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Insect InfoBed Bugs
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Bed bugs are about 1/8-inch long and reddish-brown with oval, flattened bodies. Four-segmented antennae are attached to the head between the prominent compound eyes. The proboscis is located beneath the head and passes back between the front legs. They feed solely on the blood of animals. They first got a taste for human blood when cave-dwelling humans lived beneath bug-infested bat roosts. Bed bugs do not fly but can move swiftly over walls, floors and ceilings. Females attach their eggs in secluded areas. The eggs are whitish and very hard to see with the naked eye. Under ideal conditions, eggs hatch in about seven days. Newly hatched nymphs shed their skin approximately five times before reaching maturity. A blood meal is required between each successive molt. Bed bugs complete development in about one month, producing three or four generations per year. Bed bugs are very resilient and resourceful, they can survive for months without feeding and in the absence of humans, they will bite other warm-blooded animals, including pets. Bed bugs are nocturnal. During the daytime, they hide in cracks close to where humans sleep. The prefer tiny crevices in mattresses, boxsprings, bedframes and headboards. In these hiding spots you will find fecal stains, eggs, molted skins, blood spots and in heavy infestations, a musty odor. As the population grows, they will spread to other cracks and crevices throughout the room, adjacent rooms and other apartments. Bed bugs are attracted to humans by body heat and emissions of carbon dioxide. As they bite, they inject an anesthetic which allows them to feed undetected. They typically require a 5- to 10-minute blood meal in order to completely engorge themselves. The saliva that is injected in the puncture results in circular, red, itchy welts. Although more than 25 infectuous agents have been associated with bed bugs, they are not considered vectors of disease since these pathogens are not transmitted. How did they get into my home?Although it may seem that bed bugs arise from thin air, chances are that they were imported in luggage, furniture, beds, etc. Outbreaks can often be traced to overseas travel where bed bugs may have been present in cruise ships, resorts, hotel rooms or hostels. Bed bugs are cryptic and agile and can easily escape detection after crawling into your suitcase, backpack or other belongings. Other sources of infestation may be the purchase of recycled mattresses and boxsprings or the introduction of contaminated furniture. Bed bugs may also migrate from adjacent infested apartments. All that is required for bed bugs to thrive is an abundance of cracks in which to hide and the presence of warm-blooded hosts. Unlike roaches that thrive in filthy conditions, cleanliness is not a determining factor when it comes to bed bug infestations. They have been detected in pristine homes and in spotless hotel rooms. ControlThe control of bed bugs is a challenge even for the most experienced and talented pest control professional. It requires thorough inspections and meticulous applications and even so, retreats are common. Treatment options are not as wide as those for roaches or ants and the need for customer cooperation is greater. The major reason for bed bug retreats is poor customer preparation. The client must assist in allowing access to all areas, removing clutter, laundering bedding and clothing and in some cases, disposing of contaminated beds and furniture. The first step is to correctly diagnose the problem. Established infestations are easily confirmed but in the early stages the signs are more subtle. After all, many things other than bed bugs can produce itchy welts on a person's body. Many times medical personnel misdiagnose the symptoms and attribute the welts to scabies, rashes, allergies or other pests like fleas, ticks or mosquitoes. The flip side of course is that as people become more aware of bed bugs, any welt, rash or itching will be attributed to them when they may be due to other factors. To avoid this, both physicians and pest control professionals must learn to become better diagnosticians. A thorough inspection requires the use of a flashlight, a magnifier, a vacuum and a pyrethrum flushing agent to help reveal where bed bugs might be hiding. Any possible crack and crevice on or near places where you sleep or rest must be inspected and vacuumed as a first step towards control. The vast majority of bed bugs in any given account will be found in bed components (mattress, boxspring, bedframe), couches and armchairs. First, dismantle the bed and check all components including the interior of the boxspring. Nightstands, dressers and all other furniture should be emptied and examined. Upholstered chairs and sofas must also be checked. Other areas of concern are: along and under the edge of wall-to-wall carpeting; cracks along baseboards; door and window frames; hollow doors; behind picture frames; behind switch plates and outlets; under loose wallpaper; inside closets; inside electronic equipment, air conditioners and ceiling fans. TreatmentOnce upon a time, bed bugs were treated by the wholesale application of DDT. This is no longer an option. Our arsenal of effective bed bug products has been depleted and treatment today requires thoroughness and precision using a variety of options. We mentioned vacuuming as an important element of control. Other non-chemical techniques are steaming with dry vapor (mattresses, boxsprings, carpets and upholstery), isolation of infestibles (black bags, air-tight containers), sealing of cracks and crevices, thermal treatments (items in black bags exposed to direct sunlight at 120 degrees F for 2 to 3 hours will create a heat chamber and kill all life stages of the pest) and encasement of mattresses, boxsprings, pillows and cushions in hypoallergenic covers. Eventually, the use of insecticides is inevitable if the goal is to eradicate bed bugs. As part of a comprehensive treatment, pest control specialists will use a variety of flushing agents ( CB 80, CB123 Extra ), residual aerosols in cracks and crevices ( D-Force, Intruder ), liquid residuals on surfaces and along edges ( Permacide Concentrate, P-1 Quarts, P-1 Gallons, Deltamethrin Spray ), powders in voids and other inaccessible areas ( Drione ), sanitizers for mattresses, cushions, pillows, drapes, carpets ( Sterifab Pints, Sterifab Gallons, Sterifab 5-Gallon ) and growth regulators to prevent development into adulthood ( Gentrol Aerosol, Gentrol Vials, Gentrol Pints ). When bed bugs resurface, it may be due to the reintroduction of infested items, migration from adjacent areas or the survival of pre-existing populations. For long-term control, quarterly maintenance programs should be considered to ensure a pest-free environment year-round. Bed bugs are going to be with us for a while. With greater awareness from the public, better skills on the part of professionals and the introduction of more effective treatment options, we can achieve optimum control. PreventionBe careful when travelling abroad and when staying in hotels. Keep luggage elevated off the floor and outside the bedroom.
Bed bug Checklist
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After being all but invisible for half a century, bed bugs are back with a vengeance in the US. Most Americans have never dealt with a bed bug. Until recently, they were a rarity even among most pest control professionals. Although bed bug infestations were common in the US prior to WWII, improvements in hygiene and the introduction of more effective pesticides (DDT) in the '40s and '50s made bed bugs an insignificant pest. They were still common in other regions of the world, however, and in recent years bed bugs have made a dramatic comeback in the US. The biggest contributors for this resurgence are greater rates of immigration, more international travel and the expansion of global trade. Add to this the introduction of new pest control practices that leave bed bugs unharmed as well as the removal of many effective pesticides and you have the makings of an outbreak.
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