BED BUGS

The common bed bug, which had almost disappeared in the United States, has made a strong comeback over the past several years. This resurgence has resulted in a growing problem for both commercial businesses as well as homeowners. Since female bed bugs lay eggs in batches of 10 to 50 at a time, and newly hatched bed bugs reach reproductive maturity in as little as 6 weeks, the key to preventing major bed bug infestations is proper identification of the insect when their presence is first suspected.

Mature bed bugs are 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch long with an oval shaped, wingless body that appears flattened. Unfed insects will be brown to red-brown in color with their body having a sort of “wrinkled” look, while an engorged bed bug will be a dull red color and its body will be elongated and swollen. Bed bug eggs are white and about 1/32 of an inch in length. Newly hatched bed bugs are virtually colorless.

Since bed bugs are essentially nocturnal feeders, daytime inspections should include key resting areas such as folds and tufts of mattresses and the cracks and crevices of bed frames. Indications of a bed bug presence include brown or black spotting (bed bug excrement), eggs, egg shells and cast skins. These signs are usually found on or very close to bedding areas although couches, futons and other furniture that are slept on regularly should also be inspected. As the insect population grows, these insects may move farther from the food host and begin to rest in areas such as behind baseboards, under carpeting edges and various other cracks and crevices throughout the home.

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