Latin name: Cimex lectularius
Bed bugs are a growing pest issue across Australia, particularly in residential properties, hotels, short-stay accommodation, and multi-unit buildings. Their ability to spread through luggage, furniture, and personal belongings has led to increased reports in both urban and regional areas.
Bed bugs are blood-feeding insects that rely exclusively on humans (and occasionally other warm-blooded animals) for food. They are nocturnal and typically feed at night while people are sleeping, making infestations difficult to detect in the early stages.
Bed bug activity occurs year-round indoors but increases during warmer months. In Western Australia, travel, high occupancy buildings, and warmer conditions contribute to faster population growth and spread.
Lifecycle
The bed bug lifecycle consists of egg, nymph, and adult stages and can take 5–10 weeks to complete under favourable conditions.
- Eggs are laid in cracks, seams, and hidden crevices near sleeping areas
- Eggs hatch into nymphs, which resemble smaller versions of adults
- Nymphs require a blood meal before each moult
- Adults feed regularly and can survive for months without feeding
Multiple generations can develop quickly in heated indoor environments.
Identification
- Flat, oval-shaped body
- Size approximately 4–7 mm when fully grown
- Reddish-brown in colour, becoming darker after feeding
- Wingless with short antennae
- Slow moving compared to fleas
- Often detected by black spotting (faecal stains), shed skins, or blood marks on bedding
Bed bugs hide during the day in mattress seams, bed frames, furniture, skirting boards, and wall cracks.
Damage
Bed bugs do not cause structural damage but have significant health and wellbeing impacts.
- Itchy, red bite marks, often in lines or clusters
- Allergic reactions in some individuals
- Secondary infections from scratching
- Sleep disturbance and anxiety
- Rapid spread between rooms or units in multi-dwelling buildings
Bed bug infestations require prompt and coordinated treatment to prevent ongoing spread.
