Bed bugs are small, flat parasitic insects that feed on the blood of human hosts. Although bed bugs had largely disappeared during the mid 20th century, a resurgence has taken place over the past decade.
One of the most feared pest infestations, bed bugs are small, flat insects that tend to congregate in mattress folds, furniture, carpet, or wall folds. Once thought to be a thing of the past, bed bugs have made a resurgence, infecting even the nicest homes, apartments, dormitories, and hotels. These pests are carried from one place to another on clothing, luggage, furniture, and boxes, and will set up residence in a new location quickly. They have also been found in movie theaters, stores, and other public venues.
The exact cause of their increased presence is not known. However, researchers at institutions such as the University of Kentucky and the University of California have recognized that new bed bug populations are highly resistant to common pesticides. According to the Centers for Disease Control, this phenomenon paired with our upwardly mobile society and decreased local/state pest prevention programs are all contributing factors.
Bed bugs feed primarily on human blood and are capable of living for long periods of time without eating. Once an infestation occurs, it can be extremely difficult to rid a home of bed bugs. These parasites can also be mistaken for wood ticks, spider beetles, woodlice, or carpet beetles, making them hard to identify and treat appropriately.
What do bed bugs look like?
A bed bug’s body consists of a head, thorax, abdomen, and six legs. They also have wings (though they don’t fly), short hairs, a beak, and antennae. Adult bed bugs can grow to be 1/4” in length, which is about the size of an apple seed. Their bodies are brown, flat, and oval-shaped if they haven’t eaten, and reddish-brown, inflated, and elongated after feeding. When unfed, an adult bed bug’s body is the width of a credit card.
What are the unique characteristics of bed bugs?
Bed bugs feed predominantly on human blood, typically biting during the night when they become most active. A bed bug will travel as many as 20 feet to reach a host and a single feeding can take up to 12 minutes. Bed bugs secrete an odor through their glands that is identified as both musty and sweet. In addition to pale-yellow molted exoskeletons, bed bugs may also leave reddish or rust-looking spots in their hiding places. These are remnants of previous meals and crushed bugs.
What are the habits of bed bugs?
Bed bugs are nocturnal, though they will come out during the day when desperate for food or in the event of an extreme infestation. Bed bugs usually nest in areas where people live, but they can piggyback on items like backpacks and purses, using non-residential settings such as schools and offices as transfer points from home to home.
Bed bugs do not like extreme heat or cold. Common bed bugs will die when their body temperature is higher than 113°F or lower than 46°F; some tropical species can survive in higher temperatures. Bed bugs can be found anywhere they have access to a host, typically human, upon which to feed.
Where are bed bugs commonly found?
Because they are the width of a credit card, bed bugs can hide in even the smallest spaces. As their name implies, they will take up residence in the seams or piping of a mattress or box spring to be close to their host. Bed bugs can also be found in:
- Bed frames, headboards, and footboards
- Bedding
- Furniture
- Electrical outlets
- Carpet
- Clothes
- Luggage
- Corners of ceilings and walls
- Wall hangings
- Cracks and crevices
Bed bugs will travel through walls between apartments, dorm rooms, and hotel rooms in search of a host. They also spread by catching a ride on bags or other mobile items.
What are the risks of having a bed bug infestation?
Bed bugs feed on blood obtained through biting their host. The bug uses its beak to inject an anesthetic that keeps the victim from feeling the bite and an anticoagulant that encourages blood flow. A single bug may bite multiple times. Bed bugs usually attack during sleep, feasting on skin that is exposed such as arms, legs, face, neck, hands, and shoulders.
Bed bugs do not transmit disease, but their bites can result in red welts, rashes, and hives. They may cause allergic reactions and, in extreme cases, anaphylactic shock. The visible presence of bed bugs can also create mental distress and fear of sleep in those whose home has been invaded.
How can I treat bed bugs myself?
Bed bugs are among the most difficult pests to treat. Low-level bed bug infestations can be hard to detect and DIY methods aren't as reliable. These parasitic insects are resistant to many insecticides and over-the-counter products and can require multiple treatments. Additionally, bed bugs resemble other insects so, if not properly identified and treated, they can continue to propagate.
Should you find bed bugs in your home, these do-it-yourself tips may help:
- Run clothing, bedding, and other smaller soft items through a dryer for at least half an hour at the highest setting. Afterward, seal them in plastic bags until the entire home has been treated.
- Heat your home to at least 120°F for 90 minutes to kill bugs and eggs on items that won’t fit in a dryer.
- Purchase do-it-yourself kits that contain mattress encasements and products designed to treat bed bugs.
Self-administered foggers are not an effective form of treatment when used independently as they don’t reach into the areas bed bugs hide. They may also force the bugs to migrate to another area of your home, spreading the infestation. Drying agents called desiccants can be effective, though they may take months to work. Both foggers and desiccants should be used with caution as they may pose health risks to people and pets.
The best way to treat a bed bug problem is to hire a pest control professional who will utilize integrated Pest Management methods to address the issue.
Will DIY treatments work?
Although DIY bed bug treatments will reduce the bed bug population, not all bed bugs can be killed in a single spray treatment because of the areas where bed bugs like to hide. Additionally, most bed bug pesticides will not kill the egg. This leads to several problems. First, new bed bugs will continue to hatch and more eggs will continue to be laid. This creates a never-ending cycle of bed bug treatments, needing to be perfectly timed to eventually rid your room of all bed bugs. The second issue is that after chemical treatments, the remaining bed bugs will begin to move from the treated rooms to safer rooms within your home, ultimately creating infestations in multiple rooms throughout your home. So while some DIY treatments, when executed perfectly, have the ability to work overtime, they end up taking up a lot of time and resources and carry with them a strong chance of worsening the infestation.
How do you prevent bed bugs?
Bed bugs don’t discriminate; they can be found wherever they have access to a host. However, some preventative measures can keep your home protected:
- Remove clutter, reducing the number of places bed bugs can hide.
- Vacuum regularly – even daily – to pick up eggs and live bugs.
- Protect mattresses, box springs, and pillows with encasements designed specifically to keep bugs out.
- Seal potential areas of entry like cracks and crevices using caulk, foam sealant, or physical barriers.
- Inspect any furniture, clothing, or bedding for infestation before bringing them into your home.
- Avoid contact with others’ belongings.
- Check your mattress and box spring regularly for signs of bed bugs.
- When traveling, place luggage in the bathroom before inspecting the room for bed bugs.
- Implement bed bug monitoring devices, which are designed to identify their presence.