Bed Bugs 101

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Bed bugs are a real and growing menace to the public. The IEHA is pleased to provide this information from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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Complaints about bed bugs are increasing but their control is challenging.

The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) has long been a pest - feeding on blood, causing itchy bites and generally irritating their human hosts. The US EPA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) all consider bed bugs a public health pest. However, unlike most public health pests, bed bugs are not known vectors for the transmission and spread of diseases.

Knowing what to look for is the first step in controlling bed bugs. Generally, adult bed bugs are 1/4 to 3/8 inch (4-5 mm) long, brown in color, with a flat, oval-shaped body; while young bed bugs (also called nymphs) are smaller and lighter in color.

When not feeding, bed bugs hide in a variety of places. Around the bed, they can be found near the piping, seams and tags of the mattress and box spring, and in cracks on the bed frame and head board.

If the room is heavily infested, you may find bed bugs in the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains, in drawer joints, in electrical receptacles and appliances, under loose wall paper and wall hangings - even in the head of a screw. Since bed bugs are only about the width of a credit card, they can squeeze into really small hiding spots. If a crack will hold a credit card, it could hide a bed bug.

Bed bugs are very successful hitchhikers, moving from an infested site to furniture, bedding, baggage, boxes, and clothing. Although they typically feed on blood every five to ten days, bed bugs can be quite resilient; they are capable of surviving over a year without feeding.

A few simple precautions can help prevent bed bug infestation in your home:

Check secondhand furniture, beds, and couches for any signs of bed bug infestation as described below, before bringing them home.
Use a protective cover that encases mattresses and box springs which eliminates many hiding spots. The light color of the encasement makes bed bugs easier to see. Be sure to purchase a high quality encasement that will resist tearing and check encasements regularly for holes.
Reduce clutter in your home to reduce hiding places for bed bugs.

When traveling:

In hotel rooms, use luggage racks to hold your luggage when packing or unpacking rather than setting your luggage on the bed or floor.
Check the mattress and headboard before sleeping.
Upon returning home, unpack directly into a washing machine and inspect your luggage carefully.

Identifying Bed Bug Infestations

Much of the time, a bed bug infestation is only suspected when bites appear on a person. Oftentimes, the bites are misidentified, thus allowing infestations to go unnoticed, which gives the bed bugs time to spread to other areas of the house.

When cleaning, changing bedding, or staying away from home, look for:

Dark spots (about this size: •) which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on the fabric like a marker would;
Eggs and eggshells, which are tiny (about 1mm) and white;
Skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger;
Live bed bugs, and
Rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses caused by bed bugs being crushed.

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods like pesticides, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.

IPM methods for bed bugs include:

Inspecting infested areas, plus surrounding living spaces;
Checking for bed bugs on luggage and clothes when returning home from a trip;
Looking for bed bugs or signs of infestation on secondhand items before bringing the items home;
Correctly identifying the pest;
Keeping records - including dates when and locations where pests are found;
Cleaning all items within a bed bug infested living area;
Reducing clutter where bed bugs can hide through storage and/or disposal of item;
Eliminating bed bug habitats;
Physically removing bed bugs through cleaning;
Using pesticides carefully according to the label directions;
Follow up inspections and possible treatments;
Raising awareness through education on prevention of bed bugs.

For more information on IPM visit http://www.healthyhomestraining.org/ipm.

Non-chemical treatments

Wash and dry bedding and clothing at high temperatures to kill bed bugs.
Heat infested articles and/or areas to at least 113 ºF (45 ºC) for 1 hour. The higher the temperature, the shorter the time needed to kill bed bugs at all life stages.
Cold treatments (below 0 ºF (-19 ºC) for at least 4 days) can eliminate some infestations. Again, the cooler the temperature, the less time needed to kill bed bugs.
Use mattress, box spring, and pillow encasements to trap bed bugs and help detect infestations.

Chemical treatments

Bed Bug Pesticide Alert

Never use a pesticide indoors that is intended for outdoor use. It is very dangerous and won’t solve your bed bug problem.
Using the wrong pesticide or using it incorrectly to treat for bed bugs can make you sick, may not solve the problem, and could even make it worse by causing the bed bugs to hide where the pesticide won’t reach them.
Check if the product is effective against bedbugs - if a pest isn’t listed on the product label, the pesticide has not been tested on that pest and it may not be effective. Don’t use a product or allow a pest control operator to treat your home unless bed bugs are named on the product label.
Before using any pesticide product, READ THE LABEL FIRST, then follow the directions for use.
Keep in mind that any pesticide product without an EPA registration number has not been reviewed by EPA, so it hasn’t determined how well the product works.

Pesticides are one component of a comprehensive strategy for controlling bed bugs. Several classes of chemicals are registered for use against bed bugs. The chemicals within each class share a similar mode of action, or way in which the chemical affects the biological functions of a bed bug.

For assistance with choosing a pesticide to treat bed bugs, check with the Cooperative Extension Service office in your area.

In case of emergency, call local Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.

Hiring Pest Management Professionals

Getting a pest management professional (PMP) involved as soon as possible rather than taking time to try to treat the problem yourself is very effective at preventing further infestations. Each pest management company should have instructions for residents on how to prepare the unit for a treatment which will include laundering and cleaning.

The PMP will inspect your residence, take apart furniture if necessary and use vacuums, heat and pesticides to treat the infestation.

EPA’s Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety (PDF) (54 pp, 2.37M, about PDF) offers more tips on how to choose a pest control company.

Common Bed Bug Myths

Myth: You can’t see a bed bug.
Reality: You should be able to see adult bed bugs, nymphs and eggs with your naked eye.

Myth: Bed bugs live in dirty places.
Reality: Bed bugs are not attracted to dirt and grime; they are attracted to warmth, blood and carbon dioxide. However, clutter offers more hiding spots.

Myth: Bed bugs transmit diseases.
Reality: There are no cases that indicate bed bugs pass diseases from one host to another. Lab tests have shown that it is unlikely that the insect is capable of infecting its host.

Myth: Bed bugs won’t come out if the room is brightly lit.
Reality: While bed bugs prefer darkness, keeping the light on at night won’t deter these pests from biting you.

Myth: Pesticide applications alone will easily eliminate bed bug infestations.
Reality: Bed bug control can only be maintained through a comprehensive treatment strategy that incorporates a variety of techniques and vigilant monitoring. Proper use of pesticides may be one component of the strategy, but will not eliminate bed bugs alone. In addition, bed bugs populations in different geographic areas of the country have developed resistance to many pesticidal modes of action. If you're dealing with a resistant population, some products and application methods may only serve to make the problem worse. It is a good idea to consult a qualified pest management professional (PMP) if you have bed bugs in your home.

More info: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/bedbugs/

Joint Statement on Bed Bug Control

On August 5, 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a joint statement on bed bug control in the U.S. The purpose of the statement is to highlight emerging public health issues associated with bed bugs in communities throughout the U.S. It provides background information on the recent rise in bed bug problems, discusses the public health implications of bed bug infestations, and stresses the importance of controlling them with an integrated approach. The statement also explains the role of government agencies at the local, state, tribal, and federal levels in better understanding the recent resurgence of bed bugs and developing better ways to control them. To read the full text of the Statement, please visit
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/Publications/Bed_Bugs_CDC-EPA_Statement.htm.

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Bed Bugs 101: Created on August 7th, 2010. Last Modified on January 21st, 2014