Latin: Cimex lectularius
Bed bugs are a well-known pest in Denmark, and they can be difficult to get rid of once they have settled.
Appearance
The bed bug is a specific species of ticks, and they are equipped with a proboscis, which is a typical characteristic among ticks. This proboscis is normally used to suck plant sap, but the bed bug uses it to suck blood. Another characteristic for this species of ticks, is that it is not equipped with wings. The adult bed bug can become 4-5 mm long, and is recognizable by an oval flattened body, which depends on if it has been feeding. After feeding the hind body will swell. When feeding it will get a reddish- brown color.
Biology and behavior
There are various stories about the history of this pest, but many believe that its origin can be dated back to the cave existence of our ancestors, as other cave animals also have bed bugs. The pest itself is nocturnal and often hides in cracks during the day and will come out at night. Bed bugs prefer human blood, but they also suck blood from smaller animals such as rabbits and rats. The typically blood suction takes 5-10 minutes, after which the bed bug will return to its hiding place. Here it will stay hidden for many days until the blood has been digested.
The egg laying takes place in their hiding place, where the eggs are glued to the surface. A bed bug lays about 200 eggs in total during its lifetime: 4-5 daily. The egg laying will only occur in temperature above 10 degrees, and when the eggs hatch the nymphs are only one millimeter long. The development off the nymphs goes through five stages, where they will change skin in between each stage. It can take from two months to one year before a nymph turns into a fully-grown bed bug.
The bed bug can survive several months without blood if they live in favorable temperature conditions. And they will live up to a year at temperatures around 13 degrees.
Damage
When it comes to the damage that this pest causes, it is individual, as there is great difference in how sensitive humans are to the bites from bed bugs. In some cases, a bite from a bed bug can cause a great swelling; these bites are often compared to flea bites. However, bed bugs will bite where the skin is not covered which is different than the flea. Bed bug bites will often be concentrated around the neck, hands, or feet.
Prevention and pest control
Bed bugs are difficult to prevent as they can be brought into the home in many ways. It is important to be aware if you have spent the night in a place with bed bugs or if you suspect so. In these situations, clothes and other object that can withstand heat or cold should be frozen or washed at 55 degrees in the washing machine. Everything else should be thoroughly examined, and you can treat these belongings with an insecticide.
Bed bugs are often spread through clothing, luggage, and furniture. They are found all over the world and often hide in places where it is difficult to spot them, which is why they do spread worldwide. They can spread between flats by moving along pipes. If you find bed bugs in your apartment, you must always notify the landlord if it is rental. As it is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that this pest is removed. If you do not notify the landlord, this pest may spread to the entire property, and you may incur serious liability.
If it is your own apartment or house, it is recommended that you contact a pest control company. Professionals have a good knowledge of the pest and know their whereabouts, which is necessary for a quick and effective control of the bed bugs. Improper control of the pest may result in spreading the problem or not getting rid of it.
How to fight bed bugs yourself
If you are going to fight bed bugs yourself, it is essential to find their shelters. The pest stays near beds where they live in both the bed, bed poles and mattress. Other places can be the back side of cabinets, pictures, cracks, behind loose wallpapers, lists as well as along skirting boards. You should keep an eye out for black excrements, empty skin, and eggshells.
Fighting bed bugs on your own can be done with various methods which is listed below.
Insecticides
You can treat bed bugs in different ways in the home, like spray liquid or powder. A thorough treatment of the habitats of bed bugs can be done with remedies against creeping and crawling insects. All places where bed bugs reside and can pass should be treated thoroughly.
Insect lacquer
Another way to control the pest is insect varnish. This is a remedy that is applied with a brush and hardens. When harden it will appear as a lacquer-like coating that the pest must pass a few times to get enough. This is a good supplement treatment, where you can use this along panels, pipes, and other places. The lacquer last for several months.
Heat and cold treatment
Bed bugs live at certain temperatures and therefore you can fight them with heat or cold as they are particularly hypersensitive to this. Bed bugs at all stages are killed if heated over 50 degrees after a few hours, which is also the case at -18 degrees. However, you must be aware that the treatment time is determined by how isolated a material the bed bugs hide in. Therefore, you should always leave it in the freezer for 1-2 days to be sure that all pests are dead.
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)