BED BUGS
“Human are the preferred host of bed bugs and they tend to feed on bare skin while the host is sleeping.”
Beg bugs are averse to light and therefore, they often hide inside cracks and crevices during daytime. They are nocturnal insects and become active during midnight until just before dawn. This pest feed on blood as their main meal and they obtain it by piercing into blood vessels and taking the fluid. Human are the preferred host of bed bugs and they tend to feed on bare skin while the host is sleeping. Therefore, they normally stay near to the host and prefer materials such as wood and paper for refuge.
Common Hiding Places
The bed bugs’ foraging activity radius is usually within 30m. They are efficient hitchhikers and are easily transported.
Consequently, the dispersion of bed bugs relies heavily on transportation such as the train, airplane, boat, bus as well as movement of human or goods.
Picture Frames
Door Frame
Window Frames
Power Switches
Baseboard
Curtains
Common Bed Bug Species
Adult bed bugs are brown to reddish brown in color, and measure about 4-5mm long. They are broadly oval and flat with the absence of wings.
A female bed bug can lay up to 5 eggs per day and it can produce more than 200 eggs over its entire lifespan. The eggs will take about 20 days to complete its development into adults under optimum condition and they will live for another 6-12 months. These bugs can also survive long period of starvation.
There are two species of bed bugs – the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) and tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus), which are found across the world. In Malaysia, the most common species encountered is the tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus).
Consequence
Although there is no concrete evidence to show that this bug is a vector of serious diseases, it is the biting during feeding that could cause an allergic reaction, swelling or irritation. Some people may lose sleep due to entomophobia (fear of “bug”). The main clues of an infestation will be the presence of blood stains, reddish fecal spots, egg cases and cast skins could be easily spotted. In addition, a heavy infested area will also create an unpleasant odor.
Control Tips
Residual Spray
Insecticide is sprayed at cracks and crevices, wall edges, furniture and other possible bed bug harborages. Chemical with flushing agent will drive the bug out from their hiding place and this would also increase their frequency of contact with the toxic.
Sanitation
This will reduce the availability of harborage, water and food.