Changes

==Life and behavior==

==Life and behavior==

Bedbugs begin as eggs, with the mother being able to birth hundreds, averaging 3-5 eggs but up to twelve eggs per day. The eggs are sticky, and able to adhere to most anything, and are milky white, approximately 1 millimeter in length (a little larger than a speck of dust) and are covered with a protective layer, so that immersion in water does not kill them as would adult bedbugs. Once born, the bedbug will go through five growth (molting) stages (shedding the exoskeleton) as ''nymphs''---- each nymphal stage requiring a blood meal and each time shedding its skin ---- before it becomes an adult, and able to reproduce. After hatching the color of the bedbug is like that of straw and no bigger than a pinhead, and which begin to feed immediately. A second stage nymph is about the size of apple seed, and as it fills itself with blood then its color goes from white to bright red. Nymphal stages last from about 4 days to 24 days based on temperature and other environmental conditions. In ideal temperatures (about 70-90 F), the bugs go from birth to adulthood in a month to six weeks. Adults are approximately 3/16-inch long and reddish-brown, with oval, flattened bodies. Adults may feed many times throughout their lifespan, every 3-7 days varying with temperature and other factors.  

Bedbugs begin as eggs, with the mother being able to birth hundreds, averaging 3-5 eggs but up to twelve eggs per day. The eggs are sticky, and able to adhere to most anything, and are yellowish-white, approximately 1 millimeter (1/25 inch) in length (a little larger than a speck of dust) and are covered with a protective layer, so that immersion in water does not kill them as would adult bedbugs. Once born, the bedbug will go through five growth (molting) stages (shedding the exoskeleton) as ''nymphs''---- each nymphal stage requiring a blood meal and each time shedding its skin ---- before it becomes an adult, and able to reproduce. After hatching the color of the bedbug is like that of straw and no bigger than a pinhead, and which begin to feed immediately. A second stage nymph is about the size of apple seed, and as it fills itself with blood then its color goes from white to bright red. Nymphal stages last from about 4 days to 24 days based on temperature and other environmental conditions. In ideal temperatures (about 70-90 F), the bugs go from birth to adulthood in a month to six weeks. Adults are approximately 3/16-inch long and reddish-brown, with oval, flattened bodies. Adults may feed many times throughout their lifespan, every 3-7 days varying with temperature and other factors.  

Cooler temperatures and less blood meals will slow bedbug development down, but will not kill it , as adult bedbugs can survive without feeding for over a year in temperatures around 50°F, and the nymphs can survive for many months. It is thus that immediate and comprehensive action is critical for elimination of bedbugs.<ref>http://www.bedbugbattleplan.com/content/view/19/35/ The Life Cycle of the Bed Bug</ref> However, one report showed that a pesticide-resistant strain from Richmond, Va. only lived a maximum of two months without feeding.<ref>Science News, ''Do-it-yourself bed-bug detector'', January 16th, 2010 </ref>  

Cooler temperatures and less blood meals will slow bedbug development down, but will not kill it , as adult bedbugs can survive without feeding for over a year in temperatures around 50°F, and the nymphs can survive for many months. It is thus that immediate and comprehensive action is critical for elimination of bedbugs.<ref>http://www.bedbugbattleplan.com/content/view/19/35/ The Life Cycle of the Bed Bug</ref> However, one report showed that a pesticide-resistant strain from Richmond, Va. only lived a maximum of two months without feeding.<ref>Science News, ''Do-it-yourself bed-bug detector'', January 16th, 2010 </ref>  

Male bed bugs grab and attempt to mate with any other bedbug that has had a full meal of blood recently, using its hypodermic reproductive appendage, resulting in "“traumatic insemination."  Females grow a mass of the kinds of cells associated with immune defense in the  the abdominal area most commonly pierced by the male. Male bedbugs lack this, and when [[homosexual]] mating attempts are made upon a male the victim releases a blend of chemicals known as the bed bug alarm [[pheromone]]. This recent discovery has resulted in some bedbug insecticides containing the pheromone. <ref>''Scent of alarm identifies male bed bugs,'' Science news, November 21st, 2009; Vol.176 #11</ref> Bedbugs in an all-male confinement experiment had reduced longevity compared to singly held males.<ref>The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour, Volume 78, Issue 6, December 2009, Pages 1471-1475</ref>  

Male bed bugs grab and attempt to mate with any other bedbug that has had a full meal of blood recently, using its hypodermic reproductive appendage, resulting in "“traumatic insemination."  Females grow a mass of the kinds of cells associated with immune defense in the  the abdominal area most commonly pierced by the male. Male bedbugs lack this, and when [[homosexual]] mating attempts are made upon a male the victim releases a blend of chemicals known as the bed bug alarm [[pheromone]]. This recent discovery has resulted in some bedbug insecticides containing the pheromone. <ref>''Scent of alarm identifies male bed bugs,'' Science news, November 21st, 2009; Vol.176 #11</ref> Bedbugs in an all-male confinement experiment had reduced longevity compared to singly held males.<ref>The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour, Volume 78, Issue 6, December 2009, Pages 1471-1475</ref>  

Although bed bugs have the ability to drink water through their proboscis, they appear to do so rather sparingly, as  they rely on blood to replenish water stores; none of the bedbugs examined in any stage had the capacity to absorb water vapor. As the bed bugs mature they need less water.<ref>http://www.ajtmh.org/cgi/reprint/76/5/987.pdf</ref>

Although bed bugs have the ability to drink water through their proboscis, they appear to do so rather sparingly, as  they rely on blood to replenish water stores; none of the bedbugs examined in any stage had the capacity to absorb water vapor. As the bed bugs mature they need less water.<ref>http://www.ajtmh.org/cgi/reprint/76/5/987.pdf</ref>

When bedbugs bite, like mosquitoes, they inject an anesthetic that prevents the host from feeling the bite, and an anticoagulant for blood flow. Bedbugs are normatively nocturnal, though they can bite during the day or with light, but they usually occur while people are sleeping, usually when the host is in their deepest part of sleep, most typically 3-5AM.Feeding takes three to 15 minutes, depending on maturity, and immediately after feeding the bug crawls off  to digest their meal in a safe place.  The bite sites are usually small, pinprick-sized lesions that may or may not become inflamed, though often the human host finds that they itch. Bite marks can be random or in a straight line.<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/Publications/Bed_Bugs_CDC-EPA_Statement.htm</ref><ref>[http://www.michigan.gov/documents/emergingdiseases/Bed_Bug_Manual_v1_full_reduce_326605_7.pdf MICHIGAN MANUAL FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF BED BUGS]</ref>

When bedbugs bite, like mosquitoes, they inject an anesthetic that prevents the host from feeling the bite, and an anticoagulant for blood flow. Bedbugs are normatively nocturnal, though they can bite during the day or with light, but they usually occur while people are sleeping, usually when the host is in their deepest part of sleep, most typically 3-5AM.Feeding takes three to 15 minutes, depending on maturity, and immediately after feeding the bug crawls off  to digest their meal in a safe place.  The bite sites are usually small, pinprick-sized lesions that may or may not become inflamed, though often the human host finds that they itch. Bite marks can be random or in a straight line.<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/Publications/Bed_Bugs_CDC-EPA_Statement.htm</ref><ref>[http://www.michigan.gov/documents/emergingdiseases/Bed_Bug_Manual_v1_full_reduce_326605_7.pdf MICHIGAN MANUAL FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF BED BUGS]</ref>

In addition to bites, bedbugs are made evident by areas are marked by dark spotting and staining, which is the dried blood excrement of the bugs. Dark spots of dried bed bug excrement are often present along mattress seams or wherever the bugs have resided. Also present are eggs and eggshells, the brownish molted skins of maturing nymphs and the bugs themselves, though these may be hidden more deeply. Less often one may see rusty or reddish blood smears on bed sheets or mattresses from crushing an engorged bed bug. Some companies are beginning to use canines for detecting infestations, which, if properly trained, can be very effective.<ref>[http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef636.asp BED BUGS]</ref>

In addition to bites, bedbugs are made evident by areas are marked by dark spotting and staining, which is the dried blood excrement of the bugs. Dark spots of dried bed bug excrement are often present along mattress seams or wherever the bugs have resided. Also present are eggs and eggshells, the brownish molted skins of maturing nymphs and the bugs themselves, though these may be hidden more deeply. Less often one may see rusty or reddish blood smears on bed sheets or mattresses from crushing an engorged bed bug. Some companies are beginning to use canines for detecting infestations, which, if properly trained, can be very effective.<ref>[http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef636.asp BED BUGS]</ref>

Cold temperatures below 55 degrees stop bed bug development and egg production,<ref>http://www.bedbugsite.com/faq.php</ref> however, bed bugs are remarkably resistant in almost every sense of the word, and are comfortable within all but the extremes of most inhabitable climates. They can survive freezing temperatures (32°F) for days and tolerate much lower temperatures (5°F) for short periods. Their upper lethal temperature is 120°F causing death within minutes, but longer exposures to temperatures above 113°F are also lethal. They have a wide humidity tolerance range but tolerate dry climates better than humid.<ref> http://www.michigan.gov/documents/emergingdiseases/Bed_Bug_Manual_v1_full_reduce_326605_7.pdf</ref>

Cold temperatures below 55 degrees stop bed bug development and egg production,<ref>http://www.bedbugsite.com/faq.php</ref> however, bed bugs are remarkably resistant in almost every sense of the word, and are comfortable within all but the extremes of most inhabitable climates.  They have a wide humidity tolerance range but tolerate dry climates better than humid. They can survive freezing temperatures (32°F) for days and tolerate much lower temperatures (5°F) for short periods.<ref> http://www.michigan.gov/documents/emergingdiseases/Bed_Bug_Manual_v1_full_reduce_326605_7.pdf</ref> Bedbugs of all stages of maturity can survive at least 5 days at  14°F, but all stages die after exposure to 26°F for 15 minutes.  The upper lethal temperature for nymphs and adults is is 113°F and 115°F for eggs.

As bedbugs become active when sensing human presence, in the 1960s the US Army considered them for use in a portable insect ambush detector or a stationary intrusion detector device.<ref>http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/AD837100</ref>

Bedbugs can run at a rate of 1 inch per second/4ft. per minute, and can climb most walls and cling to ceilings, but are thought to be unable to detect a human presence beyond 5 feet.<ref>http://www.birc.org/MarApril2007.pdf</ref> As bedbugs become active when sensing human presence, in the 1960s the US Army considered them for use in a portable insect ambush detector or a stationary intrusion detector device.<ref>http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/AD837100</ref>

==Health issues==

==Health issues==