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BED BUGS
Bed bugs may be the earliest urban pest, predating German cockroaches and Norway rats. As humans formed civilizations, bed bugs spread alongside them, although the insects themselves have existed for millions of years. Some of the earliest species date back to the age of dinosaurs. While their original hosts are unknown, bed bugs eventually adapted to feeding on bats, which remains the primary food source for most species today.
Thousands of years ago, when humans and bats both resided in caves, some species of bed bugs evolved to feed on human blood. Of the roughly 100 known bed bug species, only two regularly bite humans (we only experience 1 of those species in Canada). The population of human-feeding bed bugs has been increasing for approximately 13,000 years and continues to rise in modern times.
Learn more about bed bugs:
Is it common to have a bed bug infestation in Canada?
Yes, bed bug infestations are common in Canada and have been steadily increasing since the early 2000s. Many cities across Ontario report high infestation rates, with Toronto being the most severely affected. In fact, Toronto has been ranked the most bed-bug-infested city in Canada for seven consecutive years. Bed bugs are found in all types of residential housing, including apartments, townhouses, and single-detached homes. This widespread presence is reflected in data from the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), which manages 1,347 residential buildings. In 2023 alone, TCHC recorded 23,109 bed bug treatments across its housing portfolio.
How to identify bed bugs
Bed bugs can be spotted with the human eye, however from a distance they just look like little specs. They are considered “true bugs” (an insect in the Hemiptera order) and possess the corresponding physical features that distinguish them from other orders.
Bed bugs have 7 identifiable features
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Proboscis
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Antenna
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Head
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Thorax
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Wing pads
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Legs
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Abdomen
bed bug anatomy
What do bed bugs look like?
Adult bed bugs are oval-shaped and brown to reddish-brown in colour, roughly the size of an apple seed, measuring about 5–7 mm in length. When unfed, they appear long, flat, and oval; after feeding, their bodies become swollen, more elongated, and darker reddish-brown in colour. Adults have six legs equipped with claws that allow them to grip rough surfaces and remain attached to their host. Their abdomen is composed of 11 segments, enabling it to expand significantly as it fills with blood, which explains the dramatic change in shape after feeding.
They also have a pair of segmented antennae, about half the length of their body, which function as sensory organs to help locate a host. Although bed bugs have wings, they are undeveloped and appear as wing pads, making them incapable of flight. The thorax connects the legs to is a small tube-like mouthpart called the proboscis, which go through several life stages, and their appearance
the body, allowing movement, and beneath the head
extends outward when the bed bug feeds. Bed bugs
​changes as they develop.
Bed Bug life cycle
After hatching, bed bugs pass through five developmental stages. Progression from one stage to the next depends on regular blood meals. Under typical conditions, it takes about 37 days for a bed bug to mature from egg to adult.
Stage 1:
Their eggs are tiny (about 1 mm), pearly white, sticky, and easily blend into white sheets, mattresses, and box springs. Eggs typically hatch into nymphs within 6–9 days.
Egg
Stages 2-5:
Nymph Development
Bed bug nymphs pass through five developmental stages, beginning as nearly translucent or pale yellow. After each blood meal, they grow slightly larger and darker in color. About 5–7 days later, they molt, shedding their outer skin as they advance to the next nymph stage.
Stage 6:
Adult
Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown and approximately the size of an apple seed. They require regular blood meals to reproduce and typically feed every 3–7 days. After a single feeding, a female can lay 1–7 eggs per day for up to 10 days before needing to feed again. Under favourable conditions, a bed bug population can double every 16 days, and a single female may produce up to 110–115 eggs over her lifetime.
Where do bed bugs live?
Bed bugs prefer to stay hidden in tight, protected spaces close to their food source. Infestations most often begin in bedrooms where people sleep, with bed bugs hiding in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, and bed springs.
As an infestation grows, bed bugs spread beyond the bed and into other areas of the home. They can move into living rooms or additional bedrooms and hide in chairs, couches, clothing, between cushions, behind loose wallpaper or wall hangings, inside books, and along door frames. Because bed bugs are small and flat, they can fit into tiny cracks and crevices. Any concealed space close to a host can become an ideal hiding spot. If a person begins sleeping in a different room, bed bugs will often follow.
What do they eat?
Bed bugs feed exclusively on human blood. They are most active at night, but if they’re very hungry, they may feed during the day. They’re attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale and our body heat, which helps them locate a host.
​Bed bugs will travel 5–20 feet to reach a meal. Once they find a host, they feed for about 5–10 minutes, then return to their hiding place. Because they typically only need to feed every 3–10 days, most of their time is spent digesting and excreting their last meal. If a host becomes unavailable—or temperatures drop too low—bed bugs can enter a dormant state. Their metabolism slows, allowing them to survive until conditions improve. Adult bed bugs can live anywhere from 20 to 400 days without feeding.
How do bed bugs behave?
Bed bugs are nocturnal and cryptic, meaning they prefer to stay hidden and avoid detection. Their small, flat bodies allow them to squeeze into tiny hiding places and remain well camouflaged. During the day, they move very little to avoid light and disturbance, becoming most active between midnight and 5 a.m.
This nighttime activity is when bed bugs feed and mate—two behaviors that are closely linked. Female bed bugs must feed before they can reproduce. After a blood meal, a female can lay eggs for about 10 days before needing to feed again to continue the cycle. Mating is stressful for female bed bugs, which is why pregnant females are more likely to hitchhike on belongings and spread to new locations