What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are wingless, oval-shaped, flat insects that can be seen with the naked eye. They are generally about one quarter of an inch long and are a light tan colour. After feeding they can turn dark red.
Bed bugs feed on human blood, but will also feed on the blood of animals or birds. They are usually active at night, so the insects will often bite humans while they sleep.
The insects bite all over the body, especially the face, neck, upper torso, arms and hands.
Clusters of small eggs the size of pinheads can be found in cracks and crevices, and hatch in about ten days.
Why are bed bugs becoming a problem?
Bed bug infestations have risen worldwide as a result of increased international travel and decreased use of certain types of pesticides. They are present in nearly all countries.
They became relatively scarce in the second half of the 20th century, but are now resurgent, especially in North America, Europe and Australia.
They can be found in hotels, motels, apartments, condos, homes, dormitories, or even businesses and offices.
The highest-risk locations for bed bugs are multi-unit apartments, hotels, hostels, shelters and student residences.
How do they get in my home?
Bed bugs cannot fly or jump. They either crawl or are carried from one place to another.
They can be brought into your home on clothing, furniture or other objects, and can travel between apartments in small openings, pipes, and wiring.
Used furniture is especially at risk of housing bed bugs or their eggs. Bed bugs can survive for months without feeding, so used furniture should be carefully inspected.
Bed bugs hide during the day, and their flat narrow shape allows them to hide in bed frames, baseboards, in bedside furniture, under mattresses and in boxsprings.
Since they feed at night while people sleep, infestations will generally occur in the area surrounding the bed.
Are they a health hazard?
Bed bugs are not considered a health hazard, and there is no evidence that bed bug bites can transmit infectious disease.
Some people may experience a localized reaction to a bite, while others might not notice they have been bitten. Scratching the area can cause infection.
What should I do if I think I have bed bugs?
If you think you might have a bed bug infestation, call your local health department to confirm this is the case. Some health departments will perform on-site inspections.
Heavy infestations may result in a sweet-smelling odour.
To deal with bed bugs, you can call a professional pest control service or use pesticides. If you own your home or residence, you may want to contact a licensed pest control company directly.
If you are a tenant, you should contact your landlord immediately and inform them of the infestation, and discuss how to proceed to eliminate it.
If you are using a pesticide, read the label carefully to ensure it is appropriate, and that all safety precautions are followed. Ensure the product is registered for use against bed bugs specifically, which should be marked on the product container.
These steps should be combined with other measures to ensure the infestation does not return. This is called Integrated Pest Control (IPM).
First, inspect your bed and the surrounding area, particularly any cracks or folds. Thoroughly clean the entire room where the infestation has occurred, and other rooms in your home.
Use a vacuum nozzle attachment to remove the insects, and vacuum all cracks, crevices and folds in material. Empty the vacuum immediately. Vacuuming should be done each day.
Wash all bed sheets and linens in hot water and put them in the dryer on hot for at least 20 minutes. Seal any cracks or crevices in your bed frame and surrounding area, as well as any openings or cracks in walls, especially those between apartments.
You may want to consider encasing your mattress in a plastic mattress bag, which can be installed and sealed with tape. Bugs trapped inside the bag will eventually die.
Inspect items you bring in to your home. You may want to use sticky tape or glue boards to monitor bed bugs and trap them.
It is normal to see living bed bugs up to ten days after pest control measures are taken.
Video: Avery Addison Hunsberger from Addison Pest Control demonstrates to Global Toronto’s Marianne Dimain how to do a basic home check for bed bugs.
Comments