WHAT IS A BEDBUG?

It is a parasite Can grow to be 4 mm to 5 mm

long Feeds on blood of warm blooded

animals and loves humans

WHAT IS A BEDBUG?

Prefers to feed at night when it is dark

Oval in shape rust brown color that turns to a darker red after they feed

Shape and size look similar to an apple seed

Where do they live?

In cracks and crevices In bed frames, mattresses and

bedding In furniture, upholstery, and

dressers

Where do they live?

Behind picture frames and bulletin boards

Under wallpaper Behind baseboards

What is their life cycle?

Transforms from an egg to a nymph to an adult in 5 weeks & sheds their skin 5 times in the process

Females can lay 500 eggs in a lifetime

What is their life cycle?

Eggs hatch in one to two weeks Live up to 18 month without

food but prefer to eat every 5 to 10 days.

History of the Bedbug

Have been around for most of human existence.

Have existed for at least 3500 years

Almost non-existent in the US from 1950 to early 1990’s mainly due to the development of synthetic insecticides such as DDT

History of the Bedbug

Insecticides once used to kill bedbugs are illegal to use in the US .

New insecticides have not been developed for killing bedbugs

International & domestic travel is a main contributor to the bedbug resurgence

HOW DO YOU GET BEDBUGS?

Infested hotels/motels Sitting on furniture that is

infested Hitchhiking in your luggage Using used furniture

HOW DO YOU GET BEDBUGS?

Moving into an empty apartment that is infested

Mail (eggs can be transported on letters and packages)

FEEDING HABITS Come out of hiding at night to

feast The body temperature and

sweat glands attract them to humans

Usually stay within 20 feet of their food source but can travel

SIGNS YOU MAY HAVE BEDBUGS

Dark fecal/blood spots are on sheets

Dark fecal/blood spots & trails on furniture, walls, picture frames, baseboards, clothing

SIGNS YOU MAY HAVE BEDBUGS

Bitten at night but never see what is biting you

Bites leave a welt that resemble a mosquito bite

TREATMENTS

Insecticides - can take multiple treatments and is less effective in killing the eggs

Freezing – hard to freeze the entire area but is good for spot treatment

Steam – good for spot treatment

TREATMENTS

Heat – best overall process for large areas and provides the best and quickest results

Hot water wash and hot dryer also kill the eggs and bedbugs

PREVENTION

Routine inspections Do not allow used furniture Good housekeeping practices

DHFS DECISIONTO USE HEAT AS PREFERRED TREATMENT

Heat allows treatment with the least long term inconvenience to resident

Heat kills the egg and bedbug Steam allows us to treat items

students need to take out of room during treatment

DHFS DECISIONTO USE HEAT AS PREFERRED TREATMENT

Student is out of room for 24 to 48 hours in most cases

No need for repeated chemical use

Heat attracts the bedbug and kills the bedbug

DHFS DECISIONTO USE HEAT AS PREFERRED TREATMENT

Chemicals can drive it to adjoining rooms and do not kill the eggs

Heat requires one treatment DHFS staff can perform the heat

treatment

IN CONCLUSION

Bedbugs do exist and any of us can bring them home on any given day.

DHFS is prepared to identify and treat them immediately.

DHFS has proven equipment and a trained team with proven results to kill the bedbugs when discovered.