Bed bug is a small, flattened, wingless, reddish brown insect. This insect feeds solely on the blood of warm-blooded animals including human beings. The adult is approximately 5-8 mm long whereas nymphs look similar to fully developed adults but are more yellowish brown in colour.

Behaviour:

Bed bugs are nocturnal; they infest mostly bedrooms and prefer to feed in darkness. They leave black faecal spots in the area of their harborage. When crushed or disturbed, bed bugs release unpleasant smell.

Where to find them?

Throughout the day, these insects stay hidden in cracks and crevices of bed frames, in the gaps of floors, mattresses, curtain folds, behind electrical cables, pictures, photo frames, etc., practically every possible location occupied by human for long duration can be colonized by bed bugs. Hospitals, theaters, public transport, hostels, hotels are common places of bed bug infestation.

Risk:

However bed bug causes sleeplessness. Before sucking blood, the bed bug injects saliva secretion into the blood stream which may give rise to itching sensation in case of sensitive individuals. In most cases a small, swollen rash may develop at the site of bite. Bed bugs are not known to transmit any diseases.