Common Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius Linnaeus
Profile
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Hemiptera
Suborder:Heteroptera
Infraorder:Cimicomorpha
Superfamily:Cimicoidea
Characteristics
- Half a centimeter long
- Six legs
- Have large mouth parts
- Can survive without feeding for months
Reproductive/Breeding Habits
Over the course of her lifetime, a female can lay 200-500 eggs. Both male and female bed bugs must feed at least every 14 days in order to reproduce.
Females will lay eggs almost continuously as long as she has access to a blood meal. An infestation from a single pregnant female can rise to 5,000 bed bugs within six months.
Native Orgin and History
It is speculated that bed bugs originated in caves inhabited by bats and humans in the Middle East thousands of years ago. The first mention of bed bugs in recorded history was in 400 B.C. in ancient Greece. Historical documents record the steady spread of bed bugs into Northern Europe over the next couple of milennia.
It is widely believed that bed bugs were brought to America aboard colonial ships in the 17th century. Bed bugs proliferated around the country, infesting homes, movie theatres, public transportation, schools, hotels, rooming houses and other locations from the 1600s through the 1950s.
Now days you get them from hotels, shelters, appartments, and from other peoples clothing.
Effects of Common Bed Bugs
Solution to the problem
- Get rid of clutter.
- Vacuum your home.
- Clean all fabrics.
- Steam fabric and furniture.
- Properly caulking all cracks and crevices will prevent bed bugs from finding their way back into your home and make your maintenance treatments easier.
- Keep it up.