Bedbugs

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Signs of bedbug activity
Bites
High-risk places
Prevention
Control

These pests are outside the authority of the Vector Control Program. We offer educational information but do not control or regulate these pests.

Signs of bedbug activity

Bedbugs are most active at night. They hide during the day where people sleep, in beds or couches. Their flat bodies fit into tiny areas: mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, and behind headboards.

Dark spotting and staining on a mattress, caused by their droppings, is a sign of bedbugs. Eggs and eggshells, molted skins of aging nymphs, and the bugs themselves may also be visible.

In large numbers, bedbugs may cause a sweetish odor that is not always easy to detect. Bedbugs normally start off in the bed, but they will spread around the house, hiding in small crevices.

Bites

Bedbugs usually bite people at night while they sleep, feeding on exposed skin using a long beaked mouth to draw blood. It takes about ten minutes for the bugs to swell up with blood. Some people develop an itchy welt from bedbug bites, while others do not react to bites at all.

High-risk places

Hotels, motels, and apartments are the most likely places to encounter bedbugs because of their high occupancy and turnover rate. Once bedbugs are introduced, they spread from room to room. The cleanliness of the building is not always a factor.

Bedbugs hide during the day near areas where people sleep. When staying in a hotel, check for bedbugs in between the mattress and the box spring.

Bedbugs move quickly and may get into luggage: keep your bags off the floor and bed.

Prevention

Bedbugs are usually brought into the home on luggage, clothing, and used beds or furniture. Traveling to different areas of the world can be a source of bedbugs.

Follow these steps to lower the chance of bringing bedbugs into the home.

Reduce clutter
Seal cracks and crevices
Check all secondhand beds, bedding, and furniture
Examine the bed and headboard area for signs of bedbugs when traveling
Don't bring your luggage directly into the house after travelling if you suspect there may have been bed bugs
Wash and dry on high heat any clothing bought at a garage sale or second-hand store right away

Control

Vacuuming:
Deeply vacuum your mattress, box spring, bed frame, and surrounding areas every day to remove bed bugs and their eggs.
Hot water washing:
Wash all bedding, curtains, and clothing that may have been exposed to bed bugs in hot water to kill them.
Mattress encasement:
Invest in a tightly fitted, zippered mattress encasement to prevent bed bugs from entering your mattress.
Inspect and clean furniture:
Carefully inspect used furniture and thoroughly clean any furniture that may be infested.
Declutter:
Remove unnecessary clutter from your bedroom as bed bugs can hide in small spaces.
Seal cracks:
Use caulk to seal any cracks or crevices in walls, floors, and furniture where bed bugs might hide.
Professional treatment:
If the infestation is severe, contact a professional pest control service for the most effective treatment options.