Bed bugs have a strong sense of smell and are repelled by many of the pesticides commonly used for general pest control. So, if the pesticide or insecticide does not immediately kill bed bugs, they will fan out and wait until the pesticide fades or find new victims. This can mean the population is being spread further throughout the premises and that's the last thing you want.

UPDATE.... IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT BED BUGS, ONCE PUSHED INTO WALL, ROOF OR FLOOR CAVITIES OR ANY OTHER HIDING SPACE BY THE USE OF STRONG SMELLING INSECTICIDES OR PESTICIDES, REMAIN IN THIS NEW HABITAT AS LONG AS THEY CAN ACCESS A HOST. THEY DO NOT, AS SUGGESTED BY SO CALLED EXPERTS, RETURN TO THE SCENE BUT RATHER, ONLY RE-APPEAR WHEN THE POPULATION GROWS THROUGH NORMAL BREEDING. THIS HAS CAUSED SOME FAILURES AND MADE ME AWARE THAT ERADICATION AFTER AN INCORRECT TREATMENT BECOMES MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND COSTLY. ANOTHER IMPERATIVE REASON TO SELECT YOUR TREATMENT REGIME WISELY AS THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE VERY CONFUSING, COSTLY AND LONG LASTING.

Bed bugs bites are a very poor indicator of bed bugs presence and locale. . Only a small percentage of our population react to low numbers of bed bug bites. Research has now shown that when a group of people are exposed to a dozen feeding bed bugs in a night, only 3.5 percent of the group reacted. Most people are unaware of the fact that they are host and food source to these tiny vampires in the early stages of an infestation. It is similar to a food allergy where low levels are tolerated but when the amount of the allergen, in this case the anti-coagulant in the saliva of the bed bug, reaches a certain level, the body cannot cope and develops the maddening, itchy rash that drives you mad. This also explains why some people can take up to 10 days to react to bites.

A female bed bug mates only once and then lays 2-3 eggs per day for the rest of her life. The population will grow at a steady pace for the first couple of months but then, as new adults start to lay eggs, numbers really take off.
 

UPDATE: THIS INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO ME BUT I NOW FIND IT IS NOT COMPLETELY CORRECT. AN IMPREGNATED FEMALE, ONCE IT HAS HAD A BLOOD MEAL, CAN LAY EGGS FOR FIVE WEEKS (WHICH IS A FAIR PORTION OF HER LIFE). AFTER THIS LAYING CEASES UNTIL SHE IS RE- IMPREGNATED.

A "SATELLITE" NEST SHOWING THE RANDOM SPREAD OF EGGS. THESE ARE "CEMENTED" IN PLACE WHEN LAYED AND ARE VIRTUALLY INVISIBLE ON A LIGHT SURFACE.

The lifecycle of the bed bug varies dependant on the temperature. They have been observed to live for periods greater than twelve months (without a meal), though this is in cold climates and a normal time frame would be 4 to 8 months in temperatures common to Australian cities.

A  female will lay 2-3 eggs per day, every day for five weeks, after one mating. Eggs hatch in 8-12 days and the larvae then progress through the life stages or instars by taking a blood meal.

   



               A bed bug egg                             A 1st instar unfed                         A fed 1st instar









  
A 2nd instar                                                            











          
   
An adult                                                     Adult after feeding

OVER THE COMING WEEKS I WILL ATTEMPT TO PHOTOGRAPH ALL LIFE STAGES TO SCALE TO ASSIST IN IDENTIFICATION. THESE BUGS ARE FUMIGATED OVERNIGHT SO, ALTHOUGH DEAD, THEY STILL SHOW THE TRUE CHARACTERISTICS. NOTE THE SIZE AND TRANSPARENCY OF THE FIRST LIFE STAGE OR INSTAR, ON A LIGHT BACKGROUND IT IS VIRTUALLY INVISIBLE.

Bed bugs normally live near the food source, you, as they are slow moving, and as they are only active for an hour between 12 and 4 am, they will find thier way to, and nest, somewhere in or near the bed. As the population grows, like a city of people, the bed bugs spread to outlying areas like bedside cabinets, skirting boards, shoes, bags, books or clothes then cupboards and wall/floor/roof cavities, then other rooms and eventually could infest adjoining units or houses. Large populations give off a sickly sweet smell and this has led to the prospect of using a sniffer dog to locate nests.

UPDATE...IT IS THE FEMALE, IMPREGNATED BED BUG THAT SEEKS A NEW NEST. THIS WOULD EXPLAIN WHY A BED BUG NESTING IN A NEW HABITAT LIKE A BOOK OR LUGGAGE WILL NATURALLY ENSURE A NEW POPULATION IS STARTED FROM THIS IMPREGNATED FEMALE AT JOURNEYS END.

This should tell you why you need to treat an infestation as soon as possible. It should also explain why our common reactions to an infestation of bed bugs are the worst things to do. That is a/ spray the room with insecticide which can force them into other parts of the house and b/ throw out infested furniture which is ineffectual and a waste of money and generally ensures you drop bed bugs as you move the object through the house, further spreading the infestation. The furniture sitting outside forces bed bugs to migrate either back to your house or you could be giving batches of bed bugs to your neighbours and even though you may feel some neighbours deserve this, it really isn't a very good idea.

The need for bed bugs to stay close to their host gives us a great opportunity to eradicate the entire population so leave them alone and get professional, specialised treatment.

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