Bites, detection, transmission, treatment, etc. – questions about bed bugs are frequent. With the resurgence of this pest, it’s important to have the right information and best practices to get rid of it. Here are our answers to your questions on the subject.
Bed bugs in infographics
What do bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs are small brown insects that are normally visible to the naked eye, but are difficult to spot because of their small size and habit of hiding in dark corners. An adult bed bug is usually between 4 and 7 millimeters long, about the size of an apple seed. Their bodies are oval and flattened when not feeding. After taking a blood meal, they become more swollen and rounded in shape. Before feeding, bed bugs are brownish or reddish in color. After ingesting blood, their bodies take on a dark red, almost black hue. Young bed bugs, called nymphs, are smaller and lighter, almost translucent in color. They become browner as they grow.
Good to know: bed bugs can give off a characteristic odor when present in large numbers. This smell is often described as slightly sweet or musty, due to the pheromones they release.
➡️ Also worth reading: The appearance and life cycle of bed bugs.
Can you see bed bugs?
Yes, bed bugs are small insects 4 to 7 millimeters long, visible to the naked eye. During the day, these pests hide in various places such as baseboards, box springs, etc.
How long does an infestation of bed bugs take?
A bed bug infestation can happen quickly. A female bed bug can lay between 5 and 10 eggs a day, and up to 500 eggs in her lifetime.
The lifespan of this pest ranges from 6 to 24 months. Eggs hatch in around 10 days, and young bedbugs (nymphs) reach adulthood in 5 to 6 weeks.
A small population of bedbugs can quickly become a large infestation if left untreated. Without prompt intervention, the infestation can reach critical levels in just a few months.
Good to know: Warm room temperatures, between 20 and 28°C, encourage the spread of bed bugs.
How do bed bugs appear?
Bed bugs generally appear after having been introduced into your home through various means, mainly through contact with infested objects or places.
The following are some of the causes of risk:
- Travel: bed bugs can easily attach themselves to your luggage, bags or clothing after a stay in a hotel;
- Second-hand purchases: second-hand bedding and clothing, etc. ;
- Public transport: buses, trains, subways or planes;
- Public places: infested cinemas, libraries, waiting rooms, shared offices, etc.
- Hiking shelters;
- Visiting relatives in infested homes.
How do I know if I have bed bugs?
Detecting the presence of bed bugs in your home can sometimes be difficult, as these insects are discreet and hide in hard-to-reach places. However, there are several signs that can alert you to an infestation:
- Bites on the skin, which usually appear as small red spots, often grouped in lines or clusters on areas of skin exposed during sleep (arms, legs, neck, face).
- Bloodstains on sheets: After feeding on blood, bed bugs can be accidentally crushed during the night, leaving small bloodstains on sheets or bed clothes.
- Bed bug droppings: small black or brown spots, which are actually their excrement. These stains can be seen on sheets, mattresses, baseboards or furniture close to the bed. The stains are often embedded in fabrics and resemble small dots or ink marks.
- Dead skin and eggs: As they grow, bed bugs moult several times. They leave behind small translucent skins that are visible to the naked eye. These molts are often found in the nooks and crannies of mattresses, under box springs or in cracks in furniture.
- Musty or sweet smell: During a heavy infestation, you may detect a slight musty or sweet smell in the room. This smell comes from the pheromones released by bed bugs when they are present in large numbers.
- Visible bed bugs: Although small, adult bed bugs can be visible to the naked eye.
Good to know: dog detection is an effective way of confirming the presence of bed bugs in your home.
How to prevent bed bugs?
When it comes to bed bugs, prevention is better than cure!
Here are a few practical tips to prevent their appearance and limit the risk of infestation.
Adopt good travel practices
If you’re traveling, remember to inspect the bedding in your accommodation. Place your luggage on racks or suitcase holders rather than directly on the floor or bed. When you leave, inspect them. If in doubt, wash your clothes at high temperature and, if possible, vacuum or steam clean your suitcases.
Beware of second-hand furniture. When you buy it, be sure to inspect it thoroughly before taking it home.
Use the right products
Diatomaceous earth is an effective product for preventing the arrival of bed bugs.
Our Serenid diatomaceous earth aerosol eliminates and prevents 100% of bed bugs (eggs, larvae, adults).
You can also use anti-bedbug covers for your bedding. Regularly change and wash your sheets, pillowcases and blankets at high temperature (at least 60°C) to eliminate any bed bugs.
You can also use bed bug traps placed under the foot of the bed to monitor their presence and prevent them from crawling back into the bedding.
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Seal cracks and nooks in your home
Bed bugs like to hide in cracks in walls, baseboards, door frames or electrical outlets. Sealing these openings can help limit their hiding places and prevent their spread through walls or floors.
Frequent cleaning, especially with a vacuum cleaner, helps eliminate potential eggs or bed bugs in carpets, furniture or hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.
➡️ To find out more, discover the complete bed bugs protocol.
What do bed bugs eat?
Bed bugs are hematophagous insects, which means they feed exclusively on blood. They generally bite humans, but can sometimes feed on the blood of animals, such as dogs, cats or birds, if these are present in their environment.
An adult bed bug generally feeds every 3 to 15 days (source), but can survive for several months without feeding if it doesn’t have access to a host.
During periods of dearth, they slow down their metabolism to save energy. A bed bug can survive for 18 months without feeding.
Do bed bugs fly?
No, bed bugs don’t fly. Unlike some other insect pests, such as mosquitoes or flies, these insects don’t have functional wings that enable them to fly. They belong to the Cimicidae family, and while their ancestors may have had wings, today’s bed bugs no longer do.
Do bed bugs jump?
No, bed bugs don’t jump. Unlike certain insects such as fleas or grasshoppers, bed bugs don’t have legs adapted for jumping. They move only by crawling. Although they can spread rapidly through a room, they don’t have the ability to leap to reach a person or object.
Bed bugs: should I throw away my mattress?
On the face of it, the idea of getting rid of a bedbug-infested mattress seems logical. However, it’s a very bad reflex that risks contaminating the surrounding area.
It’s better to treat the mattress than to throw it away.
To do this, you can :
- Vacuum the mattress: dispose of the bag immediately, or empty the contents into an airtight bag to prevent the bedbugs from dispersing again.
- Carry out a high-temperature treatment at at least 100°C (steam, dry heat);
- Use specialized insecticides such as Serenid’s CRYO treatment to kill bed bugs and their eggs;
- Use bed bugswith mattresscovers;
If you decide to dispose of the mattress, it’s important to do so properly to prevent bed bugs from spreading to other areas. Wrap the mattress in a thick plastic cover and seal it before removing it from your home. Mark it clearly as infested to prevent anyone else from picking it up.
How do I know if the bed bugs are gone?
After a bed bug treatment, it’s essential to keep a close eye on your environment to make sure the infestation is completely eradicated.
Here are a few tips:
- Keep an eye on your bites: If you don’t see any new bites for several weeks after treatment, that’s a very good sign;
- Check old bedbug hiding places regularly;
- Watch for suspicious marks and stains;
- Make a second canine detection pass;
- Reprogram a second pass if you’ve called in professional pest control services.
Good to know: After treatment, we recommend that you keep an eye on your home for at least 6 to 8 weeks.
Is it possible to carry bed bugs on your clothes?
Yes, it is possible to carry bed bugs on your clothes, but this is not their preferred mode of travel. Bed bugs are opportunistic insects that prefer to hide in dark places close to their food source, such as mattresses, box springs or cracks in furniture. However, they can also be carried unintentionally on your clothes, bags or other personal items. If you buy second-hand clothes, be particularly careful to wash them at 60°C before wearing them.
