Bed bugs: recognising them and getting rid of them
It travels in luggage and waits for night, hidden a few centimetres from you.
Guide 04
Cimex lectularius
Key points
The bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a flat, reddish-brown insect 4 to 7 mm long that feeds on blood at night. According to ANSES it does not transmit disease, but the bites and the infestation take a toll on sleep and morale. ANSES advises favouring non-chemical approaches (steam, heat, vacuuming) and keeping insecticides as a last resort.
A survey carried out for ANSES estimates that 11% of French households were affected between 2017 and 2022, regardless of income or how the home is kept. Bed bugs travel in suitcases, clothes and second-hand furniture.
By day they gather in mattress seams, the bed base, the headboard, skirting boards and sockets near the bed. A female lays several eggs a day, which hatch within one to two weeks, so treatment is always planned over several visits.
Spotting signs of bed bugs
- 1Small black marks (droppings) along mattress seams and on the bed frame.
- 2Clusters of bites, often in a line, on the arms, legs or neck.
- 3Translucent shed skins and whitish eggs about 1 mm across in crevices.
- 4Tiny smears of blood on the sheets when you wake up.
Nuisance level
An indicative guide from our technicians, from 1 (moderate) to 5 (high).
- Health
- 3/5
- Damage
- 2/5
- Breeding
- 5/5
Why act
- Itching, sometimes strong skin reactions.
- Disturbed sleep, anxiety, isolation: ANSES highlights the psychological impact.
- Spread to neighbouring homes and wherever belongings are taken.
- Costs that climb if you wait: furniture thrown away, repeated treatments.
Our treatment, in four stages
- 01
Locate
Locate: detailed inspection of the bed, furniture, skirting boards and sockets, plan of affected rooms.
- 02
Treat
Treat: high-temperature dry steam on bedding, furniture and crevices, heat treatment of sensitive items, approved insecticide only as a supplement.
- 03
Check
Check: visits scheduled around the egg-hatching cycle, treated areas inspected, adjustments if activity remains.
- 04
Prevent
Prevent: bed-bug-proof covers, gaps along skirting boards sealed, laundry routine (60 °C or tumble dryer), photo report and advice on active vigilance.
Good everyday habits
What you can do to lower the risk of a new infestation.
- When travelling, put your case on a luggage rack and check the mattress seams.
- When you get home, wash clothes at 60 °C or tumble-dry them.
- Check every seam of a second-hand mattress or piece of furniture before it comes indoors.
- Declutter around the bed to reduce hiding places.
Your questions
Can a bed bug make me ill?
No, according to ANSES. The bites do cause itching, sometimes allergic reactions, and an infestation often disrupts sleep.
Do I have to get rid of my mattress?
Rarely. A mattress in good condition can be treated with dry steam and then protected with a suitable cover. Throwing it out without treating the room solves nothing.
Why isn't one visit enough?
Eggs withstand treatment better than adults and hatch within one to two weeks. The next visit eliminates the young before they can lay eggs in turn.
Bed bugs in your home or your business?
Flat, house, restaurant, shop or office: price including VAT shown before you book, 2-hour window, same-day photo report and advice to lower the risk of a return.