Bed bugs have been around for thousands of years. They feed on blood, but are not known to spread any diseases to humans. Some people can be allergic to their bites. Getting rid of a bed bug infestation is not easy, but there are steps you can take to control the problem. There are also steps you can take to avoid bringing bed bugs home.
What are bed bugs?
- Bed bugs are small, flat wingless insects that are reddish-brown in color and approximately one-quarter inch long, before feeding (about the size and shape of a small apple seed).
- They hide during the day on beds (mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, headboards) and in cracks and crevices of walls, floors and furniture. They come out at night.
- They do not fly or jump, but they can crawl rapidly.
How can bed bugs get into my home?
- They can come from other infested areas or from used furniture. They can hitch a ride in luggage, purses, backpacks, or other items placed on soft or upholstered surfaces.
- They can travel between rooms in multi-unit buildings, such as apartment complexes and hotels.
How can I avoid bringing bed bugs into my home?
- When staying in a hotel, place your bag on a suitcase stand rather than on the bed or floor. Keep the rack away from walls or furniture. When returning home, wash the clothes from your trip and put them in a hot dryer.
- Inspect new and used furniture before bringing it inside. Look in seams, tufts and under cushions.
How do I know if I have a bed bug problem?
- You can see the bed bugs themselves, their shed skins, or their droppings in mattress seams and other items in the bedroom.
- There may also be blood stains on sheets.
How do I control a bed bug problem in my home?
It can be done, but it usually requires what is called an "integrated pest management" (IPM) approach. This combines techniques that pose the lowest risk to your health and the environment. Try these strategies:
- Clean and get rid of clutter, especially in your bedroom.
- Move your bed away from walls or furniture.
- Vacuum molding, windows and floors every day. Vacuum sides and seams of mattresses, box springs and furniture. Empty the vacuum or the bag immediately and dispose of outside in a sealed container or bag.
- Wash sheets, pillow cases, blankets and bed skirts and put them in a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes. Consider using mattress and box spring covers –the kind used for dust mite control–and put duct tape over the zippers.
- Seal cracks and crevices and any openings where pipes or wires come into the home.
Should I also try pesticides?
Pesticides may not be effective and can be dangerous if used improperly. If you decide to use pesticides, follow these rules:
- Only use pesticides that are registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (look for the U.S. EPA Registration Number on the label) and make sure they are labeled to control bed bugs.
- Do not apply pesticides directly to your body (there are no repellents registered to control bed bugs that can be used on the human body).
- Do not use outdoor pesticides indoors.
- If you decide to hire a pest control company, make sure they have experience with bed bugs. They should follow the steps of IPM, along with any pesticide application. Use a company that is registered and employs licensed applicators. The Department of Environmental Conservation has a list of registered companies.
It takes time and persistence to get rid of bed bugs, and in some cases, the cooperation of landlords, neighbors and others. It can be physically and emotionally exhausting. It can also be expensive when pest control companies are called in. Just remember - bed bugs are more of a nuisance than a health concern and, with vigilance, you can avoid or deal with infestations.
If you are a renter, the Residential Tenants’ Rights Guide can explain many of the laws that can help you and provide resources where you can find more information about landlord and tenant issues, like bed bug infestations.
See the following for more information on bed bug biology and control measures:
Photo courtesy of Dr. Harold Harlan, Armed Forces Pest Management Board Image Library
FAQs
So what is the main cause of bed bugs? Travel is widely recognized as the most common source of bed bug infestations. Often unbeknownst to the traveler, bed bugs will hitchhike on people, clothing, luggage, or other personal belongings and be accidentally transported to other properties.
What is the main cause of bed bugs? ›
So what is the main cause of bed bugs? Travel is widely recognized as the most common source of bed bug infestations. Often unbeknownst to the traveler, bed bugs will hitchhike on people, clothing, luggage, or other personal belongings and be accidentally transported to other properties.
What is the best way to control bed bugs? ›
Thorough vacuuming can get rid of some of your bed bugs. Carefully vacuum rugs, floors, upholstered furniture, bed frames, under beds, around bed legs, and all cracks and crevices around the room. Change the bag after each use so the bed bugs can't escape.
What kills bed bugs permanently? ›
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.
What causes bedbugs in a clean house? ›
Bed bugs are not attracted to dirt, decay, or decomposing materials. They are only attracted to blood, and will search it out, regardless of the cleanliness of the environment. Bed bugs detect carbon dioxide emitted from humans and respond to warmth and moisture as they approach the potential host.
Are bed bugs due to poor hygiene? ›
Bed bugs are not caused by poor hygiene or bad housekeeping. Bed bugs are not known to spread disease. Adult bed bugs are around 4-7 mm long, about the size of a lady bug. They are gray or brown in color, but turn red after finishing a blood meal.
How did I suddenly get bed bugs? ›
How can bed bugs get into my home? They can come from other infested areas or from used furniture. They can hitch a ride in luggage, purses, backpacks, or other items placed on soft or upholstered surfaces. They can travel between rooms in multi-unit buildings, such as apartment complexes and hotels.
What scent keeps bed bugs away? ›
What scent keeps bed bugs away? You can try adding lavender to your room to keep bed bugs away. The insects typically don't like this scent, so get your hands on fresh lavender or essential oil. Its strong scent will help to put them off.
What does bed bugs hate the most? ›
Tea tree oil, renowned for its antibacterial properties, is like a natural bug repellent that bed bugs can't stand. Peppermint oil, with its invigorating minty freshness, overwhelms their acute senses. And eucalyptus oil, known for its refreshing aroma, is a formidable deterrent against these tiny intruders.
Can bed bugs live in your hair? ›
Bedbugs feed off human or animal blood. They're often found in places like the seams of your mattress or cracks in your bed frame. Bedbugs aren't adapted to live in your hair, but it's possible a bedbug could end up in your hair after biting your scalp. Finding bugs in your hair is much more likely a sign of head lice.
“Heat is the only 100 percent way to kill bed bugs and their eggs,” said Dente. “Chemicals will never work 100 percent,” he added. Dente said that their heat method is extremely labor intensive, but in the end, you don't need to throw your furniture away and far less pesticide is used in your home.
What chemical kills bed bugs instantly? ›
Chemicals for home use
These include: pyrethrins and pyrethroids, derived from chrysanthemum flowers. desiccants, such as boric acid and diatomaceous earth, which dry out the protective coating on bugs. biochemicals, specifically cold-pressed neem oil.
How do you draw bed bugs out of hiding? ›
To lure bed bugs out of their hiding spots, you can use a steamer or a hairdryer to heat areas such as mattresses. Neither of these is hot enough to kill the bed bugs, but it can trick them into thinking a human host is near. You can also keep an eye out at night to locate their nests when they are most active.
What chemical kills bed bugs and their eggs? ›
Identifying the right chemicals and methods to kill bed bugs and their eggs is essential for an effective eradication strategy. The main categories include: Pesticides: Such as pyrethroids and neonicotinoids. Natural Insecticides: Like diatomaceous earth.
What attracts bed bugs to you? ›
Bed bugs have a preference for warm-blooded creatures, with humans being their favored food source. They are attracted to you through your body heat, exhaled carbon dioxide, and other scents. It's worth mentioning that bed bugs aren't picky when it comes to blood types; they're equal-opportunity bloodsuckers.
Where do bed bugs come from in the first place? ›
Most experts believe that humans were first widely exposed to bed bugs via bats in the Middle East, as there was a time when bats and humans presumably occupied many of the same caves there. As civilization developed and spread, humans brought bed bugs to new regions with them.
How did I get bed bugs when I haven't been anywhere? ›
Other Homes and People – Just because you do not travel doesn't mean that you may not be exposed to bed bugs from visiting someone else's home, or having someone with visit your property. Buying Used Items – Bed bugs are outstanding hiders. If you bought a used item, it's possible that it had a bed bug hiding on it.
What do bedbugs hate? ›
Tea tree oil, renowned for its antibacterial properties, is like a natural bug repellent that bed bugs can't stand. Peppermint oil, with its invigorating minty freshness, overwhelms their acute senses. And eucalyptus oil, known for its refreshing aroma, is a formidable deterrent against these tiny intruders.
