Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, with humans being their preferred host.

Some key facts about bed bugs:

• Identification: Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, brown and oval-shaped. Nymphs (young bed bugs) are smaller, translucent or whitish-yellow in color.
• Bed bug eggs are tiny, pearl-white, and marked by an eye spot if more than 5 days old.
• Behavior and Habitat: Bed bugs are nocturnal and feed on their hosts, usually humans, while they sleep. They hide in cracks and crevices around the bed, in mattress seams, box springs, and other furniture.
• They can travel up to 20 feet from their hiding places to feed.
• Infestation and Spread: Bed bug infestations have increased dramatically since the 1980s, likely due to increased travel, immigration, and resistance to pesticides.
• They can spread by hitchhiking on clothing, luggage, and furniture.
• Identifying signs of an infestation early, like rusty stains and dark spots, is important to prevent it from growing.
• Health Impacts: Bed bug bites can cause skin rashes, psychological effects, and allergic symptoms in some people.
• However, bed bugs do not transmit diseases.
• Treating infestations often requires professional pest control.

In summary, bed bugs are a growing problem that require vigilance to identify and control, as they can be difficult to eradicate once established.

If you’ve got a problem with bed bugs and would like a pest control specialist to help, please call Steve on 07535 949910.