Q. What are bed bugs?
A. Bed bugs infestations were a common
occurrence prior to WW II, but fortunately for all of us, pesticide use
and careful sanitary home management has dramatically reduced the frequency.
Infestations still occur, but much more rarely.
These flattened, wingless insects are found in northern temperate climates (such as ours). The species found most often here is Cimex lactuarius The adults are brick-red to mahogany, about 6mm ( .02”) in length, the immatures identical but smaller and lighter in color. These insects suck blood from their hosts with piercing mouthparts. The saliva injected into the host while feeding can cause large, itchy swellings on the skin, and the odiferous stink glands leave fragrant fecal spots on sheets and around their hiding places.
Beds bugs are prolific, the females laying 200-500 eggs in batches of 10-50 glued onto rough surfaces. Within 10 days the eggs hatch into nymphs that go through 5 stages before adulthood. Each stage requires one blood meal before molting, but these hardy insects can go for as long as 140 days without food, and even longer as they get older. Adults have lived for 550 days without a meal. Adults live for up to 10 months, and can produce 3-4 generations a year. From birth to adulthood can take from 5 weeks if temperatures are between 70-82degrees F., to 4 months if it is cooler. Nymphs and adults usually feed at night, hiding in cracks and crevices during the daytime. Problems tend occur where sanitation is an issue or if birds and mammals (chickens, mice, rats and rabbits), are found nesting on or near a house.
If you find bed bugs, your first
step should be to check the outside of the home. Remove bird nests and
encourage bats to roost elsewhere. Clean the home thoroughly, washing all
bedding and steam-cleaning mattresses. Repair cracks in walls and caulk windows
and doors. Placing the legs of a bed in bowls of soapy water or coating them
with petroleum jelly or double sided sticky tape will prevent the pests from
climbing. For other controls ask for UC’s IPM pest note publication 7454 from
the UCCE Contra Costa Master Gardener’s hot-line (925) 646 6586.