Bed Bugs

Bedbugsare small, wingless insects found all over the world. They are nocturnal parasites, which means they rest during the day and are active at night. However, bedbugs are opportunistic and will bite in the day, especially if starved for some time. They feed on the blood of humans. Bedbugs prefer to hide in bedding and on mattresses where they have ready access to a source of food.

Bedbugs have highly developed mouth parts that can pierce skin. Their bite is painless. Some people do not react to the bites, but for others the bites can become itchy and swell into reddened weals.

Although bedbugs can harbour diseases in their bodies, transmission to humans is highly unlikely. They are not dangerous, unless a person is allergic to them. However, their presence can be distressing and their bites can be highly irritating.

Characteristics of the bedbug

The characteristics of a bedbug include that they:

• are wingless
• are half a centimetre long
• have a flat, oval-shaped body
• have six legs
• are light brown in colour, changing to rust-red after a meal of blood
• have a squat head
• have large antennae
• have large mouth parts (mandibles)
• have a complex life-cycle involving many stages of development
• have the ability to survive without feeding for months at a time
• are susceptible to extremes of temperature.