Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius)

Size:

• Head-body length: ~3.8-5.5 mm
• Fully saturated state: Up to 9 mm

Look:

• Appendages: Oval-round body with a semicircular head
• Color: Reddish-brown, turning purple after a meal

Life cycle:

• Reproduction: After ~120 days, a bed bug is fully developed and ready to produce offspring.
• Traumatic mating: The male approaches a female from behind, grasps her, and pierces her abdomen to mate with her. The female has no genital opening; the organ lies beneath the skin and must be pierced for reproduction. This form of mating is called traumatic insemination.
• Egg laying: 1-12 eggs daily, between 200-500 eggs in a lifetime
• Lifespan: 2.5 - 36 months

Habitat:

• Bed bugs are always located near the host's sleeping place, but can be several meters away.
• The bed bug is exclusively nocturnal.
• Hiding places can be identified by black droppings, which turn red upon contact with water.

Nutrition:

• Bed bugs feed exclusively on blood and are adaptable to many mammals.
• Bed bugs can survive for up to a year without feeding.

Behave:

• Nocturnal: The animals are nocturnal.

Stitches:

• Sting: The bed bug uses its long proboscis to penetrate the skin and draw blood from its victim.
• Bed bugs go in search of food approximately every 3-5 days.

Allergic reactions:

• Bed bug bites can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, resulting in large, itchy welts.

Unknown disease transmissions:

• The current data situation is still unclear regarding the extent to which disease transmission is possible. There are currently many conflicting statements and no conclusive proof.

Travel:

• The only way to protect yourself against bed bugs when traveling is to check your room beforehand. Key checkpoints include the seams of bedding and mattresses, electrical outlets, wooden edges of beds and nearby shelves, picture frames, and sofas.

Behave:

• If an infestation is detected, consult a pest control professional immediately.