The bed bugs guide
Identification, behaviour, risks and prevention: answers to the most common questions about bed bugs.
What is a bed bug?
The bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a nocturnal, blood-feeding insect that survives exclusively on human or animal blood. Invisible during the day, it hides in the smallest gaps — mattress seams, skirting boards, bed frames, electrical sockets — and comes out at night to feed while you sleep. Contrary to popular belief, its presence has nothing to do with poor hygiene: it spreads through passive transport, hitching a ride on luggage, clothing or furniture. If in doubt, don't wait — check out our bed bug treatment for a reliable diagnosis.
A remarkably efficient life cycle
A female lays between 200 and 500 eggs over her lifetime, at a rate of 1 to 5 per day. These eggs hatch within 6 to 10 days into nymphs that must feed on blood at every stage to moult, reaching adulthood in 5 to 6 weeks under favourable conditions. This fast, continuous cycle is exactly why professional treatment targeting every generation present is needed for lasting results — our 2-visit treatment protocol is built to break this cycle, eggs included.
What are the health risks?
Bed bugs are not known to transmit disease, but their impact on wellbeing is real: allergic skin reactions, intense itching, insomnia and anxiety linked to the fear of being bitten. According to Anses, the French health safety agency, infestations also carry a significant psychological and financial cost for affected households. Read the full Anses report on bed bugs → A professional treatment remains the fastest way to put an end to these issues.
How to prevent an infestation
A few simple habits greatly reduce the risk: inspecting luggage and clothing after travel or a hotel stay, avoiding second-hand furniture or bedding without a thorough check, and acting on the first signs (bites in a line, stains on sheets) rather than waiting. Our Certibiocide-certified technicians apply products in line with official biocide product regulations, stepping in with a diagnosis from the outset to stop the infestation spreading to neighbouring homes. Short-term rentals face a particular version of this risk — see our article bed bugs in short-term rentals: what owners risk.
How much does treatment cost?
Heat treatment starts at €420 including tax, and chemical treatment at €310 including tax, for an area up to 50 sqm — both visits of the protocol (2 in total) are included. Learn more about our bed bug treatment or see the full breakdown on our pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Bed bugs: the full FAQ
An adult bed bug is 5 to 7 mm long, has a flat oval body and a reddish-brown colour. After feeding on blood, its body elongates and darkens.
Eggs are whitish, translucent and barely 1mm long — often stuck in mattress seams or furniture cracks, making them hard to spot with the naked eye.
Bites in a line or cluster when you wake up, small brown stains (droppings) or reddish stains (blood) on sheets, and a sweetish smell in advanced cases.
No, bed bugs neither fly nor jump. They move by crawling, which is why they tend to stay close to sleeping areas.
An adult bed bug can survive several months without a blood meal under good conditions, which makes it harder to eliminate without proper treatment.
They are not known to transmit disease, but their bites can cause itching, allergic reactions and sleep disturbance linked to the stress they cause.
Mainly through luggage, clothing, second-hand furniture or linen carried from one infested place to another — hotels, transport and house moves are common spreading points.
Over-the-counter products rarely treat the whole life cycle (including eggs), which often leads to reinfestation. A professional multi-pass treatment remains the most reliable solution.
Wash bedding and textiles at a minimum of 60°C, clear the areas to be treated and vacuum the relevant surfaces. Our technician gives you precise instructions before each visit.
Our protocol runs over 2 passes about 15 days apart, to cover the full breeding cycle, with a 6-month guarantee once the treatment is complete.