Bedbugs - A Health Problem Returns to the US
Actual Size - Approx. 1/8"-1/4" - shown on human skin -
Photo Courtesy of Univar USA
This is an ancient insect whose roots are thought to go back
to the times of cave dwellers. For many years, bedbugs were found in numerous communities
around the US. As late as the 1950's, bedbugs were a considerable
problem. After the discovery of DDT and its application here,
the incidence of bedbug infestations declined.
Why has this pest surfaced once again? There
are a number of theories. First, there is much more world travel.
Also, more people visit from other countries that have bedbug problems.
This pest is carried from one place to another in luggage and on clothing.
With more bedbug problems,
hotel and motel travelers
run a greater risk of contact with bedbugs and may eventually bring bedbugs home with
them.
Another suggested reason for the resurgence of the bedbug is a
shift to the use of bait gels, a common food based replacement for the liquid
insecticides previously used inside homes.
Although sprays may have helped to suppress bedbug populations, bait gels do not attract
bedbugs, which seek blood from a live host.
Whatever the reasons, the bedbug is a formidable pest
problem. Its affect on people is substantial and debilitating.
Bedbugs bite the host most commonly around the waist while in bed, sleeping.
However, bites may occur on exposed skin such as arms and legs.
After biting, they
scurry into mattress tufts, bed frames, moldings, floor joints, picture frames
and in any other crack or crevice they may find. The sole source of food
is the blood meal that they take at night while the victim sleeps. When
the victim awakes, the only sign of bedbugs is the telltale bite and/or blood on
the sheets.
Identifying The Problem
The bedbug bite leaves a nasty, red welt that is not easily
dismissed and can cause more severe problems for hypersensitive
individuals. However, we at The Bug Clinic highly recommend that if
insects cannot be found to make the connection to such bites, that the diagnosis
of such bites be done by a qualified physician or dermatologist.
A helpful tool in identifying biting insects is to
place insect
or mouse glue traps or double sided adhesive tape in a number of areas to try
around the mattress in an attempt to capture insects. Try wrapping
the tape around the mattress just below the top and try to keep the blanket
above it to prevent it from sticking to the tape.
The bedbug is secretive in its behavior and is similar to a flea in
that its body, too, appears to be flat. However, while the flea appears squashed together, the bedbug appears
squashed down. As a result, these insects can squeeze into very small
cracks or crevices. As mentioned above, the areas to look for bedbugs include
mattresses (especially mattress tufts, buttons, under handles and above and
below the or under the piping along the upper and lower edges), box springs (above
and below the piping at the upper and lower edges and within the enclosure
underneath if torn), bed frames and hollow areas where frame components connect, floor and
wall moldings, picture frames and in any other objects adjacent to the victim's sleeping area.
Bedbugs are able to survive for a long time without a
blood meal. Thus a mattress that is infested with bedbugs may still be a
problem, even when the bed is unused for some period of time.
Note: Batbugs Are Out There Too...
There exists a batbug (a bat bedbug) as well that looks
very similar to a bedbug but has distinctly longer hairs around the head and
body. Batbugs prefer bats, but if the host animals are removed and
the batbugs are left behind, they will seek out a human host. If you live
in or visit a building with a bat infestation or recently corrected bat problem,
this could be a possible source of bites.
Dealing With Bedbug Infestations
Bedbug problems should not be taken lightly. Immediate
action should be taken to treat the affected individuals and to remove them from the infested environment.
First, you will need a good, bright flashlight in order
to check and inspect areas where bedbugs are likely to hide.
If you suspect that you've brought bedbugs home in your
luggage from a recent trip, you may want to inspect and treat the
luggage.
Bedding
Although one's first reaction is to disposed of the offending
mattress or bedding, this is not necessary and may not eliminate
the problem. Bedding is in essence a staging area from
which the bedbugs leave to bite at night. Treatment of the immediate area should include spraying or
dusting of the mattress and box spring. (It may be necessary to cut open
the mesh enclosure on the bottom of the box spring in order to properly inspect and
treat this area.) Most attention should be given to the area along the edges
above and below the piping
or seams
or under mattress tufts, buttons or handles.
You must separate the mattress and box
spring and treat areas in between as necessary. Pillow-top mattresses
require special attention. Be sure to treat the bunched, stapled areas on
the bottom of the box spring where the mesh is stapled to the wood since there
are gaps where the bedbugs
may hide.
In dealing with an infested sofa, love seat or
(upholstered) chair, disposal may be necessary since it is difficult to reach
into the deepest crevices of the furniture where the wood frame may provide
harborage for bedbugs. An assessment has to be made if the problem
persists after careful treatment of such items.
Bed linens and pillows should be laundered in hot water
and detergent and then placed in a dryer to kill and remove insects or their eggs.
Also launder
draperies or curtains hanging near the bed, if necessary. Check any
hollow areas on any other window dressings such as window shades or blinds. Laundered
items should be stored away from the bedbug infested area or sealed in securely
tied heavy duty plastic bags to keeps insects out. If you are bringing
items in a plastic bag to be laundered, don't reuse that bag. Be sure to
bring a new, unused bag to bring them back. It is suggest that you
keep the laundered items stored in another area for at least a few days.
A residual insecticide or a non-residual pyrethrins product should be applied to
the bed
frame connecting points at both the headboard and footboard and wall moldings as well as any other
objects or hollow areas that offer "shelter" for bedbugs.
A proper spray treatment is done by simply wetting
the surface so that the spray does not move from the intended area. We recommend
that you use a pin stream or jet steam application rather than a wide spray for
best results and apply with low pressure to minimize drift.
Furniture, Moldings & Other Objects
Treat night
tables and dressers by emptying them and then removing the drawers. Treat in the corners of
each drawer both inside and then on the bottom corners
of each drawer. Then, tip furniture on its side to check
along the bottom and around casters since bedbugs may hide here as well.
Don't forget to spray the back of the furniture as well. Also check
mirrors and attaching brackets since bedbugs may hide inside of metal rails that
are present on some furniture.
All clothing stored in the drawers or closets in the
room should be washed and dried or dry cleaned as needed. If you transport
the items to be washed in plastic bags, don't reuse them; be sure to bring new, unused plastic bags with you to use for
bringing the clothing back.
If there are closets or shelves in the bedroom,
clothing should be remove and washed and dried as explained above.
Check behind any objects hanging on the wall such as
behind picture frames or clocks. You may have to open up wall outlet
covers and switch covers and inspect to be sure that bedbugs have not taken up
residence in those areas.
All moldings in the room including those that are
mounted high and low must be treated. Wall to wall carpeting should be
pulled away to expose the wooden mounting strip. Spray on both sides of
the mounting strips and check the carpet backing. Treat as needed.
Don't overlook openings on the ceiling where lighting fixtures are attached
since bedbugs may come down from other infested rooms in apartment buildings
Open and inspect telephones and clock radios.
You can set up a box with some double stick tape in the bottom, then tap the
object over the box to capture any insects that may be hiding inside. The
tape will hold the the bugs in place.
In severe cases where the population of
bedbugs is high, treatment of adjacent rooms may
be necessary. Closets in the bedroom may require treatment and the
contents will need to be washed and dried as well.
In apartment buildings, it may be helpful to seal any cracks
or crevices around floorboards and moldings to prevent insects from migrating to
or coming in from other apartments.
In buildings with a batbug infestation, sealing cracks
and crevices is very important. Insecticide treatment around access areas
from the attic may be needed too.
If there is a wooden floor and there are gaps between the
boards, be sure to treat there as well. Dust products will be best for
treating in these areas. When treating, try to think three
dimensionally, looking up and down and observing the treatment area from the
floor and from above, looking down.
Sprays or
dusts should be directed into cracks and crevices - surface spraying of
carpets and upholstery or dusting of these areas is
usually unnecessary.
One final point: though these treatments should be effective,
it may take some time for them to work. Therefore, it may be prudent to
arrange to sleep in another area for several days and perhaps as long as one to
two weeks. Unfortunately, the only way to know if the problem has
been resolved is to try sleeping in the treated area once again.
Products That We Offer
The Bug Clinic offers four products that may be applied for
bedbug infestations. The first,
AllPro Bug Killer Spray, is labeled
for application to mattresses as well as to cracks and crevices and in surrounding areas as needed. The active ingredient
in this product is .25%
permethrin, a residual insecticide.
The Bug Clinic