Identification:
- Adult Bed Bugs are brown to reddish-brown color, oval-shaped, flattened, and about 3/16 to 1/5 of an inch long.
- Bed Bug eggs are white and cylindrical at about 1/32 inches long.
Bed Bugs in mattress crease
Bed Bugs are making a come back!
Bed Bugs have been documented since colonial times in the United States, although there distribution is world wide. Since the 1950's their numbers have been held down by the widespread use of insecticides as well as increased household and personal cleanliness and regulations in the used furniture market.
However, over the last ten years or so the number cases of infestations have been increasing steadily. This is due in part to more environmentally friendly pest control measures such as IPM (Integrated Pest Management) techniques, and the increase of international travel. These bugs hitchhike from hotels, buses, airplanes, ships, trains by traveling in luggage, bedding, mattresses, clothing and furniture. They are typically found more often in places with a higher rate of occupancy turn-over.
Life Cycle:
- Egg - Nymph - Adult
- Typical development time from egg to adult is 21 days @ 86° F to 120 days @ 65° F.
- Females can lay from one to twelve eggs per day.
- Average total eggs per female is 200.
- Eggs hatch in 6 to 17 days
- Nymphs can feed immediately and require a meal before molting.
- Nymphs must molt 5 times before becoming an adult.
- Adults can live 12 to 18 months without a blood meal.
- Three or more generations can occur in one year.
Habits:
- Bed Bugs are fast moving, nocturnal blood-feeders.
- Blood-feeding takes about 10 to 15 minutes for an adult.
- Hiding areas are usually found in close proximity to the host.
- Hiding areas include but are not limited to:
- Tufts, seams, and folds of mattresses.
- Bed frames
- Box springs
- Cracks or crevices, window and door frames, baseboards, furniture, behind pictures, wall hangings, behind loose wallpaper, drapery pleats, under tack boards, etc.
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Bed Bugs
Adult Bed Bug
Signs of Infestation:
- Blood stains on surfaces from crushed bugs or rusty colored stains from excrement.
- Fecal spots, eggshells, and shed skins may be found near hiding places.
- Occupants of infested areas may experience irritated or inflamed bite sites, the severity depending upon each individuals reaction to the bite.
- Bites do not have a red center as with flea bites.
- Individuals may respond to bites with anxiety, stress or insomnia.
- Bed Bugs are widely considered not to be transmitters of diseases, although they may carry several at one time.
Prevention and Control:
- Do not bring infested items into home.
- Inspect clothing and luggage of visiting travelers.
- Always inspect any used furniture, clothing, and bedding before accepting.
- Seal any cracks or crevices on exterior of residence.
- Install or repair materials for exclusion of rodents, birds and bats from residence.
- Inspect areas were lodging upon arrival.
- Vacuum thoroughly all carpeted areas, as well as the use of attachments to get to cracks, crevices, mattress seams, baseboards, etc.
- Launder all bedding, linens, and clothes in high temperatures.
- Zippered mattress covers can be used to trap Bed Bugs, but should be left on for at least a year (make sure there are no holes or tears in cover).
- Hire an experienced and qualified pest control company (such as Tri-County Pest Control, Inc.) to thoroughly inspect and treat your residence with an IPM program.
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