Bedbug Facts

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• Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, flat, oval-shaped insects that feed on human blood, typically at night.

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• Adults are reddish-brown, around 4–5mm long (about the size of an apple seed) and can hide in very small cracks and crevices.

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• They do not fly or jump, but spread easily through luggage, furniture, clothing, and second-hand items.

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• Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, but their bites can cause itchy skin reactions and significant distress.

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• They can survive for several months without feeding, making them very resilient in unoccupied rooms.

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• Infestations have increased significantly across the UK in recent years, often linked to travel and the movement of second-hand furniture.

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Biology of Bedbugs

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• Female bed bugs lay 200–500 eggs over their lifetime, usually in small batches in hidden crevices near sleeping areas.

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• Eggs hatch in about 6–10 days, and the nymphs must take a blood meal before each of their five moults.

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• The full life cycle from egg to adult typically takes 6–10 weeks under normal room temperatures.

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• Bed bugs are nocturnal and hide during the day in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, skirting boards, and furniture.

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• They are attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide, which is why they target people while they sleep.

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• Adults and nymphs can survive without feeding for weeks or even months in ideal conditions.

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Signs of Bedbugs​

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• Clusters of small, red, itchy bites often in lines or groups on exposed skin (arms, shoulders, neck, legs).

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• Small reddish-brown or black faecal spots (like ink dots) on mattresses, sheets, bed frames, or walls.

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• Shed skins (cast exoskeletons) and tiny pale eggs or eggshells in mattress seams and crevices.

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• A distinctive sweet, musty “buggy” odour in heavily infested rooms.

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• Blood spots on bedding from crushed bugs or bites.

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• Finding live bed bugs (especially at night) or seeing them on or near the bed.

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