BED BUG HABITS AND LIFECYCLEbedbug

 

Bed bugs are a unique pest with habits and a lifecycle that make normal pest control techniques ineffectual. Firstly, they hatch from eggs and NO PESTICIDE CAN KILL THE BED BUG EGGS. This is why the application of pesticide alone slows the population for a period ranging from a few days to several months, but does not eradicate bed bugs entirely. Pest companies that don’t use steam therefore recommend multiple treatments to try and break the bed bug breeding cycle with varying results and heavy costs. Bed bugs nest in dark cracks, crevices and folds as they are light sensitive and have developed this protective nesting regime. Being laterally extremely thin, even adults are capable of wedging into miniscule hiding places making locating and accessing bed bugs for treatment a difficult process.

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A peg from an infested apartment showing spotting, a sign of nesting bed bugs.

 

Bed bugs can smell 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 thats the last thing you want.

 

UPDATE.... IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT BED BUGS, ONCE PUSHED INTO A 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 IMPERITIVE REASON TO SELECT YOUR TREATMENT REGIME WISELY AS THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE VERY COSTLY OR LONG LASTING.

 

Bed bugs bites are a very poor indicator of bed bugs presence and localle. Without having seen any research to back my theories I will point out that the following observations are anecdotal and based on my experience with bed bugs. I think only a small percentage of the population react to low level bed bug bites. It seems in the early stages of a bed bug infestation, 85 - 95% of people are unaware of the fact that they are host and food source to these tiny vampires. I feel it is similiar to a food allergy where low levels are tolerated but when the amount of the allergen, in this case the anti-coagulant in the saliver of the bed bug, reaches a certain level, the body cannot cope and develops the maddening, itchy rash that drives you mad. This may also explain 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.

 

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.

 

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A "SATELLITE" NEST SHOWING THE RANDOM SPREAD OF EGGS. THESE ARE "CEMENTED" IN PLACE WHEN LAYED.

 

                                     This means one female can start a limitless infestation.

 

lifecycle-bedbug

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 6 months in temperatures common to Australian cities.

 

A  female will lay 2-3 eggs per day, every day, 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.

 

Bed bugs 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 SEEMS TO ME THAT IT IS THE FEMALE, IMPREGNATED BED BUG THAT SEEKS A NEW NEST. THIS WOULD EXPLAIN WHY YOU SEE SEVERAL BED BUGS AROUND THE MAIN INFESTATION SITE AND WHY A BED BUG NESTING IN A NEW HABITAT LIKE A BOOK OR LUGGAGE WILL NATURALLY ENSURE A NEW POPULATION IS BORN WHERE EVER THIS NEW NEST TRAVELS.

 

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 neighboors and even though you may feel some neighboors 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.

 

DO IT ONCE

DO IT RIGHT

DON'T LET THE BED BUGS BITE   bedbug_logosml

0406 882 676

 

 

 

 
   
   
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