|
Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that
can feed on sleeping humans at night. These
nocturnal insects hide along seams of mattresses, in
box springs, or in cracks and crevices near sleeping
areas. Eliminating an infestation requires removing or
treating all infested material and monitoring to be sure
bed bugs are gone.
Bed bug identification and biology.
|
- Adults are small (about 1/5 inch), oval,
and rusty red. Nymphs, or immature bed
bugs, are smaller and lighter colored.
- Bed bugs feed only on blood and must
have one blood meal prior to molting to
the next, larger nymphal stage.
- Adults can feed every few days but can
survive many months without food.
What are associated health problems?
|
- Bed bug feeding is painless. Victims usually
remain asleep.
- Areas around bites may redden, swell, and
itch. Some people have no reaction.
- Bed bugs are not known to spread diseases,
but scratching bites can lead to infections.
How does a bed bug infestation start? |
- People can carry bed bugs on luggage,
clothes, bedding, furniture, or other objects
and may pick them up in hotels.
- Hotels, homeless shelters, furnished apartments,
and dormitories are most at risk.
- Second-hand mattresses and furniture can
be a source.
- Look for bed bugs, their dark fecal spots,
and light-brown shed skins.
- Focus on mattresses, box springs, bed
frames, and areas around the bed.
- Bed bugs like to hide. Remove bedding.
Look in cracks, crevices, and
holes. Turn furniture upside down
and dismantle frames if necessary.
- Use a flashlight and magnifying
glass.
|
Remove or treat all infested materials as
soon as you detect bed bugs. |
- Vacuum along mattress seams, baseboards,
and other areas.
- Wash all bedding and clothing in hot
(120°F) water and dry in a hot dryer.
- Consider steam cleaning.
- If possible, replace infested mattresses.
- Specially-designed mattress encasements
may be helpful.
Serious infestations may require insecticide
treatment. |
- Hire an experienced pest control
professional. They have access to the most
effective products.
- Apply insecticides to cracks, crevices,
baseboards, and bed frames but not
directly to mattresses or bedding. Use
special dusts for wall voids and other out-of-the-way spots.
- Insecticides alone will not control bed
bugs. Remove infested materials, and seal
hiding spots.
- Inspect after treatment to be sure bugs
are gone.
Adult bed bug (1/5 inch).
Minimize the use of pesticides that pollute our waterways. Use nonchemical alternatives or less toxic pesticide products whenever possible. Read product labels carefully and follow instructions on proper use, storage, and disposal. |
