Bed bugs
Cimex lectularius
Description
The bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a small blood-feeding insect, 4–5 mm long, with a flat, oval, reddish-brown body and no wings. It feeds on blood at night and hides during the day in mattress seams, bed frames, furniture and cracks near sleeping areas.
It spreads easily through luggage, clothes and second-hand furniture, so infestations do not depend on cleanliness. It is highly resilient and difficult to eliminate without professional treatment.
Key characteristics
4–5 mm
Flat, oval, reddish-brown
Nocturnal, blood-feeding
Mattress seams, bed frames, cracks
Luggage, clothes, second-hand furniture
Risks and spread
Bed bugs cause itchy bites and considerable distress; disease transmission to humans has never been demonstrated, but an established infestation is very difficult to eradicate without a professional.
- Bites and itching — They bite at night, leaving itchy welts, often in a line.
- Reactions — They may cause more pronounced skin reactions in sensitive individuals.
- Distress and sleep — They cause stress and sleep disturbances for those affected.
- Spread — They move between rooms and areas, and adults can survive several months (up to around six) without a blood meal.
Prevention
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1
Inspect beds and luggage after trips and stays away
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2
Carefully check second-hand furniture and textiles
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3
Use fully enclosed mattress and box-spring covers
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4
Reduce clutter around sleeping areas
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5
Act at the first signs (bites, small dark spots, shed skins)
Our intervention
TIsistemo eliminates bed bugs using a targeted protocol: thorough inspection, specific treatments and repeated cycles to address eggs as well.
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Thorough inspection Locating infestation hotspots in mattresses, bed frames, furniture and cracks.
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Targeted treatment Heat/steam treatments (the FOEN specifies heating the entire room above 50 °C for around 78 hours) and/or specific products in hiding places; textiles are washed at at least 60 °C or frozen at -18 °C for several days.
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Repeated treatments A treatment cycle to target newly hatched insects.
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Monitoring Verification with traps and checks to confirm elimination.
Same category
Other pests we handle
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