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REGIONAL PEST REPORT

Winter season

Pest threat

Mice are moving inside and other wildlife may be looking for potential harbourage areas. Cluster flies have hibernated in attics and wall voids. As the temperature fluctuates keep your eyes and ears open for the signs and sounds of unwanted pests this winter. Carpenter ant activity may be seen in the home where moisture is found on a warmer day.

 

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Get more info on local pests

Bed Bug Life Stages

Bed bugs are nocturnal, reddish brown insects that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. They are wingless insects and have flattened bodies, allowing them to hide in small areas such as floor cracks, carpets, bedding, mattresses and even upholstered furniture.

A bed bug's life begins as an egg which is grain-like and milky-white in colour. Female bed bugs lay between five and 12 eggs each day and may lay up to five hundred eggs within her lifetime. Bed bug eggs are laid either singly or in clusters and are usually placed in tight cracks and crevices. A single bed bug egg is approximately one millimetre in length and is comparable in size to two grains of salt. Eggs hatch within a week and newly born bed bugs will immediately begin to feed.

Young bed bugs, or nymphs, pass through five molts (growing stages) before reaching maturity. Nymphs can appear similar to adults but are smaller in size and are not yet sexually mature. Nymphs are also yellow-white in colour, while adults are reddish-brown. In order to complete a molting (growing) stage, a nymph requires a blood meal. Nymphs can molt and become adults within five weeks at room temperatures.

The life span of a bedbug most commonly ranges from four to six months. Some bedbugs may live for years and can go months without feeding.

If you believe you have identified a bedbug within your home, or place of business contact your local pest control company immediately to arrange for an inspection.

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Lifecycle Of A Bed Bug

Eggs... Bed bug eggs are very small, about 1mm long, white and are very difficult to see. A female bed bug will lay 5 to 12 eggs per day and about 300-500 eggs in her lifetime. They have a sticky coating, allowing the female bed bug to stick them into cracks & crevices for hiding. Newly laid eggs take about a week to hatch.

Nymphs... Newly hatched nymphs feed as soon as food is available and will go through five instars (growth stages) before becoming adults. They must have a blood meal to move to the next instar stage.

Adults... Adult bed bugs can live for as long as a year, and for several months without feeding. The ideal environment for bed bug reproduction and survival is between 20 and 28˚C, where they will thrive year round.