History and Infestation
Widespread around the World
Bed bugs are small, oval insects that live in dark spaces close to their food source and feed at night. They range in size from 1/4” to 3/8” long and are mahogany or red-brown in color.
Bed bugs were widespread before World War II in homes, hotels, and boardinghouses, but were greatly reduced with the use of the pesticide DDT. Bed bugs have been making a resurgence in recent years due to the banning of DDT, an increase in international travel, and a developing resistance to pesticides.
Bed bugs commonly reside in the seams of mattresses, in the edges of carpeting, in the bed frame behind the baseboard, in window and door casings, picture frames, loosened wallpaper, and other cracks and crevices.
Bed bugs can enter a structure by attaching themselves or their eggs to clothing and bedding and by hiding in luggage. They have often been brought into homes in used furniture and mattresses. In certain cases, the pests may even be brought in by birds or even bats.
What to Look For
How to Find Out if you Have Bed Bugs
Bed bug bites are not always noticed by their victims. This is often the problem with knowing whether an infestation still exists or if it has been successfully treated. Some people are greatly affected by bed bug bites and may exhibit numerous sores, welts and allergic reactions to the bed bug bite. Others may not exhibit symptoms at all. Although no known cases of transmission of infectious disease have been reported, bed bugs are known to carry at least 28 different human pathogens. It appears the bed bug may be able to transmit Hepatitis B, as the virus has been found in bed bug droppings. Bacterial infections may also occur if the bite creates an open sore.
Look for black residue on your bedding, mattress, headboard, and box spring. This residue is actually fecal matter that bed bugs leave behind after they feed. Because bed bugs only feed on blood, the fecal matter is nothing more than dried up blood. This residue will typically look like small black magic marker dots.
