Bed bugs are heard of in hushed whispers and tones of disgust throughout the world. These tiny insects are infamous for the havoc they can wreak on your home and the nuisance they can cause with their removal. But what exactly are bed bugs? These miniscule creatures are more complex than you might think– -here’s everything you need to know on what bed bugs are.

Bed bugs, or cimex lectularius of the family Cimiciade, are the tiny troublesome wingless insects that infest homes and refuse to leave. Bed bugs aren’t a recently evolved insect however—fossils of the insects have been found dating back 3500 years. They are thought to have originated in the Middle East, and while it is believed they began feeding off of bats, they evolved to feed off the blood of humans and animals alike. Historically bed bugs are mentioned infesting England by 1583 and hitchhiked a ride to America along with the first colonists. The infestation was so widespread and intense that passengers on later voyages were banned from bringing bedding onto the ship. It’s not only in the past that these parasites have caused trouble, but in more recent years.

Bed Bug History

Since the 90’s, bed bugs have resurged and infestations are more common. Thought to have come from gateway ports such a Miami and New York, these bugs are common in social depressed areas and places that see frequent travelers such as hotels and youth hostels. Pesticide use is far more regulated and frowned upon in much of the world, and as some bed bugs have developed a resistance to certain chemicals, such as DDT and organophosphates, it is harder to eliminate the pests. As worldwide travel becomes more accessible for the everyday person, so it becomes easier for bed bugs to hitch a ride in their belongings or clothing to a new location. Even the economy contributes to the growth in bed bugs, as after the economic devastation seen post 2008 there was a rise in the purchasing of secondhand furniture, which caused people to bring home more than they paid for.

While commonly confused with bat bugs ,as they belong to the same scientific family, adult bed bugs that measure around a quarter of an inch in length and range in color from a pale yellow to deep reddish-brown, which gives them the nicknames “mahogany flats” and “crimson ramblers.” Their coloring can become darker if they have recently fed. Bed bugs diet consists of only blood, and they feed on both animals and humans in order to grow and reproduce.

Bed Bug Life Cycle

Bed bugs go through a multi-stage life cycle. First, they are laid as tiny milky white eggs as small as a pinhead, and after five days, a tiny small eye spot is visible on the outside of the egg. A healthy female bed bug can lay up to three eggs each day, and hundreds of eggs in her entire lifetime. Eggs hatch into juvenile bed bugs, or nymphs, in approximately two weeks, and have a 97% rate of survival while hatching. These young bed bugs can be as small as 6mm and almost translucent in color, but still have visible antennae, six short legs, and a flat oval-shaped body. If nymphs fail to find a host during this crucial time in their development, they are unable to molt and die, but still 80% of nymphs reach maturation. Once nymphs molt, shells are left behind as the semi-translucent remains of their exoskeletons but, much like the nymphs, these can be hard to spot with the naked eye. In nine weeks, bed bugs reach full maturity, and, provided the bed bugs have access to food for an extended period of time, they can have a lifespan of up to 9 months. A crucial part of a bed bug’s development is their access to human or animal blood—bed bugs must feed in order to progress to the next stage in their life cycle, though they can survive in a dormant state without a blood meal for several months. An indication of bed bugs can be the sweet and musty smell emitted from the glands below their thorax– – the smell has been compared to coriander and many exterminators train dogs to detect the smell of the pests. However, it’s not just a scent, but a bite they can leave behind.

While bed bugs are small, they pack quite a punch—they feed primarily on human and animal blood, and, while their bites are painless, their effects can be far reaching. Bedbugs have evolved to live in the nests of animals and homes of humans, and can leave a trail of itchy swollen bites, called wheals, from the saliva left behind, similar to a mosquito bite. Luckily, these bites are not capable of transferring pathogens to humans, but if untreated and scratched profusely, a bed bug bite can cause a secondary bacterial infection. If a person is bit several times, they can develop a sensitivity and mild allergic reaction to the bites. Itchiness can last about a week from the initial bite, but the real trouble with bed bugs is getting rid of them so they cannot bite again.

How Do You Get Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are easily transferred from the movement of furniture, clothing, and even pets. This is where they earned the moniker “bed bugs”, as their bites often coincide with the edge of a sheet or blanket on a sleeping host. If a nearby neighbor has a bed bug infestation, the insects can spread to your home through air vents or pipes, and even homes that not have been used in a while are susceptible– -bed bugs can remain dormant for months without feeding. They prefer warm, soft surfaces like beds, as well as couches and armchairs, and will often scurry into dark, cramped crevices. Due to their size, bed bugs can crawl into cracks as thin as a credit card and emerge only to feed, usually in the evening while their unwitting hosts sleep.

Bed bugs are a well-known household pest but, with the proper knowledge and treatment, the insects can be little more than a nuisance. Hopefully, armed with this new information, you have learned precisely what bed bugs are, their life cycle, and how they infest homes.