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What are bedbugs? What do bedbugs look like? How are bedbugs spread? What is the treatment for bedbug bites? How do I detect a bedbug infestation in my home? How do I get rid of bedbugs in the home? What about prevention of bedbug bites? Bed Bugs Quiz - Test Your IQ Pesticides to Control Bed Bugs |
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Bedbug facts Bedbugs are small oval insects that feed by sucking blood from humans or animals. Bedbugs do not fly. Bedbugs can live anywhere in the home. They can live in cracks in furniture or in any type of textile, including upholstered furniture. They are most common in beds, including the mattress, box springs, and bed frames. Bedbugs are most active at night. They may bite any exposed areas of skin while an individual is sleeping. Common locations for bedbug bites are the face, neck, hands, and arms. A bedbug bite is painless and is generally not noticed. The bites may be mistaken for a rash of another cause. Small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin are the most common sign. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and itching. Typically, no treatment is required for bedbug bites. If itching is severe, steroid creams or oral antihistamines may be used for symptom relief. Fecal stains, egg cases, and shed skins (exuviae) of bedbugs in crevices and cracks on or near beds are suggestive that bedbugs may be present, but only observing the bugs themselves can confirm an active infestation. What are bedbugs? What do bedbugs look like? Bedbugs are small oval non-flying insects that belong to the insect family Cimicidae, which includes three species that bite people. Adult bedbugs reach 5 mm-7 mm in length, while nymphs (juveniles) are as small as 1.5 mm. Bedbugs have flat bodies and may sometimes be mistaken for ticks or small cockroaches. Bedbugs feed by sucking blood from humans or animals. Adult bedbugs are reddish brown in color, appearing more reddish after feeding on a blood meal. Nymphs are clear in color and appear bright red after feeding. The wings of bedbugs are vestigial, so they cannot fly. However, they are able to crawl rapidly. Temperatures between 70 F-80 F are most favorable for bedbugs, allowing them to develop into adults most rapidly. Where are bedbugs found? Bedbugs are found all over the world. Bedbugs were common in the U.S. before World War II and became rare after widespread use of the pesticide DDT began in the 1940s and 1950s. They remained prevalent in other areas of the world and, in recent years, have been increasingly observed again in the U.S. What about bedbugs in hotels? Since bedbugs can arrive on the clothing or in the suitcases of guests from infested homes or other hotels harboring the pests, hotels can be an easy target for bedbug infestations. In addition to hotels, bedbugs have been found in movie theaters, office buildings, laundries, shelters, in transportation vehicles, and other locations with high-occupant turnover where people may congregate. How are bedbugs spread? Bedbugs live in any articles of furniture, clothing, or bedding, so they or their eggs may be present in used furniture or clothing. They spread by crawling and may contaminate multiple rooms in a home or even multiple dwellings in apartment buildings. They may also be present in boxes, suitcases, or other goods that are moved from residence to residence or from a hotel to home. Bedbugs can live on clothing from infested homes and may be spread by a person unknowingly wearing infested clothing. What are the symptoms and signs of bedbug bites? Bedbugs bite and suck blood from humans. Bedbugs are most active at night and bite any exposed areas of skin while an individual is sleeping. The face, neck, hands, and arms are common sites for bedbug bites. The bite itself is painless and is not noticed. Small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin are the most common sign; redness, swelling, and itching commonly occur. If scratched, the bite areas can become infected. A peculiarity of bedbug bites is the tendency to find several bites lined up in a row. Infectious-disease specialists refer to this series of bites as the "breakfast, lunch, and dinner" sign, signifying the sequential feeding that occurs from site to site. Bedbug bites may go unnoticed or be mistaken for flea or mosquito bites or other types of rash or skin conditions, since they are difficult to distinguish from other bites. Bedbugs also have glands whose secretions may leave odors, and they also may leave dark fecal spots on bedsheets and around their hiding places (in crevices or protected areas around the bed or anywhere in the room). Bedbugs have not been conclusively proven to carry infectious microbes. However, researchers have implicated bedbugs as possible vectors of American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) in areas where this disease is endemic, and studies are ongoing to determine whether bedbugs may serve as carriers of other diseases. The majority of bedbug bites are not serious. The only known serious consequences are severe allergic reactions, which have been reported in some people after bedbug bites. What is the treatment for bedbug bites? Typically, no treatment is required for bedbug bites. If itching is severe or if an allergic reaction to the bites occurs, topical steroid creams or oral antihistamines may be used for symptom relief. Secondary bacterial infections that develop over heavily scratched areas may require antibiotics. How do I detect a bedbug infestation in my home? You can look to see if you can identify the fecal stains, egg cases, and shed skins (exuviae) in crevices and cracks on or near beds. You should also look at other areas such as under wallpaper, behind picture frames, in couches and other furniture, in bedsprings and under mattresses, and even in articles of clothing. While fecal stains and skin casts suggest that bedbugs have been present, these do not confirm that the infestation is still active. Observing the bedbugs themselves is definitive confirmation that an area is infested. How do I get rid of bedbugs in the home? Getting rid of bedbugs is not an easy process, and most cases of bedbug infestation will require treatment by a pest-control expert. Bedbugs can survive for up to a year without feeding, so they may persist even in unoccupied rooms. A variety of low-odor sprays, dusts, and aerosol insecticides can be used to eradicate bedbugs. These must be applied to all areas where the bugs are observed as well as spaces where they may crawl or hide. The pest-control expert may recommend certain forms of deep-cleaning such as scrubbing infested surfaces with a stiff brush to remove eggs, dismantling bed frames and furniture, filling cracks in floors, walls, and moldings, encasing mattresses within special bags, or using a powerful vacuum on cracks and crevices. What about prevention of bedbug bites?Sleeping with the lights on has not been shown to be effective in preventing bedbug bites. Conventional insect and tick repellents are also not useful against bedbugs, so one should not try to avoid being bitten by using insect repellant at night. Avoidance of infested areas is the method for prevention of bedbug bites. Recognition of bedbug infestation and proper treatment of affected rooms (usually with the help of a pest-control specialist) is the best way to prevent bedbugs in the home. Those concerned about the potential for bedbugs bites in hotels should examine hotel beds and mattresses for signs of a bedbug infestation. Sealing your mattress in a bedbug-prevention casing can be beneficial. Bed Bugs Quiz - Test Your IQ Q:What are bed bugs? ASmall winged insects that belong to the family Cimicidae BSmall wingless insects that belong to the order Acarina CThe larvae of a type of mite of the family Trombiculidae DNone of the above The correct answer is: A Small winged insects that belong to the family Cimicidae Explanation: Bed bugs are small, oval winged insects that belong to the insect family Cimicidae, which includes three species that bite people. Q:How big are adult bed bugs? A1-2 mm B5-7 mm C½ inch D¾ inch The correct answer is: A1-2 mm Q:What color are adult bed bugs? ALight gray BBlack CReddish brown DWhite The correct answer is: CReddish brown Q:What color are bed bug nymphs? AWhite BBlack CBrown DClear The correct answer is: DClear The correct answer is: D Clear Explanation: Nymphs are clear in color and appear bright red after feeding. Q:Bed bugs can fly. • True • False The correct answer is: • False Explanation: The wings of bed bugs are vestigial, so they cannot fly Q:Which factors may have led to a recent increase in bed bug infestations? ARestrictions on the use of stronger pesticides BIncreases in immigration and travel from the ________ world CA and B DNone of the above The correct answer is: C A and B Q:Bed bugs need a blood meal at least once a week. • True • False The correct answer is: • False Explanation: Bed bugs can live for months without feeding. Q:Bed bugs tend to be commonly found in?AMattresses BBox springs CFurniture crevices DAll of the above The correct answer is: D All of the above Explanation: Bed bugs tend to be most common in areas where people sleep and generally concentrate in beds, including mattresses, box springs, and bed frames. Other sites where bed bugs often reside include curtains, the corners inside dressers and other furniture, cracks in wallpaper (particularly near the bed), and inside the spaces of wicker furniture Q:What are symptoms and signs of bed bug bites? ARaised bumps on the skin BBlisters on the skin CA spreading red rash DThere are no symptoms and signs associated with bed bug bites. The correct answer is: A Raised bumps on the skin Explanation: The bed bug bite itself is painless and is not noticed. Small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin are the most common sign; redness, swelling, and itching commonly occur. Q:What is the treatment for bed bug bites? ATypically, no treatment is required for bed bug bites. BApply a pediculicide to the bite. CPlace a cool compress over the bites. DAn antivenin must be administered. The correct answer is: ATypically, no treatment is required for bed bug bites. Explanation: Typically, no treatment is required for bed bug bites. If itching is severe, steroid creams or oral antihistamines may be used for symptom relief. Secondary bacterial infections that develop over heavily scratched areas may require the use of antibiotics Q:How can people detect a bed bug infestation? AIdentify fecal stains on the bed sheets. BLocate egg cases in crevices on or near the bed. CA and B DNone of the above The correct answer is: CA and B Explanation: You can look to see if you can identify the bed bugs' fecal stains, egg cases, and exuviae (shed skins) in crevices and cracks on or near beds. You should also look at other areas such as under wallpaper, behind picture frames, in couches and other furniture, in bed springs and under mattresses, and even in articles of clothing. Q:Which of the following statements about bed bugs is false?ABed bugs may infest many units in an apartment. BThey may be in suitcases that are moved from a hotel to home. CBed bugs or their eggs may be present in used clothing. DNone of the above The correct answer is: D None of the above Explanation: Bed bugs live in any articles of furniture, clothing, or bedding, so they or their eggs may be present in used furniture or clothing. They spread by crawling and may contaminate multiple rooms in a home or even multiple dwellings in apartment buildings. They may also be present in boxes, suitcases, or other goods that are moved from residence to residence or from a hotel to home. Q:Can you identify the bed bug? Pesticides to Control Bed Bugs These 300 registered products fall into seven chemical classes of pesticides that are currently registered and widely used for bed bug control: •pyrethrins, •pyrethroids •desiccants, •biochemicals, •pyrroles, •neonicotinoids, and •insect growth regulators. There are also two additional chemical classes registered for very narrow use patterns. Dichlorvos (also known as DDVP, an organophosphate) is registered as a pest strip for treatment of small enclosures; and propoxur (an n-methyl-carbamate) is registered only for use in commercial and industrial buildings where children are not present. Each chemical class kills bed bugs using a different mode of action. It can be helpful to use pesticides that differ in their mode of action because it can reduce the likelihood that the bugs will develop resistance. The following paragraphs discuss in more details each of the more commonly used chemical classes for bed bugs. Learn more about effectiveness of bed bug pesticides. Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids: Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are the most common compounds used to control bed bugs and other indoor pests. Pyrethrins are botanical insecticides derived from chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethroids are synthetic chemical insecticides that act like pyrethrins. Both compounds are lethal to bed bugs and can flush bed bugs out of their hiding places and kill them. However, where resistant bed bug strains exist, these treatments may cause them to move to a new hiding place or temporarily flush them out of existing locations. Some bed bug populations have become resistant to pyrethrins and pyrethroids. Sometimes using a combination product (either multiple pyrethroid or pyrethrin active ingredients, or one that combines different chemical classes into the same product) can improve bed bug control. It can also be helpful to switch to an entirely different chemical class to control resistant bed bug populations. Some pyrethroid pesticides come in the form of a total release fogger. See Should I Use a Fogger? for information about fogger use and safety. Desiccants: Desiccants work by destroying the waxy, protective outer coating on a bed bug. Once this coating is destroyed, the bed bugs will slowly dehydrate and die. Desiccants are a valuable tool in bed bug control. Because desiccants work through a physical mode of action, the bed bugs cannot become resistant to desiccants as they can to pesticides with other modes of action. In addition, they have a long-lasting effect and don't disturb normal bed bug activities. Examples of desiccants include: •Diatomaceous earth. •Boric acid. When using desiccants to control bed bugs it is critical to use those that are registered by EPA and labeled for bed bug control. Desiccants that are intended for other uses, such as food-grade or for use in swimming pools, pose an increased inhalation risk to people. Use of desiccants is limited to cracks and crevices use only to reduce inhalation risk. Biochemicals: Cold pressed neem oil is the only biochemical pesticide registered for use against bed bugs. Cold pressed neem oil is pressed directly from seeds of the Neem tree, a tropical evergreen tree found in Southeast Asia and Africa. The oil contains various compounds that have insecticidal and medicinal properties. It is also used in making products including shampoos, toothpaste, soaps, and cosmetics. Performance trials conducted at the approved label rates show both products control bed bug adults, nymphs, and eggs. Pyrroles: Chlorfenapyr is the only pyrrole pesticide currently registered for use against bed bugs. The compound is a pro-insecticide, i.e. the biological activity depends on its activation to form another chemical. The new chemical disrupts certain functions in the bed bug's cells, causing its death. Neonicotinoids: Neonicotinoids are synthetic forms of nicotine and act on the nicotinic receptors of the nervous system by causing nerves to fire continually until they fail. Because neonicotinoids use this different mode of action, bed bugs that are resistant to other pesticides will remain susceptible to the neonicotinoid. Insect growth regulators: Insect growth regulators are chemicals that mimic juvenile growth hormones in insects. They work by either altering the production of chitin (the compound insects use to make their hard external "shell" or exoskeleton) or by altering an insect's development into adulthood. Some growth regulators force the insect to develop too rapidly, while others stop development. |