| BED BUG 101 |
What is a bed bug?
A bed bug is a small nocturnal insect of the family Cimicidae that lives by hematophagy (or in other
words by feeding on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded hosts). Bug bugs can be found all
over the world, generally in human inhabited environments. The reason bed bugs are normally found in
these areas is because they feed off the blood of humans. Bug bugs are fairly small; an adult may grow
to be the size of 4-7mm. They are a reddish-brown color and their shape is flat and oval. Although
misconceptions have led people to believe that they are not visible to the eye, they are in fact visible and
easy to spot because of their slow movements.
Where do bug bugs come from?
Bug bugs can come from a variety of places. But typically one of the most common forms of infestation
is through contacts with infested furniture in hotels, motels, and other places of temporary
accommodation. Bug bugs can be passed on from used clothing or furniture. Cleanliness does not
arrest the spread of infestation directly. The idea that dirt causes bug bugs infestations is a
misconception. However cleanliness, by depriving the bed bugs some of their hiding places, does slow
down the infestation. Apartment complexes often have bug bugs because they can get from apartment
to apartment easily.
What are the feeding habits of bug bugs?
As previously mentioned bug bugs feed on the blood of humans. When a bed bug bites a human it
injects two hollow tubes into the skin. With one tube the bed bug injects a anti-coagulant, anesthetic and
with the other tube it steals your blood. Generally a bed bug will feed for about five minutes before
returning to its hiding place. Also, bug bugs typically are active only at night (they start appearing at
dusk) because they are nocturnal, but can be seen anytime especially if a chance to feed occurs. An
important bit of information to know about the feeding habits of bug bugs is that they can survive for up
to eighteen months without feeding even though they seek blood every five to ten days. A hungry bed
bug looks slightly different from one thatÕs just been fed. A hungry bed bug typically flat with a circular
shaped abdomen while a blood fed bed bug is elongated with a tapered abdomen.
Are Bed Bug bites dangerous?
Typically one can't feel a bed bug bite until minutes or hours later. The bite may look like a flat welt or a
raised, red bump and are often times very itchy. Luckily their bites arenÕt dangerous but rather
annoying. They can cause skin irritation or rashes if bit frequently so itÕs a wise idea to get rid of them
as soon as possible. If you end up itching or your skin gets irritated you may be allergic to bed bug bites
due to the chemical they release when they bite you. However, doctors often misdiagnosis bed bug bites
due to the fact they look like other skin conditions. The bites may take anywhere from a few days to a few
weeks to go away on their own.
How do I stop the itching from bed bug bites?
One that will help out is anti-itching cream for insect bites. You can usually find these at a drug store
over-the-counter. Other people say that taking Benadryl or using calamine lotion will help with it. ItÕs
important to remember that even though these methods may help reduce itchiness they will not get rid of
the bug bugs, so itÕs important that you seek help to get rid of the bug bugs or they will still find and bite
you. Our Bed Bug Treatment section has a list of all treatments that worked for our visitors.
How can I tell if I have bug bugs?
Generally, the first thing you may notice is a peculiar pungent odor; this odor is often times very familiar
to building inspectors and tenement dwellers. If you think you may have bed bugs itÕs a good idea to
visually check your bed, as bed bugs can often be spotted. Other things you may notice are blood spots,
fecal stains or cast exoskeleton skins. Take extra care in checking the mattress itself and the corners of
bed nets. Bug bugs typically will hide in old furniture, behind peeling paint, wooden floorboards as well
as seems and folds in a mattress, bed frames and bed springs. Remember, just because they are called
bed bugs doesnÕt mean they are only in your bed. Although in most cases bed bugs are in a small,
concentrated area and usually within 10-20 feet of where you sleep.
What do I need to know if I have bed bugs?
If you think you may have bed bugs don't bring anything else into the contaminated room because it may
become contaminated. Also remember not to start sleeping in a different bed, the sofa or with another
family member or friend because there is a chance that the bed bugs may follow you to the new location
and therefore contaminate another area. Do not throw anything out, try to get rid of the bed bugs
yourself or try and treat yourself. Wait and seek help from a professional. Make sure you don't bag
anything unless it has been washed in hot water and dried on hot for one to two hours. Remember, if you
bag up clothing or bedding that has not been washed and they contain bed bugs when you open the
bag the bed bugs may contaminate your living space again as they can live up to 18 months without
feeding. To be safe just assume everything in that room is infested!
How do you get rid of bed bugs?
It's a good idea to get rid of bed bugs as soon as possible because each individual bed bug can lay four
to five eggs a day, so if you do the math, that's a lot of bug bugs you don't want around. (Consider this:
in a room that is around 70 degrees and there are 40 bugs six months later there would be 5,905 bugs!).
Consider the help of a pest control company as they have much experience in dealing with bed bugs. If
you decide to go that route, save any bed bugs you may find to show pest control so they can help you
identify the specimen; again, check out our bed bug treatment section to find out what else you can do.
Do Bed Bugs ever bite private parts?
They sure do - they don't care what part of the body they feed on, but they don't like hair and will move to
the area that is free from hair.
Do Mattress covers work?
Mattress covers will seal the mattress and keep bedbugs that are in, locked in (and those 'trapped' bugs
will eventually die) and will also keep bed bugs out. The bed bugs hiding around the bed frame and other
areas will still find their way to the top of the mattress and bite you. Don't be fooled that this is a cure all,
which it is not, a mattress cover simply protects the mattress (not you).
Do Bed Bugs smell?
Most people say that bed begs smell like raspberries and in cases where the place is infested, it can
smell like moldy shoes.
I've heard that bedbugs rest on the ceiling and fly to their target, is this true?
Not true, BUT, Bat Bugs which are exactly like bed bugs except for the hair on their head, feed on bats. If
the infested bats residing in your home are removed, these bugs may move down and start feeding on
you.
If I have a pet in the room with me, will the bed bugs feed on it instead of me?
No, you are the Filet Mignon and your pet is ground beef. Humans are the preferred host for feeding!
Is it true that a bite from a bed bug can take up to 14 days to show?
From what the California Department of Public Health Vector-Borne Disease Section says, a bed bug bite
may not show for up to 14 days!
Can I take legal action against the hotel for being bitten by bed bugs?
Yes, there are a number of examples, but three of the most popular include a woman who filed a lawsuit
against Catskills resort for $27 million; bitten so bad that she can no longer stay in hotels. Because this
is a critical part of how she makes her living (she's in entertainment booking), she can no longer
continue her lifestyle.
The second involves a woman staying at the Hilton hotel in Ohio; Sai Kim filed a lawsuit for more than $5
million claiming that she ended up with a 150 bedbug bites on her hands, feet, face, fingers, toes, legs,
neck, back, chest, stomach and genitals, see picture below.
Bed Bug Bites on Sai Kim who filed a 5 million dollar lawsuit The claim reads like this: "As a direct result
of exposure to bed bugs, she was left physically scarred and emotionally damaged and that these
consequences were a direct result of the defendant's negligence and that the hotel breached its duty to
provide reasonably safe accommodations that eventually led to "embarrassing injury and tremendous
emotional distress". The first claim was also similar to that above.
The last case and probably the biggest bedbug case ever settled out of court, was a woman who was
bitten more than 400 times while staying at a Ramada Plaza Hotel in San Francisco. It's reported that she
received $71,000 to settle her bed bug claim. Note: The reports on the net claim information about the
lawsuit came from the City Star, a local paper, but in trying to find the actual case, no information was
available.
What is the size of a Bed Bug? (See Bedbug Life Cycle on this page)
Where can I find general information?
For more information on checklists and treatment of bed bugs, visit www.badbedbug.com. We find this
website to be a good resource.
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