The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.)

Appearance: Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown, flat and oval, and their size varies from 6-7 mm.

Reproduction: Adult females lay 200-500 eggs during their lifespan. The eggs are pearly white, cylindrical in shape, about 1 mm long. Larvae (nymphs) 1-3 mm long, visible to the naked eye and bright in color, hatch from the eggs. The larvae go through five coatings before they become adults.

Habits and habitat: Both genders of bed bugs feed on human blood. They are nocturnal animals, so they attack their host, ie they sting mostly during the night. They can survive without food for up to a year. They usually live on beds; mattress edges, joints of wooden structures and seams on extra beds.