The instar bed bug is a common insect that has been spotted in UK homes for years. In fact, it was first spotted in the year 2001 when a member of the public sent it for identification. Since this date, there have been further sightings of the instar bed bug spreading across the country resulting in many people wanting to understand more about this insect.
Bed bugs have five developmental life stages. Each immature life stage (called nymphs or instars) must take a blood meal in order to develop into the next life stage. In stage one, the newly hatched bedbug is called a first instar nymph. It has no visible eyes or wings, and its skin is transparent.
The first instar nymph molts within about 10 days of hatching and becomes a second instar nymph. This nymph is larger than the first instar nymph and has visible eyes and wings. The second instar molts within three days of hatching then become a third instar nymph. This stage lasts about 10 days, during which time the bug grows larger still and develops through its last molt into an adult bed bug with fully developed wings and legs (though not yet sexually mature).
What Causes Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are not the result of your housekeeping or cleanliness. Bed bugs are a pest that can be found in any home or building.
Bed bugs live off human blood and are generally found in places where people sleep and rest. Bed bugs hide in cracks and crevices during the day, then come out to feed at night. They prefer to feed on humans, but will also feed on other warm-blooded animals.
The most common way to get bedbugs is by moving into an apartment or house that has an infestation. It’s important to check for bedbugs before you move into a new place, especially if you are renting.
You can also get bedbugs from traveling to another country that has an active infestation of them, or if someone else travels with them on their clothing or belongings.
Bed Bug First Instar Feeding
Knowing what to look for is the first step in identifying and controlling bed bugs. There are many bugs that look like bed bugs, so an accurate identification is a critical first step to avoid costly treatment for the wrong bug. The types of bugs that look like bed bugs will vary somewhat depending on your region of the country, but photos and descriptions of common look-alikes have been compiled by researchers:
Appearance of Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius L.)
Two adult bed bugs in a petri dish (courtesy of Kim Jung)
Adult bed bugs, in general, are:
- about the size of an apple seed (5-7 mm or 3/16 – 1/4 inch long);
- long and brown, with a flat, oval-shaped body (if not fed recently);
- balloon-like, reddish-brown, and more elongated (if fed recently);
- a “true bug” (characteristics of true bugs include a beak with three segments; antenna that have four parts; wings that are not used for flying; and short, golden-colored hairs); and
- smelly, with a “musty-sweetish” odor produced through glands on the lower side of the body.
Young bed bugs (also called nymphs), in general, are:
- smaller, translucent, or whitish-yellow in color; and
- if not recently fed, can be nearly invisible to the naked eye because of coloring and size.
Bed bug eggs, in general, are:
- tiny, the size of a pinhead;
- pearl-white in color; and
- marked by an eye spot if more than five days old.
Bed Bug Life Cycle
Life cycle of the bed bug. Photo Courtesy of Stephen Doggett, Department of Medical Entomology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
The life cycle of a bed bug is shown in the photograph below. During its lifetime, a bed bug will go through the following stages (Starting from the top left, moving counterclockwise):
- Eggs (1mm).
- 1st stage nymph (1.5 mm).
- 2nd stage nymph (2 mm).
- 3rd stage nymph (2.5 mm).
- 4th stage nymph (3 mm).
- 5th stage nymph (4.5 mm).
- Unfed adult female.
- Unfed adult male.
How Long Does It Take To Break the Bed Bug Cycle?
The answer to this question depends on a lot of factors, but the most important thing to know is that it can take months.
Bed bugs are small and hard to see, and they can live for months without food. They’re also very good at hiding in places that aren’t easy for humans (like mattresses) and making themselves scarce when humans are around.
In order to break the cycle of bed bugs in your home, you need to understand where they’re coming from, which is not always an easy task. You may have had them for a while before you even realized they were there because they only come out at night and tend to live in places like under mattresses or furniture where you don’t spend much time during the day. Once you do realize they’re there, though, it takes some time, often several months, to get rid of them completely.
Early Signs of Bed Bugs
The signs of bed bugs are not always easy to spot. They can be tough to notice because they are small and can be found in places where you don’t normally look. Bed bugs can hide in seams and folds of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and other furniture, behind baseboards and electrical outlets, and even inside alarm clocks.
The most common place to find bed bug bites is on the face, neck, and arms. The bites are often in a straight line with multiple bites. Bed bugs do not fly or jump so they must crawl to get from one place to another. They are able to move quickly so if you see any evidence of them (e.g., fecal spots) it is best to treat the area immediately before they have time to multiply. If you find blood spots on your sheets or mattress then you should contact a professional pest control company as soon as possible because this may indicate that there is already an infestation in progress.
List Of Bed Bug and Flea Killer
There are so many different kinds of insects that can infest your home, but bed bugs and fleas are among the most common. These pests can be extremely difficult to get rid of, and they can cause serious health issues if left unchecked. The good news is that there are products available that will kill both bed bugs and fleas quickly and effectively. If you’re looking for a product that will keep your home free of these pests, here’s a list of some of the best products on the market today:
SafeRest Mattress Protector – Queen, Premium, Cotton, Waterproof Mattress Cover Protectors – White
Price: $37.99
Features :
- Protects Against Urine, Fluids, Perspiration
- Cotton Terry Surface With Membrane Back Coating (Waterproof, Noiseless and Breathable)
- Great For Those With Kids, Pets Or Incontinence (OEKO-TEX Certified SH025 151792)
- Will Not Change The Feel of Your Mattress (Registered with the FDA as a Class 1 Medical Device)
- Fitted Sheet Style Design – Queen Size Mattress Protector 60″ x 80″ – Fits up to 18″ deep
Additional Info :
| Color | White |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 11.1 Inches |
| Width | 3.6 Inches |
| Length | 11.5 Inches |
| Weight | 1 Pound |
Ortho Home Defense Max Bed Bug, Flea and Tick Killer – With Ready-to-Use Comfort Wand, Kills Bed Bugs and Bed Bug Eggs, Bed Bug Spray Also Kills Fleas and Ticks, 1 gal.
Price: $17.49
Features :
- Use Ortho Home Defense Max Bed Bug, Flea & Tick Killer to kill bed bugs, bed bug eggs, fleas, and ticks
- Use the spray as a spot treatment around bed frames, mattress seams/tufts/folds, and baseboards
- Kills even the toughest bed bugs (pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs)
- The second step of a 3-step bed bug solution system
- The continuous spray Comfort Wand easily gets into hard-to-reach areas
Additional Info :
| Color | YELLOW |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 12 Inches |
| Width | 8.95 Inches |
| Length | 4.88 Inches |
Bugs Rule!: An Introduction to the World of Insects
Price : $39.59
Features :
Additional Info :
| Release Date | 2013-09-15T00:00:00.000Z |
Katchy Indoor Insect Trap – Catcher & Killer for Mosquito, Gnat, Moth, Fruit Flies – Non-Zapper Traps for Buzz-Free Home – Catch Flying Insect Indoors with Suction, Bug Light & Sticky Glue (Black)
Price : $44.99
Features :
- Triple trapping power, first the UV light attracts the bug then the fan sucks it in and the sticky glue boards trap it. No Zapper.
- Subtle and stylish fruit fly, gnat, and mosquito killer, no more ugly traps, easily place in your home, kitchen, or office as a decorative, stylish piece.
- Trap indoors, close to insect-ridden fruit, plants, or trash bin, and turn off lights for best results.
- Not effective on house flies.
- Easy to use, choose between standard or low-speed setting and leave it to work its magic, EPA Est. Numb.:93372-CHN-1
Additional Info :
| Color | Black |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 9.1 Inches |
| Width | 5.5 Inches |
| Length | 5.5 Inches |
HARRIS Bed Bug Traps – Parent (20-Pack)
Price: $15.99 ($0.80 / Count)
Features :
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 10 Inches |
| Width | 0.5 Inches |
| Length | 4 Inches |
In Conclusion
Bed bugs are tiny insects that feed on the blood of humans, as well as other warm-blooded creatures like birds, bats, and rats. They are found worldwide and are a growing problem, especially in cities.
Bed bugs were first discovered in the U.S. in 1869. They were thought to have been eradicated by the 1950s, but they came back with a vengeance in the 1990s; since then, they’ve become a major problem for many people living in large cities like New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C.
The bed bug resurgence is likely due to several factors: increased international travel; more people living in cities; lack of knowledge about how to prevent them; and insufficient pest control efforts by landlords or property owners.
A bed bug infestation can cause psychological stress for those who experience it, especially if they have an aversion to insects or do not understand what’s happening when they see bites on their bodies. Some people may be allergic to these bites as well (such as those who are allergic to bee stings).