Description:
The adult bed bug is 3/16-inch long, oval flat and
rusty red or mahogany in color. The bed bug is flat
and thin when unfed but becomes more elongated,
plum and red when it is full of blood. Four segmented
antennae are attached to the head between the prominent
compound eyes. The three segmented beck, or proboscis,
is located beneath the head and passes back between
the front legs. The bed bug cannot fly as its wings
are reduced to short wing pods.
Biology:
As the female bed bug lays her eggs (i.e., one
to five per day and 100-500 within her lifetime);
she uses a clear substance to attach them in cracks
and on rough surfaces. Under ideal conditions,
eggs hatch in about seven days and the nymphs
molt five times, taking a blood meal between each
molt. Development time from egg to adult is 21
days. The adult can live for almost 1 year.
Habits:
The bed bugs hides in cracks and crevices during
the day, preferring to rest on wood and paper
surface instead of stone and plaster. It leaves
these harborage areas at night to feed on its
host which include humans, birds, hogs, and family
pets. The blood meal requires 3-10 minutes and
usually goes unnoticed by the victim. After feeding
the bite site may become inflamed an itch severely
in sensitive people. Although the bed bug has
been associated with over 25 diseases, transmission
has not been conclusively proven. Over time, the
harborage areas become filled with the molted
skin, feces, and old egg shells of the resident
bed bugs. These areas have a characteristic “Stink
bug” smell caused by a secretion emitted
by the bed bug.
Control:
A thorough inspection is necessary to detect harborage
sites. The ador and specks (i.e., the little spots
of excreted blood) that they produce assist in
pinpointing these areas. Sanitation is helpful
in control of bed bugs because it assist the homeowner
to become aware of some of the harborage areas.
A vacuum cleaner will remove some of the bugs.
Bed bugs can be controlled with thorough applications
of residual insecticides applied to cracks and
crevices, behind baseboards, and into other known
or suspected harborage areas. Furniture, especially
mattresses and box springs, should also be lightly
sprayed. However, bedding of infants and infirm
individuals should not be treated, but, rather,
replaced. Dusts can effectively be used in wall
void and attics.
|
