Chemical Free Environmental Solutions
Bed Bug FAQs
Frequently Asked
Questions about Bed Bugs, their Bites, and how to kill and get rid of them
Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite – wasn’t it
just a nursery rhyme?
Long
considered eradicated in most metropolitan areas, bed bugs are making a
comeback. They are being found in cities across the country, everywhere from
homeless shelters to five-star hotels. Contrary to popular belief, the presence
of bed bugs does not indicate a lack of cleanliness.
In
the past, insecticides such as DDT helped to keep the bed bug population at bay
with residues that continued working after the product was sprayed. Now, with
the increase in use of bait traps instead of broad spectrum sprays, specific
pests such as ants and cockroaches are being targeted, and bed bugs are no
longer being eliminated.
Bed
bugs have also developed resistance to many of the pesticides, particularly
pyrethroids.
In
addition, people now travel more than ever before, particularly to and from
destinations where bed bugs have remained prevalent.
Places
that see a great deal of turnover such as hotels and motels give bed bugs the
opportunity to continue their travel to new locations as hitchhikers on luggage
or clothing.
Identifying bed bugs
Bed
bugs have an oval body and a short, broad head. The body as a whole is broad
and flat. Unfed adults are around ¼ inch (6 mm) long, brown and wingless. After
feeding, they swell slightly in size and darken to a blood-red color.
The
nymphs are shaped like the adults, but are yellow-white in color.
Itchy
welts on skin, blood spots on sheets and/or black or brown spots on mattresses,
bed frames or walls often indicate that there is a bed bug infestation.
|
Bed bugs have an oval body and a short, broad
head. The body as a whole is broad and flat. Unfed adults are around ¼ inch
(6 mm) long, brown and wingless. After feeding, they swell slightly in size
and darken to a blood-red color. The nymphs are shaped like the adults, but are
yellow-white in color. Itchy welts on skin, blood spots on sheets and/or
black or brown spots on mattresses, bed frames or walls often indicate that
there is a bed bug infestation. |
|
Photo from |
Bed
bugs are also known by several names: wall louse, house bug, mahogany flat, red
coat, crimson ramblers as well as others.
How do I know if I have a bed bug bite?
Individual
responses to bed bug bites will vary.
Bed
bugs are attracted to humans’ high body temperature and carbon dioxide
production.
When
bed bugs bite people, they inject their saliva into the biting area, causing
the skin to become irritated and inflamed.
The
skin lesion from bed bug bites may go unnoticed, or be mistaken for flea or
mosquito bites or other skin conditions.
|
Four types of skin rashes have been described in
the literature: ·
The
most common rash is made up of localized red and itchy flat lesions. ·
Small
raised red swelling lesions are also common. ·
In
rare cases, people may develop large raised, often itchy, red welts. ·
In
people with high sensitivity to bed bug saliva, people may develop a lump
filled with blood or fluid. |
|
|
|
Bed bug bites most commonly occur on exposed
areas of the body, including face, neck, hands, arms, lower legs or all over
the body. Bed bugs bite by piercing the skin with an elongated
beak through which they draw blood. Feeding takes from three to ten minutes although
the person rarely knows they are being bitten. Both male and female bed bugs bite. Bed bugs have been known to cause significant
psychological distress, disruption of sleep, nervousnous and agitation. |
|
|
Hepatitis
B Virus has been detected in bed bugs and excrement up to 60 days after feeding
on an infectious meal. It is not known whether the viral persistence is capable
of infection.
What are bed bugs?
Bed
bugs are wingless and cannot fly or jump, but are able to enter into extremely
small locations in the home because of their flattened bodies.
Bed
bugs can live for several weeks to several months without feeding, depending on
the temperature.
|
Bed bugs can go without feeding for 80 to 140 days;
older bed bugs can go without feeding longer than younger ones. Adult bed bugs have been known to survive for as
long as 550 days (over a year and a half!) without feeding. Bed bugs prefer to feed on human blood, but will
also bite mammals and birds. Bed bugs typically bite at night, but if hungry
enough have been known to bite during daylight. After feeding, bed bugs turn dark red and become
bloated. |
|
|
What is the bed bug lifecycle?
Eggs
The
bed bug eggs are white and about 1 mm long, and almost impossible to see on most
surfaces. The female bed bug lays about 200 eggs in her lifetime, at a rate of
about 3 or 4 per day. The eggs have a sticky coating and are deposited in
cracks and crevices, behind woodwork and similar hidden locations. Clusters of
10-50 bed bug eggs can be found in cracks and crevices. Bed bug eggs hatch in 6
to 17 days.
Nymphs
A
newly hatched bed bug nymph will feed as soon as food is available. A bed bug
goes through five molts before it reaches full maturity. Each molt takes place
after a blood feed.
Adults
Adults usually live for around 10 months, but can
live for a year or more. In a home, where the environment is conducive to
their reproduction (their ideal breeding temperature is between 21° to 28°C),
bed bugs can breed year round. Bed bugs have a unique form of mating called
“traumatic insemination”. The male penetrates the female’s abdomen with his
external genitalia, inseminating into her body cavity. This sexual activity
produces a wound in the female and probably endangers her longevity and
productivity. |
|
Photograph of bed bugs mating |
|
Illustration by: Scott
Charlesworth, |
Will bed bug bites make me sick?
While
bed bugs are not known transmit any pathogens or diseases, their bites usually
result in swollen red, itchy welts.
Though
bed bugs are not known to transmit disease, bed bugs can severely reduce
quality of life by causing discomfort, sleeplessness, anxiety, and
embarrassment.
Many
people are not aware that they have been bitten, but some people may be more
sensitive to the bite and may have a localized reaction.
As
a bed bug is biting, it injects anesthetic saliva to numb the pain. It also
contains anti-coagulant to keep the blood of its meal host flowing.
People
can be allergic to bed bug bites, which can cause swelling, itchy welts and in
some cases infections. These infections can be serious, especially if they are
from a resistant form of bacterial pathogen such as Methicillin Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (
How do I know if I have bed bugs?
|
Small reddish or brownish spots on one’s linens are
often the first sign of an infestation. These spots are the bed bug’s
droppings. Bed Bugs often hide in mattresses but they can
also survive in furniture, behind wallcoverings and pictures/paintings. They
will crawl and nest inside tiny crevices anywhere indoors, as long as there
is a source of food (blood). Another sign is swelling where a bed bug has
bitten. |
|
Bed Bug spots on mattress |
How do bed bugs infest my home?
Bed
bugs are moved into and around a dwelling through infested furniture and bedding.
They can also enter a home or hotel by being carried in on clothing or luggage.
Bed
bugs are often carried into a home on objects such as furniture and clothing
Bed
bugs can also travel from apartment to apartment along pipes, electrical wiring
and other openings.
When
bed bug infestations are small, the bed bugs tend to reside near the bed. As
infestations grow larger, they tend to move beyond beds into other locations
such as sofas and upholstered chairs.
Bed
bug females may lay their eggs away from a heavy infestation to provide greater
chance for survival.
If
the infestation is heavy, a sweet smell may be noticed in the room.
I think I’ve got bed bugs. Now what?
If
you think you have a bed bug problem, check for live bed bugs or shells in the
following areas:
·
Seams,
creases, tufts and folds of mattresses and box springs
·
Cracks
in the bed frame and head board
·
Under
chairs, couches, beds, dust covers
·
Between
the cushions of couches and chairs
·
Under
area rugs and the edges of carpets
·
Between
the folds of curtains
·
In
drawers
·
Behind
baseboards, and around window and door casings
·
Behind
electrical plates and under loose wallpaper, paintings and posters
·
In
cracks in plaster
·
In
telephones, radios, and clocks
How do I treat bed bug infestations?
The
best way to treat bed bugs is Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which combines
a variety of techniques and products that pose the least risk to human health
and the environment.
The best method of treating bed bugs is ThermaPure Heat®
because it will kill all stages of the bed bug from egg to adult. ThermaPure
Heat will reach inaccessible areas that chemicals or other pesticides are
unable to reach. ThermaPure Heat is the safest method to control bed bug
infestations.
Other
elements of a successful IPM program in addition to ThermaPure Heat treatments
are:
·
Use
a nozzle attachment on the vacuum to capture the bed bugs and their eggs.
Vacuum all crevices on your mattress, bed frame, baseboards and any objects
close to the bed. It is essential to vacuum daily and empty the vacuum
immediately.
·
Wash
all your linens in the hottest water possible and place them in a hot dryer for
20 minutes. Consider covering your pillows and mattress with a plastic cover.
·
Remove
all unnecessary clutter.
·
Seal
cracks and crevices between baseboards, on wood bed frames, floors and walls
with caulking. Repair or remove peeling wallpaper, tighten loose light switch
covers, and seal any openings where pipes, wires or other utilities come into
your home (pay special attention to walls that are shared between apartments).
·
There
may be some bed bugs that successfully evade the lethal temperatures, that may
migrate to untreated areas, or that are brought in after treatment. In this
instance, contact your ThermaPure Heat licensee about residual treatments such
as diatamaceous earth or other treatments that can be used that are safe.
What kinds of methods can I use to prevent bed bug
infestations?
Although
even the cleanest homes and hotels can have bed bugs, regular house cleaning,
including vacuuming your mattress, can help to prevent an infestation. Clean up
clutter to help reduce the number of places bed bugs can hide.
Be
careful when buying used furniture or clothes. Make sure to inspect the used
item, and feel free to ask the retailer if the items were checked for bed bugs.
Use
caution when bringing home used furniture or clothes from the curb side or
garage sale. These items may be infested with bed bugs.
When
travelling take the following precautions to prevent bed bugs:
·
Inspect
the room and furniture: inspect all cracks and crevices of the mattress and box
spring, and look for blood spots or live insects. Request a different room if
you find evidence of beg bugs.
·
Protect
your luggage: keep all belongings in your luggage and wrap your luggage in
plastic to help prevent bed bugs from entering your luggage. Keep luggage on
the shelf or away from the floor.
·
Protect
the bed: move the bed away from the wall, tuck in all bed sheets and keep
blankets from touching the floor.
·
Upon
returning home: keep your luggage in an isolated area of your home, such as the
garage. Inspect the luggage. Wash all your clothes in the hottest water
possible and put them in a hot dryer for 20 minutes.
References:
Toronto
Public Health, Bed Bugs Fact Sheet
http://www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugs.htm
Health
Canada, Pest Management Regulatory Agency
http://www.pmra-arla.gc.ca/english/consum/bed_bugs-e.html
University
of Kentucky, Entomology, ENTFACT-636, Bed Bugs, by Michael F. Potter
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef636.asp
Bed
Bugs
Armed
Forces Pest Management Board Image Database
http://www.afpmb.org/dpmiac/imagedatabase/toplevel.htm