Hong View Environment Services Co.

臭蟲 ( 又稱床蚤、木蝨 )，是細小的棕色扁平寄生昆蟲 (4至5毫米長)，屬於臭蟲科（Cimicidae），以雀鳥和其他哺乳類動物的血液為食物。臭蟲不會飛，但可在地板、牆壁及天花板上迅速爬行。牠們也能「搭順風車」在行李、衣服及傢俱上來去自如。雌性臭蟲在隱蔽的地方產卵，每日可多達5枚(一生200至500枚)。臭蟲的卵是很細小、白色及肉眼幾乎看不見的(大小與塵粒相若)。臭蟲適應性十分強，蛹可多個月不進食也能生存，而成蟲更可超過一年。

臭蟲的存活環境

臭蟲在天氣較暖時最活躍，晚上出動覓食，日間躲藏在裂縫罅隙內。臭蟲雖不像螞蟻或蜜蜂有固定的巢穴，但往往會聚集於慣常藏匿之處。臭蟲較喜歡躲藏於覓食地方附近﹔不過，如非必要，牠們也會爬行超過100呎覓食。大多數開始侵擾是在床的周圍，之後擴散至整個房間及更遠處。臭蟲通常是在夜裡人睡覺時咬他們。有些人呈現癢癢的條痕或局部發腫，而其他人就很少或沒有反應。被單、枕頭、床墊彈簧床褥上如有血跡(黑/紅) 、排泄物，這也是侵擾的跡象。侵擾嚴重時，可能會有難聞的甜霉臭味。在侵擾的早段，臭蟲可見於床墊及床上用品的線束、縫口及褶層，隨後擴散至床框和彈簧床褥的裂縫罅隙。若任由繁殖，臭蟲會在底板、門窗框、板條後面、傢具、脫落的牆紙及灰泥和隔板的裂縫裏，開枝散葉。

Bed bugs are small brownish, flattened parasites (4 - 5 mm long) that feed on the blood of humans, birds, and other mammals. They are in the family Cimicidae. Bed bugs are flightless but can crawl quickly over floors, walls and ceilings. They can also hitch rides or move around on luggage, clothes and furniture. Females lay up to 5 eggs a day (200 - 500 in a lifetime). The eggs are tiny, whitish and barely visible (size is approximately 1 mm) and tend to be found in cracks/crevices in dark areas. Bed bugs are very resilient. Nymphs can survive months without feeding and the adults for more than a year.

Signs of an infestiation - Bed bugs generally hide in cracks and crevices during the day and come out to feed at night. They do not have nests like ants or bees but tend to hide in clusters. Bed bugs prefer to hide close to where they feed and go back to the same hiding spot. They will crawl more than 100 feet to obtain a blood meal. Most infestations start around beds and spread throughout a room and beyond. Bed bugs usually bite people at night while they are sleeping. Some people develop an itchy welt or localized swelling, while others have little or no reaction. Blood stains (black/red), spots of fecal material on upholstered furniture, sheets, pillows, mattress and box springs are also signs of infestation Live or dead bed bugs and their cast skins. Live bed bugs confirm an active infestation. Unpleasant sweet musty odour may occur with a severe infestation. During the early part of an infestation bed bugs are more likely to be found on boxsprings, upholstered furniture, mattresses and headboards. If allowed to multiply, they establish themselves behind baseboards, window and door casings, pictures. moldings, and in furniture, loosened wallpaper, and cracks in plaster and partitions.