About Bed Bugs In Edmonton- Description

Bed bugs (Cimex sp.) are a common household pest in Canada and elsewhere. As parasitic insects, they must live near their hosts. Given humans are bed bugs’ hosts, bed bugs live in homes, hotels, and other structures humans are regularly found. Their needs are minimal, requiring only a safe area near their human hosts. Bed bugs quickly move to bite the exposed skin of sleeping humans and then return to their hideout following their blood meal. Despite their small size, bed bugs are able to travel greater than 3 meters from their hideout to take a blood meal but are more commonly found in closer proximity to their host, usually 3 to 6 feet. 

Bed bugs are easily overlooked unless you have learned key features to identify them. Adults are 4 to 5 mm in length, are reddish brown in color, are oval-shaped with flattened bodies, and have two antennae and six legs. The abdomen of bed bugs is darker in color after a blood meal. Their flattened body allows them to hide in small places like bed frames, sofas, behind loose wallpaper, under carpets, in baseboards or cracks in floors, as well as behind picture frames and other areas that make them challenging to observe. Bed bugs hang out in close proximity to one another and a resulting large population will emit an unpleasant, sweet odor.  

Bed bugs are attracted to humans because of the carbon dioxide and warmth we produce. They especially infest multi-unit buildings, like hotels and apartments, which experience high turnover and where they are frequently introduced by luggage or used furniture. Bed bugs are hitchhikers that hide in people’s belongings, like purses, briefcases, and laptop bags; they don’t actually cling to people. Once hiding within belongings, they are easily introduced to homes, offices, hospitals, and other structures. Additionally, bed bugs can infest various modes of transportation. Unlike many other pests, proper hygiene does not prevent bed bug infestations.