The Bed Bugs Handbook is committed to providing information on how to recognize that you have a problem and how to remove these pests from your home. We also provide advice for how to avoid bringing them into your home from other places, such as when you are on vacation.
Bedbugs are small insects that are technically not wingless when filled with blood, although they do not fly. They tend to hide in crevices near the feeding area, such as a mattress seam, bed frame, and other furniture, although they can be found in any room or area of a home.
There area many different kinds of bedbugs. One type in particular likes to feed on the blood of people, but will also feed on pets.
Having bugs in your home does not mean that your home is unclean. The bugs can ride into your house on clothing or crawl out of luggage carried from an infested hotel room. You may even bring them into your house on used furniture. Be especially cautious of used mattresses and bed frames. Finally, your house or apartment could already be infested when you move in or if they moved from another apartment into yours.
The length of time a bed bug can live is dependent on temperature and how recently they fed. Cooler temperatures result in a longer lifespan. It is possible at the right temperature and feeding schedule, that a bed bug could live for 1 year without feeding again.
Many people do not realize they have an infestation. They may even have bites from bedbugs, but not realize what is biting them. Bed bug bites are an allergic reaction that can vary from person to person. For most they take the form of raised red bumps. There are usually multiple bites in the same area, but a single bite is possible. Bumps are usually larger than a mosquito bite. Larger reactions or hypersensitivity to the bite can result in the formation of blisters. Bites do not normally require any treatment and will go away on their own in a few days. Bites can be itchy, with any over the counter treatment for itch due to insect bites providing some relief.
Adult bugs are about a quarter of an inch long. Young bed bugs are called nymphs, of which there are 5 stages in the bed bug life cycle followed by a 6th adult stage. A nymph is approximately 1/32 of an inch or 1 mm long. A bedbug egg is approximately 1 mm long.
Getting rid of the bugs can be quite a chore. Removing an infestation involves washing all clothes and linens, treating mattresses and cracks and vacuuming all areas of the room. See our guide for specific steps on how to kill bedbugs.
There are a number of commercial products that work quite well. Look for a pesticide that states it is safe for humans and pets, and follow the directions carefully. Buying a kit can be the most cost effective way to treat a room. After treatment mattresses and the box spring should be sealed in a zippered cover to trap any insects and the harder to find eggs that you may have missed.
Bedbugs can be difficult to remove. It may require 2 to 3 treatments before you are done. Do not hesitate to call in a professional service since part of the problem with killing bedbugs is knowing where to look and what products to use. Professionals have equipment not available to homeowners such as high heat devices and dogs that can detect the unique smell of the insects.