Bedbugs In Your Home
Bedbugs, Cimex lectularius, have resurged to quickly become a very important pest of the 21st century, as they invade many urban areas including , hotels and houses As a result of mass treatments of with older types of insecticides (DDT, Chlordane, Lindane) our society has had a 30+ year “vacation” from this pest, when bedbugs were almost removed from North America. In recent times though, bedbugs have found plentiful opportunity to increase in number and spread through society. Their success is a result of:
- Increased travel of people
- Superior treatment methods that particularly target other insect pests
- The lack of public awareness
What Do Bedbugs Look Like?
Bedbugs are oval, flattened, brown, and wingless insects approximately 1/4″ to 3/8″ long (5-9 mm). They resemblea wood tick. After the bug has taken a blood meal, its color will change from brown to purplish-red. Also after feeding, it is bigger and more cigar-shaped making it appear like a different insect. Young bedbugs are much smaller (1/16” or 1.6 mm when they first hatch) and almost colorless except after feeding, but look like the adult in general shape. You may also see cast skins, which are empty shells of bugs as they grow from one stage to the next. After a blood meal, bedbugs deposit fecal spots (composed of digested blood) in areas adjacent to the feeding site or back at their hiding places.
What Is Their Life Cycle?
Bedbugs are active at night and hide during the day. After mating, females lay white, oval eggs (1/16-inch long) into cracks and crevices. Just 1 bedbug can lay 200-250 eggs in her lifetime. The eggs hatch in about 6-10 days and the recently emerged bed bug nymphs seek a blood meal. Young nymphs molt five times (i.e., they shed their outer exoskeleton in order to grow) before reaching maturity. They need to feed at least once before each molt, although they could feed as much as once a day. There may be as many as 3 or more generations per year . All ages are found in a reproducing population. Immature bedbugs may live for several months without feeding while adults may survive as long as one year without a meal. Under normal circumstances , adult bed bugs will live for about ten to 11 months.
How Can I Detect A Bedbug Infestation?
Bedbugs usually cluster together in favorable harborage areas. However, some bedbugs will live by themselves, away from the majority of the infestation. The best way to determine if you have an infestation is to look for bedbugs where you rest and where you usually set down luggage (or bags) when you enter the home . Your luggage and places where your luggage may be stored are also some of the first areas to look. In bedrooms, look especially around boxsprings, mattresses, bed frames, tufts, folds, and buttons on mattresses, furniture, such as desks and chairs, behind wall paper, clocks and pictures, cracks in wood floors, and under the edge of carpet. While bedbugs are most usually found in bedrooms, infestations can also occur in other rooms, including: bathrooms; living rooms; and laundry rooms. Dark blood spots on sheets and bedding may suggest bedbug feeding. Bedbugs will sometimes excrete while they are feeding. This results in darker (reddish or brownish) spots or smears placed on bed sheets , pillowcases and mattresses, or in nearby areas. This material is composed mostly of digested blood and the stains care very typical .
Keep in mind these insects are very small (1/16” to 1/4”) and very flat, so they can move into very tight corners and cracks. In some infestations, they were found under picture frames, in between the glass and the frame! Be prepared to do some close inspection and when in doubt, think about having the inspection done by a pest control expert .
In severe infestations, bedbugs may be more visible . The accumulation of bugs, cast skins and fecal spots will be very apparent upon close inspection.
How Can I Control A Bedbug Infestation?
It is highly recommended recommend that you seek help from a professional pest control expert .
Controlling a bedbug infestation requires very detailed work and a lot of moving (and disassembly) of furniture. Careful inspections must be completed in conjunction with non-chemical controls (such as vacuuming, and steam treatments) and insecticide treatments. The insecticides available are commercial products requiring special equipment and education that is not readily available in over-the-counter products.
How Can I Prevent A Bedbug Infestation?
The greatest risk for encountering bedbugs appears to be while people are traveling. No matter what type of accommodations you stay at, it is a good idea to check your room. Please look at the section “How can I detect an infestation?” and check around the headboard and adjacent area of the bed. Also inspect luggage stands or other areas where suitcases are usually set down . Be suspicious of any unexplained bites you may find in the morning; that could be the result of bedbugs. Also watch for fecal spots, which could occur on bed sheets or nearby areas. Inspect your luggage when you return home after a trip for any bedbugs that may have escaped your earlier attention.
Other sources may be associated with the scavenging of used furniture. Residents and tenants are strongly advised against “scavenging” beds and furniture that have seemingly been discarded and left by the curb for disposal, or behind places of business. Bedbug infestations are not limited to beds and mattresses, and they can be found on tables, drawers, and even electronics if these items were located in a bedroom or other place that could support an infestation.
Bedbug Control
Bedbugs are considered one of the most challenging of all insect pests to control due to the high degree of insecticide resistance they have developed. If not treated immediately , they can quickly become a serious problem. Once you notice a bedbug problem, call a pest control professional right away .