- Bed Bugs are very small; adults are no bigger than an eraser head on a pencil.
- They are long oval and flat before feeding, can be translucent and brownish, reddish after feeding.
- Bed Bugs only feed on blood, period.
- Females can lay 1 to 5 eggs per day, eggs hatch within 10 ten days and an adult can develope in as little as 21 days.
- Adult Bed Bugs can live well over a year with a meal. 1st instar nymphs can not. (Between a few days and 90 days) This is based on our studies. (Freedom Pest Control).
- Bed Bugs hide in cracks and crevices, baseboards, wallpaper, peeling paint, curtains, stuff animals, just about anywhere in your home, not only your mattres, box spring or sofa.
- Why the resurgence? Travel, secondhand furniture, pest control practices, the list goes on. What is important is that they are here and they don’t discriminate.
- Bed Bug bite marks vary, some people react badly. Bites can resemble hives, warts, bee sting type swelling while others will barely have any reactions.
- If you experience severe bite marks or any break in the skin, seek medical attention to prevent any secondary infections usually due to scratching after the bite. At this time it isn’t conclusively known if Bed Bugs transmit disease. (low risk)
- Bed Bugs do have a preference of who they bite in the home, reasons unknown at this time.
- Treatment is highly recommended by a professional, over the counter products are available for do it yourself. We strongly advised you despite what you may have read on the internet do not BOMB! NO BOMBING, NO FOGGING!!!
Bed Bug Feeding Habits
Bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide, which is produced by humans, warmth and human scent. The insect bites by piercing the skin of its host with the use of two tiny hollow tubes. It then injects its saliva, which contains powerful anesthetics and anticoagulants to numb the area and water down the blood for feeding. The bed bug then begins to extract a blood meal. The feeding process can take anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes and after it’s done, it quickly returns to its place as bed bugs are not known to be as sociable as ants. It’s also important to note that adult bed bugs can live as long as 18 months without feeding. However, younger insects, such as instar nymphs, should eat within the first 30 days of their life in order to survive. Some nymphs can survive longer, but not 12 to 18 months as adults can.
