Bedbugs are pests of domestic animals, bats, wild birds, and man. Climex lectularius is the only species in the northern temperate regions that attacks man. Bedbugs are most commonly found in old hotels and boardinghouses, but they can also be found in homes, apartments, restaurants, theaters, buses, and offices.

Bedbugs are nocturnal insects, feeding at night and hiding in dark places during the day. They feed only on blood, principally that of man. The period required to obtain a meal is anywhere from 3 to 15 minutes.

Bedbugs are oval, flattened, wingless, and reddish brown in color. Those full of blood are red and slightly elongated. The adult is 1/4 to 3/8 inches long.

Bedbug-infested rooms have a very characteristic odor. It has been described as musty, sweet, and even like that fresh red raspberries. Other signs of infestation include black spots on surfaces where the insects have been, and blood stains on sheets and mattresses. The latter is a result of the bleeding that sometimes occurs after the bedbug is finished feeding. Swellings may result from bedbug bites; they are small, hard, and white.

A female bedbug can produce up to 200 eggs during its lifetime. It lays about 3 or 4 eggs per day, cementing them in cracks and crevices. The eggs are white and about the size of a pinhead. The nymphs take in blood before they molt and reach maturity. Maturation takes place in 5�8 weeks, though where conditions are not ideal, it can take longer. Adults generally live for about six months, though some can live as long as a year and a half. There are several generations per year, and all stages of growth are usually represented within a single infected room.

There is a strong correlation between bedbugs found in the living area of a household and the presence of bats in the attic. Quite often a population of bedbugs feeding on bats in the attic migrate to the living area.

If you have confirmed the identification of bedbugs in your household, check your attic for bats. If bats are eliminated, the source of your infestation will be eliminated.

If your attic does not have bats, bedbugs in your living quarters are difficult to eradicate. Consult with a professional pest control company.

Courtesy MSU Extension
Photographs courtey CDC