Bedbugs are small, reddish-brown parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. They are about the size of an apple seed (5-7mm) and are flat and oval-shaped. Bedbugs are nocturnal insects, which means they are most active at night. They are attracted to the carbon dioxide that humans exhale and the heat that our bodies emit.
Bedbugs are not known to transmit any diseases, but their bites can be itchy and irritating. Bedbugs can also cause anxiety and insomnia in people who are aware that they have an infestation.
Here are some signs of a bedbug infestation:
- Small, rusty or reddish-brown stains on bedding or furniture
- Tiny, white eggs or eggshells in cracks and crevices
- Live bedbugs or shed skins
- Bites on your skin, in a line or cluster
The bed bug life cycle is relatively quick, which allows them to multiply rapidly. It can take as little as four to six weeks to go from egg to adult under ideal conditions.
Here are the different stages of a bed bug's life cycle:
- Eggs: A female bed bug can lay up to five eggs per day, and up to 500 eggs in her lifetime. The eggs are pearly white, oval-shaped, and about the size of a pinhead. They are typically laid in clusters in secluded areas near where people sleep, such as in mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, and headboards.
- Nymphs: The eggs hatch into nymphs, which are immature bed bugs that look similar to adults but are smaller and are lighter in color. There are five nymphal stages, and each nymph must feed on blood before it can molt to the next stage.
- Adults: Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown, flat, and oval-shaped. They are about the size of an apple seed (5-7mm). Adult female bed bugs need to feed on blood to reproduce.
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