Though wingless, adult bed bugs do have small wing pads. The eyes are deeply pigmented and the sides of the collar-like pronotum curve slightly around the head. The white, oval egg is about 1 mm long. The five nymphal instars resemble the adult though they are smaller in size. A newly hatched nymph is almost colorless.
Bed bugs occur throughout the world.
They usually hide in cracks or mattresses during the day and emerge at night to feed. Though man is the preferred host, bed bugs feed on many warmblooded animals. Animal hosts include poultry, rats, mice, dogs, cats, pigeons, canaries, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Bed bugs inject saliva as they feed. An allergic reaction to this substance often causes slightly delayed swelling, itching, and burning which may persist for a week or more.