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หน้าหลัก > คลังคลิปความรู้ Knowledge bank (Clip) > ห้องสมุดแมลง Insect Library > insect library > Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius)

Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius) | Hidden Blood-Sucking Parasite in Homes and Hotels

Tags: bed bug, cimex lectularius, household pests, blood-sucking insect, hotel pest, mattress infestation, bed bug control, nocturnal insect, indoor parasites, pest management, hygiene

Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius)

A Silent Blood-Feeding Parasite in Residential Spaces

The bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a parasitic insect that presents a significant hygiene concern in homes, hotels, and residential environments worldwide. With its stealthy behavior, feeding on human blood at night and hiding in small cracks during the day, it is a persistent household pest that silently impacts quality of life.

Basic Information

  • Common Name: Bed Bug
  • Scientific Name:Cimex lectularius
  • Family: Cimicidae
  • Order: Hemiptera

Morphology

Body Size: ~5.5 mm
Shape: Oval, dorsoventrally flattened
Color: Reddish-brown
Wings: None (wingless)
Mouthparts: Piercing-sucking
  • Two channels: one for injecting anticoagulant saliva, the other for blood suction
Legs: Claw-tipped clinging legs
Antennae: Filiform (thread-like)

Distinctive Features:

  • Pronotum expanded near the eyes
  • Females are larger than males
  • Paired notched plates at the last abdominal segment
  • Fine hairs cover the body
  • Possess thoracic scent glands for releasing odor when threatened

Life Cycle (Incomplete Metamorphosis)

Egg Stage:
  • White, ~1.5 mm
  • Females lay 300–500 eggs per season
  • Incubation: ~10 days
Nymph Stage:
  • 5 instars, 4 molts
  • Starts off white, turns brown as it matures
  • Development: 37–128 days depending on conditions
Adult Stage:
  • Lifespan: Several months up to 1 year
  • Entire life cycle: 7–10 weeks

Feeding & Destructive Behavior

Diet: Blood from warm-blooded hosts, primarily humans
Feeding Behavior:
  • Not host-bound; emerges only to feed
  • Locates hosts via CO₂ and body heat
  • Feeds at night, typically without detection
  • Can feed in the nymphal stage

Impact on Humans:

  • Red, itchy bites
  • Skin infections from scratching
  • Emotional stress and insomnia

Distribution & Spread

  • Common in tropical and subtropical zones
  • Found in hotels, dormitories, worker camps, hospitals, and homes
  • Spreads via luggage, second-hand furniture, mattresses, and linens

Prevention & Control Strategies

✅ Physical Control

Vacuum Cleaning:
  • Target seams, furniture cracks, curtains, bed frames
Heat Treatment:
  • Wash linens at ≥60°C for at least 10 minutes
  • Sun-drying or heat drying recommended
Habitat Modification:
  • Seal cracks and joints with silicone or caulk
  • Remove clutter, heavy rugs, or infested wooden frames

✅ Chemical Control (Use by Trained Professionals)

  • Organophosphates: Diazinon
  • Carbamates: Fenobucarb, Propoxur
  • Pyrethroids: Esfenvalerate, Cypermethrin, Bifenthrin, Etofenprox
  • Pyrroles: Chlorfenapyr
  • Phenylpyrazoles: Fipronil
  • Neonicotinoids: Imidacloprid

Rotate chemical groups to reduce insecticide resistance.

✅ Conclusion

Though small and wingless, Cimex lectularius is a formidable pest in human dwellings. Its silent blood-feeding habits and strong hiding ability make it a health and psychological nuisance. Effective control requires routine inspections, cleanliness, and integrated pest management (IPM) approaches that combine physical and chemical strategies to eliminate infestations sustainably.

Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius) — 3 High-Intent, Google-Style FAQs

Q: 1 How can I tell bed bugs from mosquito bites—and confirm an infestation fast?

1) Bites: Often in lines or clusters (breakfast-lunch-dinner pattern) on exposed skin; reactions vary from none → itchy welts.

2) Find physical evidence:
  • Rust/black dots (fecal spots) on sheets, mattress seams, headboard.
  • Shed skins (papery, tan) and pearly eggs glued into cracks.
  • Sweet, musty odor in heavy infestations.
3) Quick DIY check: At night, use a flashlight + credit card to probe mattress seams, bed frame screw holes, and baseboards. Install bed-leg interceptors (pitfall cups) for 3–7 nights—catching even a single bug confirms activity.

Q: 2 What actually kills all life stages (including eggs) the fastest—heat or chemicals?

A:
1) Heat is king for eggs:
  • Laundry: Wash ≥60 °C (140 °F) and dry on high heat ≥30 min after items are fully hot.
  • Steam: 70–100 °C (158–212 °F) applied slowly (≈2–3 cm/sec) to seams, tufts, and cracks.
  • Whole-room heat (professionals) holds contents ≥50–60 °C for several hours to penetrate furniture.

2) Chemicals help with refuges & re-introductions:
  • Residuals: Rotate classes; many eggs resist typical sprays.
  • Desiccant dusts (silica gel/DE) in wall voids, baseboards, bed frames provide long-term kill.
3) Best results = IPM stack: Declutter → vacuum with crevice tool (discard bag) → encase mattress/box spring → interceptors → targeted residuals/dusts → follow-up inspectionsat 7–10 day intervals.

Q: 3 How do I avoid bringing bed bugs home (from travel or second-hand items)?

A:
  • On the road: Keep luggage on metal rack away from wall, inspect mattress seams/headboard before unpacking, store clothes in sealed bags.
  • Homecoming protocol: Bag luggage; dryer-treat clothes on high 30+ min; heat-treat or freeze non-washables (–18 °C/0 °F for 3–4 days after the core is frozen).
  • Second-hand caution: Avoid curbside pickups; for purchased items, inspect staple lines, fabric dust covers, drawer joints; treat with steam + desiccant dust before entry.
  • Ongoing prevention: Bed encasements, interceptors under bed legs, and sealing cracks/crevices reduce hiding places and give early warning.

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