Identification
The bed bug is not known to transmit disease, but it can cause itching and sleep problems. Its presence has nothing to do with cleanliness: it travels in luggage, furniture and clothing.
EARLY DETECTION
Signs to look for: rust-coloured blood stains on the mattress or furniture, shed skins, bed bugs in the folds of the mattress and sheets and, in heavy infestations, a distinctive odour. Bites can appear one to several days later, sometimes up to 14 days.
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AFlat oval body
Oval, flattened, wingless body that lets it slip into thin cracks.
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BPiercing beak
Beak that pierces the skin to draw blood. Its saliva contains anaesthetic and anticoagulant substances, so the bite often goes unnoticed.
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CAntennae and legs
Wingless, it cannot fly or jump, but it moves quickly. It has trouble climbing metal and smooth surfaces.
Adult
Feeds at night during sleep. Can survive several months without feeding. The female lays 2 to 5 eggs per day.
Life cycle
EGG · NYMPH (5 INSTARS) · ADULTThe female lays about 2 to 5 eggs per day, or about 200 to 500 eggs over her lifetime.
5 nymphal instars, each requiring at least one blood meal. Young nymphs are straw-coloured, paler than adults, and darken after feeding.
Flattened adult, brownish to reddish brown. Adults can survive several months without feeding; the duration varies with temperature.
DO NOT CONFUSE
The bed bug can be confused with other insects
Signs of activity
Bites in a line or cluster
Red, itchy bites in a line or cluster that can look like mosquito bites. Some people show no visible reaction.
Stains on the mattress
Rust-coloured blood stains on mattresses or nearby furniture, and small dark spots in the seams and headboard.
Bed bugs and shed skins
Flat, reddish-brown bed bugs in the folds of the mattress and sheets, along with shed skins (moults).
Bed bugs are carried in travel luggage, second-hand furniture and second-hand clothing. They can then move to other rooms in the home.
Treatment
PROFESSIONAL ELIMINATION
- 1 Inspection and confirmation Locate hiding spots (mattress seams, box spring, baseboards, outlets) and confirm the infestation before treating
- 2 Insecticide treatments (minimum 2) More than one visit is usually needed to eliminate bed bugs that hatch from eggs that survived the first treatment
- Before treatment: wash bedding in hot water (60 °C), vacuum the mattress and box spring, and pull furniture away from the walls. Do not move items from one room to another without sealing them in airtight bags, to avoid spreading bed bugs.
- Professional insecticide treatment targeting hiding spots (cracks, seams, baseboards). More than one visit is usually needed to eliminate bed bugs that hatch after the first treatment.
Infested furniture thrown out without being wrapped or labelled can spread the infestation to neighbours. Mattresses and furniture in good condition can be treated; damaged items must be wrapped in thick plastic and clearly labelled before being discarded.
After treatment, enclose the mattress and box spring in bed bug encasements. Bed bugs trapped inside eventually starve, but they can survive more than a year without feeding: keep the encasements on for a long time.
Inspect luggage and clothing when you return from a trip. Wash clothing in hot water (60 °C) or run it in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes before putting it away.
SYSTEMATIC INSPECTION
Confirm and locate the infestation
Use a flashlight to inspect the mattress seams, box spring, headboard and bed frame. Look for insects, black spots and shed skins
Inspect night tables, dressers, picture frames and electrical outlets, especially within about 2 metres of the bed
Place interceptors under the bed legs to catch bed bugs moving toward the sleeping person. Check them regularly
Prevention
- Inspect second-hand purchases
Carefully inspect any second-hand furniture, mattress or clothing before bringing it into the home. Refuse it if you see suspicious signs.
Purchases - Preventive mattress encasement
Use bed bug encasements on the mattress and box spring. They reduce the number of possible hiding spots.
Bedroom - Vigilance when travelling
In a hotel, inspect the mattress seams and the back of the headboard. Place luggage on the luggage rack, after inspecting it, or in the bathtub, never on the bed.
Travel - Interceptors under bed legs
Install interceptors under the bed legs to detect bed bugs early. Check them regularly.
Bedroom
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognize a bed bug?
A flat, reddish-brown insect 4 to 7 mm long (Cimex lectularius), found near the mattress, seams and headboard; small black spots and bites sometimes in a line or cluster.
Are bed bugs dangerous?
They are not known to transmit disease, but their bites cause itching and, in a prolonged infestation, sleep problems and anxiety; an infestation can also spread quickly.
How do they spread?
Through luggage, used furniture, clothing and travel; they move from one dwelling to another.
Can you get rid of them yourself?
Only with great difficulty. Professional treatment with follow-up is strongly recommended to eliminate eggs and adults. For treatment suited to your situation, you can consult our bed bug service.