table of contents
- Adult animals
- Larvae
- Eggs
- frequently asked Questions
Bed bug infestations can become a serious problem if the infestation is not detected in time. Then the bugs have multiplied so much that they become a real nuisance.
In a nutshell
- adult animals can be seen with the naked eye
- during the day they live hidden and shy of light, at night they suck blood
- Traces of excrement and dried-up casings reveal the hiding places
- have stink glands, typical smell can be detected
- rarely found on humans or even animals
Adult animals
Usually the bloodsuckers are thin enough to fit into any crack. Only when fully soaked does the body appear rounder. Body length also fluctuates with food intake. It can be between almost 4 mm and 9 mm. Another characteristic of a bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is its body hair and its reddish brown color. Compared to leaf bugs, the rear wings are missing and the front ones are not suitable for flying either. The bed bug is therefore doomed to run and cannot spread through the air.
Note: The life expectancy is between 6 and 12 months, during which the animals often reproduce.
Larvae
the Larvae are similar to the adult animals, however, depending on the stage, they are much smaller and slightly lighter in color. Until they are fully grown, they have to shed their skin a total of 5 times. This can be recognized by the dried up covers that can be found in the hiding place of the bloodsuckers. The larvae must suckle blood at every stage of development in order to continue to grow.
Other characteristics of young bed bugs that adult animals also have:
- Body shape oval and flat
- 3 pairs of legs
- no wings
- Proboscis
Note: The newly hatched bloodsuckers can hardly be seen with the naked eye and are still pale, almost transparent.
Eggs
Adult females lay between 1 and 10 eggs almost every day, sometimes more. Partly individually, but also in small groups. Most of them are in the hiding spots that the bugs seek out during the day, i.e. in cracks and crevices. But they can also stick openly to furniture or the bedpost, provided the surfaces are rough. The eggs are whitish or cream-colored. Depending on the temperature, the larvae hatch from them within 7 days.
frequently asked Questions
In addition to mosquitoes, fleas can also cause painful and itchy bites or stings, especially in pet owners. Leave bites. Ticks do not let go of their hosts after a bite, they suck on each other. Otherwise, insects that stung or bite in the open air and to which the body only reacted late are also possible. This is especially true with stitches on the legs.
The best protection is provided by brightness, if it is unavoidable to have to live with the bed bugs for the time being, it helps to leave the light on. The bed should then be cleared of the bedbugs as soon as possible. After that, double-sided tape or bean leaves around the bed will help.
No, they live neither on humans nor on animals, they only come to suckle blood at night. So it is unlikely that Pets the insects spread.
Once you have found a place to hide, the first thing you should do is vacuum it. This will get rid of many bed bugs alone. The vacuum cleaner bag is then packed airtight and disposed of in the garbage can. If necessary, it can be frozen beforehand.
