About Bed Bug
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are 4–5 mm reddish-brown oval insects that feed exclusively on warm-blooded hosts, preferring humans. They hide in mattress seams, box-spring folds, headboards, and wall voids during the day and emerge for 3–10 minute blood meals at night. Bites cause itchy red welts in most people and significant psychological distress and insomnia. They resurged globally in the 1990s after decades of near-eradication, driven by increased international travel, second-hand furniture trade, and widespread resistance to pyrethroid insecticides that once kept them controlled.
Geographic Distribution
This insect is found across Oceania, with notable populations in Fiji and surrounding regions.
Management
If you suspect a Bed Bug problem, consult our recommended exterminator services or browse our full pest species database for related species and control guidance.