• Bed Bugs
    Bed bug infestations are increasingly common in Central Ohio. Steps can be taken to prevent bed bugs from infesting your home. When bed bugs are present, they can be safely controlled.
     
    Bed Bug Identification
     
    Bed bugs are small insects that feed mainly on human blood. A newly hatched bed bug is semitransparent, light tan in color, and the size of a poppy seed. Adult bed bugs are flat, have rustyred-colored oval bodies, and are about the size of an apple seed. Bed bugs can be easily confused with other small household insects, including carpet beetles, spider beetles and newly hatched cockroaches (nymphs).
     
    Bed Bug Bites
     
    Some people do not react to bed bug bites. But for those who do, bite marks may appear within minutes or days, usually where skin is exposed during sleep. They can be small bumps or large itchy welts. The welts usually go away after a few days. Because the bites may resemble mosquito and other insect bites, a bump or welt alone does not mean there are bed bugs. Although bed bugs and their bites are a nuisance, they are not known to spread disease. Bed bug bites can be very itchy and irritating. Most welts heal in a few days but in unusual cases, the welt may persist for several weeks. Usually an anti-itching ointment will help, but if bites become infected, people should see their doctor.
     
    How Bed Bugs Grow and Reproduce
     
    Bed bugs are most active when we sleep. They crawl onto exposed skin, inject a mild anesthetic and suck up a small amount of blood. Most people never feel the actual bite. Bed bugs need a blood meal to grow and lay eggs. A female lays 5-7 eggs per week and if fed, will lay 200-500 eggs in her life. Eggs take about 10 days to hatch. Bed bugs are fully grown in 2 to 4 months and can live as long as a year.
     
    Infesting Your Home
     
    Bed bugs enter homes by latching onto used furniture, luggage and clothing, and by traveling along connecting pipes and wiring.
    • Never bring bed frames, mattresses, box springs or upholstered furniture found on the street into your home.
    • Check all used or rented furniture for bed bugs.
    • When traveling, inspect the bed and furniture. Keep suitcases off the floor and bed, and inspect them before you leave.
    • If you suspect you have been around bed bugs, immediately wash and dry your clothing on hot settings or store it in a sealed plastic bag until you can.
    • Seal cracks and crevices with caulk, even if you don't have bed bugs. This will help prevent bed bugs and other pests from coming in.
    Inspecting for Bed Bugs
    Start by looking in an area 10-20 feet around where you sleep or sit. That's the distance a bed bug will usually travel. Keep a written record of every room and location where you find signs of
    bed bugs. Share this record with a pest control professional. Look for bed bugs, blood stains, droppings and eggs (a flashlight and a magnifying glass will help).

    Check cracks and crevices in bedroom furniture, floorboards and baseboards, windows and door frames:
    • Remove and check zippers, seams and tufts in cushions of upholstered furniture, and their frames.
    • Swipe a putty knife, or playing card into cracks and crevices to force bed bugs out. A hot hairdryer on a low setting will also work. If live bugs do come out, crush them with a paper towel and throw them away outside your home.
    • Remove drawers from furniture and check the inside, top and bottom, joints and even screw holes.
    • Use a flash light to inspect cracks and crevices of furniture, windows and door frames.
    Check mattresses, box springs, bed frames and bedding:
    • Check the top and bottom seams, tufts and any rips in the covers of mattresses and box springs.
    • Look underneath the bed and along the bed frame and headboards.
    Check walls and wall hangings:
    • Using crevice tools, check paintings, posters, pictures and mirrors.
    • Check cracks in plaster and peeling wallpaper.
    • Inspect the face plates of electrical outlets and light switches (by eye only –do not insert anything into areas with wires). Look in phones, clocks, smoke detectors and toys.
    Getting Rid of Bed Bugs

    Choosing and working with a pest control company:

    Bed bug infestations usually require the services of well-trained, licensed pest management professionals, also called exterminators. There are many pest control companies and licensed pest professionals in Central Ohio. Not all are well trained in managing bed bugs. To get rid of bed bugs, you must choose the right company, be clear about what you want done and monitor performance.
     
    • Find a company through dependable referrals, directories, professional associations and check to make sure they are licensed.
    • Interview several companies before choosing. Ask about their training, and their approach to controlling bed bugs.
    • Agree on a service plan and its cost. Expect at least two treatment visits and a third follow-up visit to confirm that bed bugs have been eliminated. Severe infestations or cluttered rooms may take more visits to eliminate bed bugs.
    A good company will:
    • Inspect your property before giving you a price quote or begin any pesticide application.
    • Give you a written inspection report, and an action plan of how to prepare for treatment and prevent further infestation.
    • Base quotes on inspection findings, not flat fees. The cheapest services are rarely the best.
    • Educate you on how to prevent bed bugs.
    • Work with you until the bed bugs are gone.
    Bed bug infestations usually require the use of pesticides. Only professionals should apply pesticides for bed bugs. Foggers and bug bombs are not effective against them. Ask the professional to:
    • Use the least-toxic pesticide labeled for bed bugs that will be effective.
    • Follow all instructions and warnings on product labels.
    • Tell you when it's safe to re-enter a treated room.
    • Never spray the top of mattresses or sofas, and if needed, to use only small amounts of pesticides on their seams only.
    Clean and Disinfect:
    • Get rid of clutter to reduce places bed bugs can hide. After checking them for bed bugs, consider putting non-essential belongings into storage until the bed bugs are gone from your home. Check all items again before returning.
    • Wipe off dead bugs, blood stains, eggs and droppings with hot soapy water.
    • Wash all items showing bed bug stains in hot water (140oF) and dry on the highest setting for at least 20 minutes. Other clean items suspected of having bed bugs should be placed in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes to kill bed bugs. After drying store items in sealed plastic bags until you are sure you have gotten rid of bed bugs.
    • Vacuum carpets, floors, bed frames, furniture, cracks and crevices daily, using the brush and crevice tools. Empty the vacuum or seal and dispose of its bag outside of your home after each use.
    • Enclose infested mattresses and box springs in a cover that is labeled “allergen rated,” “for dust mites” or “for bed bugs” for at least a full year. Periodically check for rips or openings and tape these up.
    Seal Cracks and Crevices:
    • Repair cracks in plaster, repair or remove any loose wallpaper and tighten light switch covers.
    • Apply caulk to seal crevices and joints in baseboards and gaps on shelving or cabinets.
    Getting Rid of Infested Items
    • Usually, it is not necessary to get rid of furniture or bedding at the first signs of bed bugs. Cleaning and enclosing is often adequate.
    • Box springs should only be discarded if they cannot be covered and are heavily infested.
    • Use plastic sheeting (shrink /pallet wrap) or place securely in plastic bags any items to be thrown away. Label with a sign that says “infested with bed bugs.”

    For additional information refer to:http://www.centralohiobedbugs.org/

    Worthington Schools Procedures for Bed Bugs:  Worthington Schools Bed Bug Procedures