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Extension > Garden > Insects > Prevention and control of bed bugs in residences

Dr. Stephen A. Kells, Assistant Professor Jeff Hahn, Extension Professor Department of Entomology University of Minnesota

Adult bed bug

Bed bugs, Cimex lectularius, have resurged to quickly become a very important pest of the 21st century, as they invade numerous urban areas. Our society has had a 30+ year "vacation" from this pest, when bed bugs were almost completely removed from North America as a result of mass treatments with older types of insecticides (DDT, Chlordane, Lindane). Recently though, bed bugs have found ample opportunity to increase in numbers and spread through society. Their success is a result of a combination of factors: increased travel of people; improved treatment methods that specifically target other insect pests (and thus not impact bed bugs); and the lack of public awareness. In addition to homes and hotels, bed bugs are also being found in schools, retail facilities, office buildings, libraries, and other public areas.

Bed bugs are parasites that feed on the blood of people, using these blood meals to grow and reproduce. They do not distinguish between dirty or clean homes and all people are vulnerable to infestations in their homes. Bed bugs are also capable of feeding on animals, including dogs, cats, and other pets.

They live close to areas where people typically sleep, rest, or sit for long periods. Hungry bugs will move out from their hiding places, in search of exposed skin. Typically, the head and neck are bitten, but bed bugs will also bite bare arms, hands, and legs. When searching for a place to feed, these bugs can move very quickly. Once an appropriate site is found, they feed for 2-5 minutes until full, and then move quickly away from the person and into a hiding place.

In addition to bed bugs moving towards a person when they are least likely to notice the insects, the result of their bites may also go unnoticed, or can be mistaken for the bites of other pests. All people are not equally sensitive to bed bug bites, so while some victims break out in rashes from the bites, other people may not display symptoms. When a reaction does occur, the results of feeding can be mild (a simple red spot) to severe (rash or even hives). The reactions caused by feeding might be mistaken for other problems. Fleas, mosquitoes and other biting insects, sensitization to detergents and soaps, and irritants (e.g., poison ivy) are some of the conditions victims of bed bugs thought they were dealing with.

Bed bugs are not known to transmit disease to people. They have been discovered to harbor 28 different human pathogens, but fortunately, the transmission of these diseases to people has not been demonstrated.

Bed bug before and after a blood meal

Adult bed bugs are oval, flattened, brown, and wingless insects approximately 1/4" to 3/8" long (5-9 mm). They are similar in appearance to a wood tick. After the bug has taken a blood meal, its color will change from brown to purplish-red. Also after feeding, it is larger and more cigar-shaped making it appear like a different insect. Young bed bugs are much smaller, 1/16" (1.6 mm) when they first hatch, and nearly colorless except after feeding, but resemble the adult in general shape. You may also find cast skins, which are empty shells of bugs as they grow from one stage to the next. After a blood meal, bed bugs deposit fecal spots (composed of digested blood) in areas adjacent to the feeding site or back at their hiding places.

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Prevention and control of bed bugs in residences : Insects ...

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed Bugs are tiny insects that can grow up to 5mm in length and unlike dust mites, can be seen with the naked eye.

Bed Bugs pierce the skin with two hollow tubes. One tube injects saliva which contains an anesthetic ensuring numbness, while the other contains an anticoagulant ensuring uninterrupted blood flow during feeding.

Bed Bugs feed every 5-10 days with each feeding lasting approximately 3-5 minutes, after which they go back into hiding. Bed Bugs can go without food for nearly 1 year.

Normally, a bed bug does not transmit any disease. Some people may suffer slight irritation or itching from a bite, in other cases persons may suffer from capillary dilation or the formation of pus filled blisters.

Is your mattress infested with Bed Bugs?

How to treat bed bug bites

Bed Bugs became a rarity during the latter part of the 20th century. Since 2000, there has been a reported 400% increase in bed bugs, predominantly in North America, South America and Australia.

Due to the growing number of apartment buildings and hotels, it is becoming increasingly difficult to control the number of bed bugs found in non-residential beds and linens.

In an interesting bed bugs related lawsuit, a woman in Chicago sued a hotel for $20 million after waking up with over 500 bug bites

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Bed Bug Information and Treatment - The Natural Memory Foam ...