Bed bug is a generic term used for the common bed bug and other close relatives like the swallow bug and poultry bug. They can all show up from time-to-time in the household or hotel room but the common bed bug being the most troublesome of the lot. Bed bugs live on animal blood exclusively. Human blood is the liquor of choice for the common bed bug. They also can get by on the blood from dogs, cats, pet birds, rats and mice. The terminology used for bed bug mouthparts is "piercing-sucking" and its function is quite like that of a mosquito. In lab experiments, bed bugs can be induced to carry blood-borne disease organisms, but there is little evidence to suspect that this happens in the real world – it is possible, but not probable. For the most part, the common bed bug feeds only in the dark. During the day they hide in any available crack or crevice. They can cause an irritation when they bite and may cause a rash if present feeding in large numbers. Bed bugs can be difficult to identify because of their small size (1/5" long) and the similarity of structure among the various species. A female bed bug will not lay eggs on its host. They will deposit up to 200 eggs, at a rate of 2 or 3 per day on or near human or animal bedding. At room temperature, eggs take a week or two to hatch. A young bed bug looks exactly like an adult except for size. It will take a bed bug nymph about a month to develop into an adult. The development time is variable; it will take longer if a blood donor is not around all the time. Household and hotel room infestations can be very persistent. The common bed bug can survive long periods of time without feeding, even up to a year. During the daylight hours, they tend to harbor in the seams of mattresses and upholstered sofas and chairs, headboards and box springs. If a large infestation is present they can be found in most any nook or cranny that offers a safe haven. Bed Bug Solutions 6965 El Camino Real #105-535 Carlsbad, CA 92009 888-294-2224