World, Bed Bug Registry Map – Infestation Reports

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Bedbug bites can leave serious damage on the skin. While most bites shouldn't leave permanent marks, they can scar if you pick, scratch or irritate the bites. Thankfully, there are ways to treat bedbug scars and marks. From topical remedies to more intensive treatments, you have a variety of options when it comes to removing bedbug scars. Be persistent in your treatment plan and you'll see the scars fade over time.

Chemical peels

Laser treatment

Rub a scar treatment cream or ointment onto the scars. Onion extract is a key ingredient in such topical treatments. You can find such creams in most drug stores and pharmacies. You'll need to apply the ointment to the scars twice daily for at least two months before seeing results.

Apply silicone scar treatment sheets to your scars. Available in drugstores, these sheets must be applied to the scarred area and left there for several days. Once you remove the sheets, the scars will be lighter and less noticeable.

Use a circular motion to massage your bedbug scars. Repeated massage will help to break up scar tissue so that the scars fade more quickly. It also encourages circulation so the skin can be better nourished.

Talk to your dermatologist about skin bleaching cream. Often, new scars are pink, red or purple in color. Bleaching cream can help to lighten your scars so they better blend in with surrounding skin. While there are bleaching creams available over-the-counter in most cosmetic and drugstores, you can get higher strength creams via a doctor's prescription.

Get chemical peels. Chemicals will react with the top layers of your skin, burning them away. While it will take a few days for your skin to heal, it will appear smoother and less scarred once it does. Chemical peels are available in different strengths, ranging from light to deep. Your dermatologist will be able to advise you on the appropriate strength for your scars.

Try laser treatment. A dermatologist or licensed practitioner will use a laser's light on your bedbug scars. The light will break up scar tissue and rejuvenate your skin, making it smoother and less damaged. With repeated treatments, you should be able to completely get rid of your bedbug scars/

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How to Get Rid of Bed Bug Scars and Marks | eHow

Wouldnt it be nice if there was something you could spray on your body, in your bed, on your clothes and in your luggage to keep bed bugs away? There is a lot of information on the web claiming that various things do just that. But is bed bug repellent just wishful thinking?

A repellent is something bugs will avoid. This is different than a bed bug insecticide, which kills them. A lot of websites seem to use the term repellent to mean insecticide, which can be confusing. In this article Im dealing very specifically with the effect of repelling bed bugs.

I will discuss specific insecticides that are often mis-characterized as repellents. But Im only going to touch on their value as something a bed bug would avoid.

Ill also look at certain herbal or natural substances that are claimed to act as bed bug repellents.

Keep in mind that ultimately, repelling bed bugs might not be the best idea. It is like taking aspirin for a brain tumor. It might make the pain go away for a bit but it doesnt address the underlying problem. And the underlying problem continues to worsen the longer you ignore it. If a bed bug repellent causes bed bugs to disperse, they will find harder to reach hiding places which will make inspection and extermination that much more difficult.

But a functional bed bug repellent could go a long way to protecting you while you travel and in other situations. So lets investigate the idea of bed bug repellents and see what we learn.

These insecticides are commonly used for bed bug extermination and control. Sometimes claims are made that they are also repellent or can be used as a flushing agent. Insecticides should be used as directed as they can be dangerous to people and animals if used incorrectly. This is why they are regulated and should be handled and applied only be trained professionals.

Insecticides made with pyrethroids are known to be repellent to many insects but there doesnt seem to be strong evidence to support that they are repellent to bed bugs. In fact, bed bugs susceptible to pyrethroids will stay on the substance until it kills them. Many bed bugs are resistant to pyrethroids anyway and have been seen crossing materials treated with pyrethroids with no difficulty or ill effect. Ive seen it reported that aerosol pyrethrins are often used as a flushing agent to get bed bugs out of their harbor but this seems to contradict other information published.

Chlorfenapyr is an alternative to pyrethroids and is used in a similar way as a bed bug insecticide. It is not known to be repellant.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) pierces a bed bugs exoskeleton and sucks the water out of it, dehydrating and killing it. DE kills them but the action is not instant (it can take up to two weeks) and there is nothing in DE on its own to repel bed bugs. Some forms of DE are combined with pyrethroids but that wont necessarily make them repellant. See above.

Boric acid, frequently used to kill cockroaches, is often claimed to be a bed bug insecticide and a repellent. But it is in fact neither. This is due to the way bed bugs get their food. Boric acid works as a stomach poison. But bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide and the warmth of the body and they feed only on blood. There is no way to entice them to eat boric acid. Although it is abrasive to their exoskeleton, boric acid is not recognized as a repellent.

A chemical formulation of Acetamiprid with Bifenthrin is currently in the process of being registered with the EPA. University testing has shown that it may have some repellant power. So down the road a bit we might see a legitimate bed bug repellent supported by research.

Finally, lets investigate substances that are often referred to as more natural; things such as herbs, essential oils and also common household items.

All-natural substances are appealing if you are concerned with making environmentally friendly choices or you simply prefer natural alternatives over manufactured chemicals. Appealing as these factors may be, best practices for using them rarely exist and many of them can be dangerous if used incorrectly.

Additionally, just because something is all-natural doesnt mean its safe or environmentally friendly. Marketers often cast manufactured chemicals as the bad guy and then position (their) all-natural substances as the good guy. Its a simple (but effective) trick they use to get you to do what they want: buy their stuff.

If you see the words all-natural and it gives you the warm fuzzies, keep in mind that poison ivy is all-natural as is snake venom and poisonous mushrooms. Black walnut (discussed below), also all-natural, can be toxic to both plants and animals. If it seems like Im going heavy on the dangers of all-natural substances it is because:

Essential oils include cinnamon oil, lemongrass oil, clove oil, peppermint oil, lavender oil, thyme and eucalyptus. Essential oils are often claimed to both kill and repel bed bugs. It appears accepted that many of these oils will indeed kill bed bugs. However I could only find anecdotal evidence from non-professionals and claims made by pesticide manufacturers to indicate that they act as effective bed bug repellents. There may be some effective repellents to be found here but it is hard to tell. Teatree oil can be toxic to both humans and pets.

Ive seen the claim that black walnut dust is effective in both repelling and killing bed bugs. This claim often references the National Park Service as supporting this but I havent found any information on their site. For now the claim that black walnut dust is an effective bed bug repellent seems anecdotal, although there may be information supporting it as an insecticide in the book: A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Black walnut dust may cause allergic reactions in people and animals.

Petroleum Jelly (people also refer to it by the brand name Vaseline) is often applied to the legs of a bed or other surfaces to catch bed bugs. Some people believe the smell of the petroleum jelly repels bed bugs but there doesnt seem to be much evidence to support that.

Alcohol is known to kill bed bugs on contact (3 parts rubbing alcohol with 2 parts water in a spray bottle). But it isnt a repellent. It dries almost right away and it has no residual effect once it has dried.

This is the active ingredient in several household products like shampoo, shaving cream and toothpaste. It is also an active ingredient in the EcoBugFree and Bed Bug Terminator sprays, both of which appear to be supported by professionals for killing bed bugs. It doesnt appear to act as a bed bug repellent though.

Dealing with bed bugs is difficult and stressful. You may consider trying anything just to make progress or get some relief. There is a lot of information out there but much of it is confusing or misleading. The bottom line appears to be best put in a document published by Dini M. Miller Ph. D of Virginia Tech:

Repellents: no functional repellents

Right now, it just doesnt seem as though theres a lot of evidence to support the existence of effective bed bug repellents. If you have direct experience you would like to share on this topic or you are a manufacturer that does indeed sell a proven bed bug repellent, please get in touch to share your thoughts with other readers.

Further reading:

The rest is here:
Bed Bug Repellent (Repellant).

overview

Bed bug bites are an allergic skin reaction caused by fluids excreted when the insect punctures the skin. Most people show no skin reaction. People that do have a reaction get small red pus filled bumps on the skin. In chronic cases it can cause skin swelling, wheals or even blisters. Reactions can be seen within 30 minutes or in rare cases days later. Bed bugs do not transmit disease, so bug bites are more of an unpleasant source of discomfort.

Treatment for most people is as simple as treating any itch and letting the body heal itself. Bites should clear on their own in 3 to 5 days. In severe cases the bites cause hives, skin blisters and welts. Reactions can appear days after the bite occurs. Each bite episode can vary with skin reactions worsening each time it happens.

There is no limit to the number of bites you can get each night. If you are sleeping in a bed that is infested, then hundreds of bed bugs could feed on your blood. If there is a small infestation, then expect a smaller number of bites. As you can see from the picture below, this young girl has hundreds of bites.

A Bed bug bites in order to feed on the blood of a human host. A single bug may bite several times in one place on the body. If the bugs are in a specific hiding place and your body comes in contact with where they are hidden, such as a seam in the bed, then that area that comes in contact with the seam will be filled with bites in a straight line along the seam.

Different people will have a wide range of allergic reactions to the bite. This includes a minimal reaction to something more severe. Over time, the body tends to have a stronger reaction.

Single or groups of bites are common. Frequently, you see 3 bites in a triangle which could be caused by one or multiple bed bugs.

Bed bugs like to bite bare skin areas. This is why bites are frequently seen on the lower arms and legs. One strategy to avoid being bitten on the legs is to wear socks over the bottom of pajamas.

They will also bite under lose fitting clothing if it is easy to find skin.

They tend to avoid the face and the bottoms of the feet. Bed Bugs do not bite through clothing.

Bed bugs do not actually bite. They puncture the skin. When a bedbug punctures the skin with the stylet or beak, the host will feel a light pinch if anything. When the bug bites, it transfers saliva into the human or animal host.

You are more likely to not feel the actual bite, but feel the "itch" or allergic reaction your body has to the bite.

A bed bug has two tubes on its mouth which are inserted into the host. One of the two tubes inserts saliva into the host and the other draws blood. Feeding lasts for approximately 5 minutes. A bed bug prefers to feed on blood every 5 to 10 days, but can last up to a year without feeding.

Bed bugs prefer to bite or feed on a host at night or just before dawn. They avoid sunlight when possible.

Bedbug bites can look like the bites of other insects such as mosquitoes, spiders and chiggers and also look like the marks caused by several diseases such as chicken pox.

The bites take on different forms based on the reaction. It could look like a circle or "wheal" or a series of small blisters. There are certain bite characteristics that help you distinguish between bed bug bites and other causes:

Notice in the picture of bedbug bites and how some bites are in a line, possibly along a vein, and others are random, based on where the bugs may have been hiding in a seam on a mattress. It is possible for different types and patterns of reactions to be found after being bitten.

Some, actually most people are not allergic to bedbug bites and will show no skin reaction. Others will have a reaction 1 hour to 2 days later. It is even possible to have the first reaction 2 weeks later.

The usual reaction is skin welts, bumps and in some cases, the skin form blisters that contain puss. Hives can also form that when measured can be up to 8 inches. It is rare for a more severe allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock, where the airway can become constricted and even cause death. Skin itch is also a common reaction.

The bed bug bite looks like the bites of other insects such as scabies, lice, mosquitoes and fleas. For this reason, a Doctor will not know if a bite is caused by a bed bug just from the appearance. To confirm that bed bugs are a problem, look for other problems such as dark stains on a mattress or an actual insect.

For most people, bedbug bites do not need to be treated. Itch should go away in 1 to 3 days with the use of an anti-itch cream like cortisone. If the reaction to the bed bugs looks like it is severe then see a Doctorfor a corticosteroid or an antihistamine.

Do not scratch the ares bitten in order to avoid infection. You could also try an anti-itch cream like Aveenoor calamine lotion.The key is to use a cream to calm the skin and then treat any infection with antibiotics if necessary. Treat bites as you would the bites of any other insect.

Bed bug bites will only end when the insects are removed from your home or apartment. Killing bedbugs is not easy, since they remain hidden in cracks until they come out at night.

The best approach is to call in a bed bug pest control professional, who has the knowledge and experience to do an inspection, assess the extent of the bed bug problem and then recommend a treatment plan.

Search our exterminator database to find a qualified local bedbug exterminator near you from our list of qualified experts. Please keep in mind that if the bed bugs are not treated correctly, insects missed will begin to multiply and the problem will return. Don't use a pest control company unless they have extensive experience treating bed bugs.

Make sure the firm you select provides a guarantee since 2 to 3 treatments may be needed. It is easy to miss bedbug eggs that hatch after the initial treatment was completed.

For smaller infestations and to do it yourself we recommend purchasing a bed bug kit. Multiple products are needed to remove both the bed bugs and their eggs.

For more information see our guide on getting rid of bed bugs.

Each of these free brochures provides additional information on bed bug bite symptoms, patterns and treatment.

Bed Bug Bite Basics

How to recognize bed bugs bites.

Written by: Gary A. Alpert/span>

Available in a free Ebook

What You Need to Know about Bed Bugs and Their Bites

Pictures and descriptions of bite reactions.

Written by: Stephen L. Doggett

Available in a free Ebook

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Mayo Clinic

Harvard School of Public Health

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Bed Bug Bites: Pictures, Patterns, Symptoms and Remedy

How can I treat a bedbug bite?

Bedbug bites should go away within 2 weeks. In the meantime, you can try an over-the-counter (OTC) hydrocortisone cream or lotion on the affected skin to relieve the itchiness and swelling. An OTC antihistamine pill or cream called diphenhydramine (brand name: Benadryl) may also relieve itchiness caused by bedbug bites.

Its important to avoid scratching your bites as much as possible. Scratching can damage your skin, which makes it more likely to get infected.

If an OTC cream doesnt relieve your itchiness, you may need to ask your doctor about a prescription-strength medicine to treat your symptoms.

If your bedbug bites become infected, talk to your doctor. You may have an infection if the skin around your bites becomes red and swollen, you have a fever, or your bites blister or become sores. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to treat your infection.

If you have a severe allergic reaction to a bedbug bite, see your doctor right away.

If you have bedbugs in your home, wash all of your pajamas and bedding in hot water and dry them in a hot dryer, or freeze them for at least 24 hours. Vacuum all of your furniture, especially your mattress and its seams. If your mattress is infested, either replace it or cover the mattress and box springs in plastic covers. Fix any cracks in your furniture. Fill and seal any cracks or holes in the walls or floors.

If your infestation is severe, you may need to contact a pest control professional. Ask questions about what chemicals they use, and be sure to keep children and pets away during spraying.

Continued here:
Bedbugs | Treatment

common name: bed bug scientific name: Cimex lectularius Linnaeus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Introduction - Distribution - Description - Life Cycle - Survey and Management - Selected References Introduction (Back to Top)

Sometimes referred to as red coats, chinches, or mahogany flats (USDA 1976), bed bugs, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, are blood-feeding parasites of humans, chickens, bats and occasionally domesticated animals (Usinger 1966). Bed bugs are suspected to carry leprosy, oriental sore, Q-fever, and brucellosis (Krueger 2000) but have never been implicated in the spread of disease to humans (Dolling 1991). After the development and use of modern insecticides, such as DDT, bed bug infestations have virtually disappeared. However, since 1995, pest management professionals have noticed an increase in bed-bug-related complaints (Krueger 2000).

Figure 1. Adult bed bug, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, feeding. Photograph by Joseph Smith, University of Florida.

Human dwellings, bird nests, and bat caves are the most suitable habitats for bed bugs because they offer warmth, areas to hide, and hosts on which to feed (Dolling 1991). Bed bugs are not evenly distributed throughout the environment but are concentrated in harborages (Usinger 1966). Within human dwellings, harborages include cracks and crevices in walls and furniture, behind wallpaper and wood paneling, or under carpeting (Krueger 2000). Bed bugs are usually only active during the night but will feed during the day when hungry (Usinger 1966). Bed bugs can be transported on clothing, and in luggage, bedding and furniture (USDA 1976)/ Bed bugs lack appendages that allow them to cling to hair, fur, or feathers, so they are rarely found on hosts (Dolling 1991).

The adult bed bug is a broadly flattened, ovoid insect with greatly reduced wings (Schuh and Slater 1995). The leathery, reduced fore wings (hemelytra) are broader than they are long, with a somewhat rectangular appearance. The sides of the pronotum are covered with short, stiff hairs (Furman and Catts 1970). Before feeding, bed bugs are usually brown in color and range from 6 to 9.5 mm in length. After feeding, the body is swollen and red in color (USDA 1976).

Figure 2. Dorsal view of an adult bed bug, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus. Photograph by David Almquist, University of Florida.

Figure 3. Lateral view of an adult bed bug, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus. Photograph by Joseph Smith, University of Florida.

Figure 4. Nymph of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus. Photograph by Joseph Smith, University of Florida.

The two bed bugs most important to man are the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, and the tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus. These two species of bed bugs can be easily distinguished by looking at the prothorax, the first segment of the thorax. The prothorax of the common bed bug is more expanded laterally and the extreme margins are more flattened than that of the tropical bed bug (Ghauri 1973).

Because of their confined living spaces, copulation among male and female bed bugs is difficult. The female possesses a secondary copulatory aperture, Ribaga's organ or paragenital sinus, on the fourth abdominal sternum where spermatozoa from the male are injected. The spermatozoa then migrate to the ovaries by passing through the haemocoel, or body cavity (Dolling 1991). The female bed bug lays approximately 200 eggs during her life span at a rate of one to 12 eggs per day (Krueger 2000). The eggs are laid on rough surfaces and coated with a transparent cement to adhere them to the substrate (Usinger 1966). Within six to 17 days bed bug nymphs, almost devoid of color, emerge from the eggs. After five molts, which take approximately ten weeks, the nymphs reach maturity (USDA 1976).

Bed bugs are most active at night, so their infestations are not easily located (Snetsinger 1997). However, when bed bugs are numerous, a foul odor from oily secretions can easily be detected (USDA 1976). Other recognizable signs of a bed bug infestation include excrement left around their hiding places (Dolling 1991) and reddish brown spots on mattresses and furniture (Frishman 2000). Good sanitation is the first step to controlling the spread of bed bugs. However, upscale hotels and private homes have recently noted infestations, suggesting that good sanitation is not enough to stop a bed bug infestation (Krueger 2000).

If bed bugs are located in bedding material or mattresses, control should focus on mechanical methods, such as vacuuming, caulking and removing or sealing loose wallpaper, to minimize the use of pesticides (Frishman 2000). The effectiveness of using steam cleaners or hot water to clean mattresses is questionable. Heat is readily absorbed by the mattress and does no harm to the bed bug. For severe infestations, however, pesticides may be used. Care should be taken not to soak mattresses and upholstery with pesticides. Allow bedding and furniture to dry thoroughly before using. One study shows that over-the-counter foggers are not effective for controlling bed bugs (Jones and Bryant 2012).

Florida Insect Management Guide for bed bugs

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bed bug - Cimex lectularius Linnaeus