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BED BUGS |
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BED BUG, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus: A widespread, obligate, blood-sucking parasite of humans that is gregarious in human habitations. Adult to 6 mm long, oval in outline shape and reddish-brown in colour. Antenna with four segments, apical three segments long and slender. Compound eyes are small and widely separated at lateral margin of head. Bed Bug is nocturnal, during the day the bug hides in bedding, mattresses or cracks in floors, walls and other structures. Bug feeds at night via several linearly arranged, closely spaced wounds. The parasite rapidly engorges and detaches from host. Bed Bug Life cycle typically requires 6 - 8 weeks, ca three weeks at 30°C. Bed Bug lives ca six months and can live one year without feeding. Bed Bug infestations are associated with poor sanitation or housekeeping. High-population infestations create a distinctive, sickly sweet odour associated with bed bug excrement. Female bed bug lays 200 - 300 eggs. Eggs are white, operculate, 1 mm long and 0,5 mm wide. Female bed bug prefers rough surfaces as oviposition site. Eggs are held in place with transparent, gluelike accessory gland secretion. Eggs are placed individually in cracks and crevices near the host's sleeping area: eclosion from eggs occurs within seven days (ca 4-5 days at 32°C). Bed bug undergoes five nymphal instars and each requires a blood meal, first instar can feed within 24 hours following eclosion. Bed bug bites usually are not felt by the host. Saliva (anticoagulant) is injected at feeding sites, but rarely cause allergic reaction. Feeding requires 5 - 10 minutes. Bed bug does not display site preference on host's body. Bed bug can feed upon mice, rats, rabbits and chickens.
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