2 pp., 1 illustrationBed bugs infest beds, bedding and furniture and feed on the blood of humans.  This publication explains how to identify bed bugs, how to locate infestations and how to control these pests

Gold, Roger E.

Howell Jr., Harry N.

Texas A&M University

Bed Bugs
L-1742
9-01
Roger Gold and Harry Howell*
Bed bugs, generally called “chinces” inTexas, feed on blood, principally that ofhumans, by piercing the skin with their
elongated beaks. Although they inflict misery on
their victims, it has never been proven that bed
bugs carry disease-causing pathogens in the
United States. Bed bugs are spread chiefly by the
clothing and baggage of travelers, secondhand
beds, bedding, furniture and laundry.
Identification
A mature bed bug is a dark brown,
wingless insect. Its size and color
depend on the amount of blood
that the body contains. An
unfed bed bug is between
1/4 and 3/8 inch long.
The upper surface of
the body has a flimsy,
crinkly appearance.
When engorged with
blood, the body
becomes elongated
and swollen, and the
color changes from
brown to dull red.
Bed bug eggs are
white and about 1/32
inch long. Newly hatched
bugs are translucent and
nearly colorless, but similar in
shape to the adults. As they grow,
they molt (shed their skins). After each
molt they are pale in color, then become brown-
ish as the exoskeleton hardens.
Biology and Habits
Under favorable temperatures (above 70
degrees F) and with regular feeding, a female
bed bug will lay about 200 eggs during her life-
time three or four per day. Eggs are coated with
a sticky substance that adheres them to objects
on which they are deposited. The eggs hatch in 6
to 17 days, and the nymphs find a host and
begin to feed on blood immediately. Bed bugs
reach maturity after five molts. There
may be three or more generations
each year. Environmental factors
and the availability of food
will cause considerable
variation in the develop-
ment rate of all stages of
growth. Bed bugs may
live for several weeks
to several months
without feeding,
depending upon the
temperature.
Bed bugs feed most-
ly at night by piercing
the skin of people while
they sleep. However, if
they are very hungry and if
the light is dim, they will
feed during the day.
When bed bugs bite, they inject a
fluid into a person’s skin that enables the
insect to withdraw blood. Often the fluid causes
the skin to become irritated, inflamed and itchy.
The bite produces elongated, spindle-shaped
welts. If the bites are on the limbs (arms or legs),
these welts will be aligned with the long axis of
*Professor and Chair, Urban Entomology, Texas Cooperative
Extension, The Texas A&M University System; Associate Research
Scientist, Texas Cooperative Extension, The Texas A&M University
System.
Mature bed bug. Drawing is
approximately six times
actual size.
the limb. This elongated, spindle shape distin-
guishes the welts from those from mosquito or
flea bites.
If its feeding is undisturbed, a full-grown bed
bug becomes engorged with blood in 3 to 5 min-
utes. It then crawls to its hiding place, where it
remains for several days digesting its meal.
When hungry, the bug emerges from hiding and
seeks another host for a blood meal.
Bed bug hiding places are evident by black or
brown spots of dried excrement on surfaces
where the bugs rest. Eggs, egg shells and cast
skins also may be seen near these places. There
usually is a distinctive odor in rooms where bed
bugs are numerous.
At the beginning of an infestation in a room,
bed bugs are likely to be found only in the tufts,
seams, and folds of mattresses and covers. Later
they spread to crevices in the bedsteads. If
allowed to multiply, they establish themselves
behind baseboards, window and door casings,
pictures and picture moldings, and in furniture,
loosened wallpaper, cracks in plaster and parti-
tions.
Control
To control bed bugs in homes, locate their hid-
ing places and improve sanitation by vacuuming
or removing the bugs by hand. As necessary, you
may need to treat with an insecticide approved
for this use. Select a product whose label
includes specific directions for bed bug control.
Spray or dust bed slats, springs, and frame and
other hiding places in the room.
Do not use any insecticide on a mattress
unless the product label specifically gives direc-
tions for this use. Apply a light application to the
entire surface of the mattress and in cracks and
crevices, along seams, tufts, and folds. Allow 1 to
2 hours for treated surfaces to dry prior to use.
Plastic mattress covers may also help to prevent
bed bug infestations.
Because it is impossible to penetrate all hiding
places, control is usually not immediate. A few
living bugs may be seen for a week to 10 days
after application. After 10 days, apply a second
treatment to kill the just-hatching nymphs. The
pesticides used for bed bug control have a short
residual life, and so this second application is
always needed. For heavily infected areas, it is
recommended that a commercial pest control
operator be consulted to control the infestation.
Insecticide label clearances are subject to
change, and changes may have occurred since
this publication was printed. The pesticide user
is always responsible for the effects of pesticides
on his own plants or household goods as well as
problems cause by drift from his property to
other properties or plants. Always read and fol-
low carefully the instructions on the container
label.
Produced by AgriLife Communications and Marketing, The Texas A&M University System
Extension publications can be found on the Web at: http://AgriLifebookstore.org
Educational programs of Texas Cooperative Extension are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national
origin.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and
June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. Chester P. Fehlis, Deputy Director, Texas Cooperative Extension,
The Texas A&M University System.


English

Bed Bugs

Texas A&amp;M Repository

Bed BugsL-17429-01Roger Gold and Harry Howell*Bed bugs, generally called “chinces” inTexas, feed on blood, principally that ofhumans, by piercing the skin with theirelongated beaks. Although they inflict misery ontheir victims, it has never been proven that bedbugs carry disease-causing pathogens in theUnited States. Bed bugs are spread chiefly by theclothing and baggage of travelers, secondhandbeds, bedding, furniture and laundry.IdentificationA mature bed bug is a dark brown,wingless insect. Its size and colordepend on the amount of bloodthat the body contains. Anunfed bed bug is between1/4 and 3/8 inch long.The upper surface ofthe body has a flimsy,crinkly appearance.When engorged withblood, the bodybecomes elongatedand swollen, and thecolor changes frombrown to dull red.Bed bug eggs arewhite and about 1/32inch long. Newly hatchedbugs are translucent andnearly colorless, but similar inshape to the adults. As they grow,they molt (shed their skins). After eachmolt they are pale in color, then become brown-ish as the exoskeleton hardens.Biology and HabitsUnder favorable temperatures (above 70degrees F) and with regular feeding, a femalebed bug will lay about 200 eggs during her life-time three or four per day. Eggs are coated witha sticky substance that adheres them to objectson which they are deposited. The eggs hatch in 6to 17 days, and the nymphs find a host andbegin to feed on blood immediately. Bed bugsreach maturity after five molts. Theremay be three or more generationseach year. Environmental factorsand the availability of foodwill cause considerablevariation in the develop-ment rate of all stages ofgrowth. Bed bugs maylive for several weeksto several monthswithout feeding,depending upon thetemperature.Bed bugs feed most-ly at night by piercingthe skin of people whilethey sleep. However, ifthey are very hungry and ifthe light is dim, they willfeed during the day.When bed bugs bite, they inject afluid into a person’s skin that enables theinsect to withdraw blood. Often the fluid causesthe skin to become irritated, inflamed and itchy.The bite produces elongated, spindle-shapedwelts. If the bites are on the limbs (arms or legs),these welts will be aligned with the long axis of*Professor and Chair, Urban Entomology, Texas CooperativeExtension, The Texas A&M University System; Associate ResearchScientist, Texas Cooperative Extension, The Texas A&M UniversitySystem.Mature bed bug. Drawing isapproximately six timesactual size.the limb. This elongated, spindle shape distin-guishes the welts from those from mosquito orflea bites.If its feeding is undisturbed, a full-grown bedbug becomes engorged with blood in 3 to 5 min-utes. It then crawls to its hiding place, where itremains for several days digesting its meal.When hungry, the bug emerges from hiding andseeks another host for a blood meal.Bed bug hiding places are evident by black orbrown spots of dried excrement on surfaceswhere the bugs rest. Eggs, egg shells and castskins also may be seen near these places. Thereusually is a distinctive odor in rooms where bedbugs are numerous.At the beginning of an infestation in a room,bed bugs are likely to be found only in the tufts,seams, and folds of mattresses and covers. Laterthey spread to crevices in the bedsteads. Ifallowed to multiply, they establish themselvesbehind baseboards, window and door casings,pictures and picture moldings, and in furniture,loosened wallpaper, cracks in plaster and parti-tions.ControlTo control bed bugs in homes, locate their hid-ing places and improve sanitation by vacuumingor removing the bugs by hand. As necessary, youmay need to treat with an insecticide approvedfor this use. Select a product whose labelincludes specific directions for bed bug control.Spray or dust bed slats, springs, and frame andother hiding places in the room.Do not use any insecticide on a mattressunless the product label specifically gives direc-tions for this use. Apply a light application to theentire surface of the mattress and in cracks andcrevices, along seams, tufts, and folds. Allow 1 to2 hours for treated surfaces to dry prior to use.Plastic mattress covers may also help to preventbed bug infestations.Because it is impossible to penetrate all hidingplaces, control is usually not immediate. A fewliving bugs may be seen for a week to 10 daysafter application. After 10 days, apply a secondtreatment to kill the just-hatching nymphs. Thepesticides used for bed bug control have a shortresidual life, and so this second application isalways needed. For heavily infected areas, it isrecommended that a commercial pest controloperator be consulted to control the infestation.Insecticide label clearances are subject tochange, and changes may have occurred sincethis publication was printed. The pesticide useris always responsible for the effects of pesticideson his own plants or household goods as well asproblems cause by drift from his property toother properties or plants. Always read and fol-low carefully the instructions on the containerlabel.Produced by AgriLife Communications and Marketing, The Texas A&M University SystemExtension publications can be found on the Web at: http://AgriLifebookstore.orgEducational programs of Texas Cooperative Extension are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or nationalorigin.Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, andJune 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. Chester P. Fehlis, Deputy Director, Texas Cooperative Extension,The Texas A&M University System.

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Bed Bugs

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Bed Bugs

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Texas A&M University

Texas A&amp;M Repository

Texas A&M Repository