BED BUGS
WHAT ARE BED BUGS?
- Bed bugs are small wingless insects that feed solely upon the blood of warm-blooded animals.
- Bed bugs seek out people and animals, generally at night while they are asleep.
- Bed bugs feed quickly and their bite is painless.
- Bed bugs are more abundant in rooms where people sleep, and they generally hide nearest the bed or other furniture used for sleeping. Favored places include the bed frame, mattress and box spring.
- Bed bugs are not known to spread diseases to humans, except in rare cases
- Bed bugs reproduce rapidly.
BED BUGS CAN EASILY ENTER INTO HOMES OR APARTMENTS.
The following can be a source of bed bugs:
- Secondhand beds, bedding, and furniture
- Clothing and baggage of travelers
- Self infecting by the bed bugs themselves.
- Bed bugs can walk from room to room; apartment to apartment very easily
- Items from self storage facilities
- Rented furniture from rental furniture centers
- Items carried in rental, delivery or moving trucks
TRAVEL TIPS
- Select clothes that can be laundered in hot water and withstand 30 minutes in a hot dryer
- Use hard smooth luggage rather then fabric luggage
- Pack plastic bags to seal up purchased items or to isolate items which may become infested
- Keep luggage off the floor and beds. Do not unpack clothes. Keep luggage closed when not in use. Hang clothes on a shower rail.
- Inspect bed area for brown fecal spotting and bugs on mattress seams, headboard, furniture and objects adjacent to the bed
TREATMENT OF HOME INFESTATIONS
- Reduce clutter to limit hiding places for bed bugs
- Thoroughly clean the infested room as well as others in the residence
- Pull the bed frame away from the wall
- Cover mattresses and box springs in special mattress bags
- Tuck in sheets and blankets so they don’t contact the floor and place the frame legs into dishes of mineral oil
- Caulk and seal all holes where pipes and wires penetrate walls and floor
- If you own your own residence, contact a licensed pest control operator
- If you are a tenant, contact your property manager or landlord
CONNECTICUT BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OFFERS TIPS TO FIND A TRUSTWORTHY PEST CONTROL COMPANY: http://ct.bbb.org/article/beating-a-bedbug-invasion-22997
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BED BUGS
Go to:
http://www.ct.gov/caes
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SOURCE: IdentifyUS, LLC
PREPARED BY: 211/lb
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: August2011
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