Bed Bugs

Reasons for Control: Bed Bugs are not thought to be frequent carriers of disease, but some pathogens may be transmitted during the biting action. The main reason for their control are their bites - they release an anti-clotting agent which causes a sever itchiness. The very presence of the insects is unpleasant, and they also have a pungent and distasteful odour.
Added to this is the social stigma of neighbours and other knowing that you have an infestation. This is often associated with uncleanliness, but Bed Bugs are not fussy, and will just as happily feed off clean skin

Appearance

4 to 5mm long.
Oval and flattened from back to underside, well developed legs, but wings absent.
Mouthparts adapted to piercing and sucking.
Red to brown in colour.

Lifecycle

200 – 500 eggs laid over a 2 month period in batches of 10 to 50.