Bed Bug Basics for Peoria Residents
The Common Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius
Adults are flat, oval, and reddish brown, close to an apple seed in size (4 to 5 mm). They have no wings, so they cannot fly or jump. Bed bugs feed only on blood, mostly at night, and spend the day tucked into cracks, seams, and joints. They can fast for several months. Their tiny white eggs are glued to surfaces near hiding spots. Threat Level: Moderate. Bites can itch and trigger allergic reactions, though bed bugs are not known to spread disease.
Bed bugs are hitchhikers, traveling in luggage, secondhand furniture, clothing, and shared laundry rooms. Anywhere people travel, move in and out, or share walls and laundry facilities, they get more chances to catch a ride. Finding them is no reflection on how clean you keep your home, and they turn up in large houses and small rentals alike.