Overview
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are blood-feeding parasites that feed exclusively on human blood. They are expert hiders, nocturnal, and reproduce rapidly. In Montreal's dense apartment buildings, a single infested unit can spread to dozens of others within months. They are resistant to many common insecticides, making professional treatment essential for complete elimination.
How to Identify Bed Bugs
- Size: 4–5 mm (adults) — roughly the size of an apple seed
- Colour: Reddish-brown when unfed; darker red and engorged after feeding
- Shape: Flat and oval when unfed; swollen and elongated after feeding
- Nymphs: 1.5–4.5 mm, translucent or pale yellow — much harder to spot
- Eggs: White, 1 mm long — barely visible to the naked eye
- Wings: None — bed bugs cannot fly or jump
- Movement: Crawl at approximately 1 metre per minute
Biology & Reproduction
- Eggs per female lifetime: 200–500
- Incubation period: 6–10 days
- Nymph stages: 5 instars before reaching adulthood
- Time from egg to adult: 5–8 weeks under optimal conditions
- Adult lifespan: 6–12 months
- Feeding frequency: Every 5–10 days when a host is available
- Survival without feeding: Up to 12–18 months in cool conditions
- Preferred hiding spots: Mattress seams, box spring folds, headboard crevices, electrical outlets near the bed
Health Risks
- Bites: Red, itchy welts on exposed skin — up to 30% of people show no visible reaction
- Allergic reactions: Some people develop severe allergic responses requiring medical treatment
- Secondary infections: Scratching bites can lead to bacterial skin infections
- Anaemia: Rare, but possible in severe infestations with very young children or elderly individuals
- Psychological impact: Significant anxiety, sleep disturbance, and stress — documented in multiple studies
- No disease transmission: Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans
Signs of Infestation
- Bites: Red, itchy welts on exposed skin, often in a line or cluster
- Blood spots: Small rust-coloured spots on sheets and pillowcases
- Dark spots: Tiny dark spots (excrement) on mattress seams, box spring, and headboard
- Shed skins: Translucent exoskeletons in harborage areas
- Sweet musty odour: Large infestations produce a distinctive sweet, musty smell
- Live bugs: Check mattress seams, box spring folds, headboard crevices, and behind electrical outlet covers near the bed
Prevention
- Use a bed bug-proof mattress encasement — eliminates the mattress as a hiding spot
- Inspect hotel rooms before unpacking — check mattress seams and headboard
- Keep luggage on the luggage rack, away from the bed and floor
- Wash all clothing at 60°C or higher after travel
- Inspect second-hand furniture thoroughly before bringing it home
- Seal gaps around electrical outlets and baseboards in shared walls
- Report any signs immediately to your landlord — early treatment is far less expensive
Professional Treatment
Heat treatment is the gold standard for bed bug elimination. The entire unit is heated to 55–60°C for several hours, killing bed bugs at all life stages — including eggs, which are resistant to most chemical treatments. Heat treatment requires only one visit and leaves no chemical residue. Chemical treatment (2–3 visits) is an alternative for situations where heat treatment is not possible. All Blackline bed bug treatments include a 100-day guarantee.
