How Many Bed Bugs Are in an Infestation

The first step in determining how many bed bugs are in your home is to identify each species. Adult bedbugs are oval, wingless insects that are about a fifth of an inch long. They have flat bodies, well-developed antennae, and small compound eyes. Their pronotum (the area behind their head) is covered with small hairs. Their nymphs (immature) are slightly smaller (one-tenth to one-half inch long), have a thin outer skeleton, and are a lighter yellowish-white color.

A confirmed infestation of bed bugs should be treated by a qualified pest control professional. Treatment involves removing infested material and monitoring to ensure that the infestation has been completely eliminated. It is also important to use non-chemical methods, such as steam or heat treatments, to treat the area. It is also a good idea to remove any clutter that might provide hiding spaces for bedbugs.

Bedbugs can hide in upholstered furniture, as well as behind wallpaper and baseboards. If you suspect you have an infestation, pull the furniture away from the walls and baseboards, and check any cushion covers. If you find bedbugs, they have a narrow head and flat oval abdomen, and have beady black eyes. They have six legs and two antennae, which each have four segments.

Infested areas will have an acrid “buggy” odor. A single female bedbug can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime.