bags, there is still clutter and bags on the furniture.