Bed Bugs \u2013 What They Are and How to Control Them<\/p>\n
Bed bugs have been around for thousands of years. They feed on blood, but are not known to spread any diseases to humans. Some people can be allergic to their bites. Getting rid of a bed bug infestation is not easy, but there are steps you can take to control the problem. There are also steps you can take to avoid bringing bed bugs home.<\/p>\n
Bed bugs are small, flat wingless insects that are reddish-brown in color and approximately one-quarter inch long, before feeding (about the size and shape of a small apple seed).
\nThey hide during the day on beds (mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, headboards) and in cracks and crevices of walls, floors and furniture. They come out at night.
\nThey do not fly or jump, but they can crawl rapidly.
\nHow can bed bugs get into my home?<\/p>\n
They can come from other infested areas or from used furniture. They can hitch a ride in luggage, purses, backpacks, or other items placed on soft or upholstered surfaces.
\nThey can travel between rooms in multi-unit buildings, such as apartment complexes and hotels.
\nHow can I avoid bringing bed bugs into my home?<\/p>\n
When staying in a hotel, place your bag on a suitcase stand rather than on the bed or floor. Keep the rack away from walls or furniture. When returning home, wash the clothes from your trip and put them in a hot dryer.
\nInspect new and used furniture before bringing it inside. Look in seams, tufts and under cushions.
\nHow do I know if I have a bed bug problem?<\/p>\n
You can see the bed bugs themselves, their shed skins, or their droppings in mattress seams and other items in the bedroom.
\nThere may also be blood stains on sheets.
\nHow do I control a bed bug problem in my home?<\/p>\n
It can be done, but it usually requires what is called an \u201cintegrated pest management\u201d (IPM) approach. This combines techniques that pose the lowest risk to your health and the environment. Try these strategies:
\nClean and get rid of clutter, especially in your bedroom.
\nMove your bed away from walls or furniture.
\nVacuum molding, windows and floors every day. Vacuum sides and seams of mattresses, box springs and furniture. Empty the vacuum or the bag immediately and dispose of outside in a sealed container or bag.
\nWash sheets, pillow cases, blankets and bed skirts and put them in a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes. Consider using mattress and box spring covers \u2013the kind used for dust mite control\u2013and put duct tape over the zippers.
\nSeal cracks and crevices and any openings where pipes or wires come into the home.
\nShould I also try pesticides?<\/p>\n
Pesticides may not be effective and can be dangerous if used improperly. If you decide to use pesticides, follow these rules:
\nOnly use pesticides that are registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (look for the U.S. EPA Registration Number on the label) and make sure they are labeled to control bed bugs.
\nDo not apply pesticides directly to your body (there are no repellents registered to control bed bugs that can be used on the human body).
\nDo not use outdoor pesticides indoors.
\nIf you decide to hire a pest control company, make sure they have experience with bed bugs. They should follow the steps of IPM, along with any pesticide application. Use a company that is registered and employs licensed applicators. The Department of Environmental Conservation has a list of registered companies.
\nIt takes time and persistence to get rid of bed bugs, and in some cases, the cooperation of landlords, neighbors and others. It can be physically and emotionally exhausting. It can also be expensive when pest control companies are called in. Just remember \u2013 bed bugs are more of a nuisance than a health concern and, with vigilance, you can avoid or deal with infestations.
\nIf you are a renter, the Residential Tenants\u2019 Rights Guide can explain many of the laws that can help you and provide resources where you can find more information about landlord and tenant issues, like bed bug infestations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bed Bugs \u2013 What They Are and How to Control Them Bed bugs have been around for thousands of years. They feed on blood, but are not known to spread any diseases to humans. Some people can be allergic to their bites. Getting rid of a bed bug infestation is not easy, but there are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1877,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timeshow.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timeshow.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timeshow.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timeshow.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timeshow.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1876"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/timeshow.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1878,"href":"https:\/\/timeshow.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1876\/revisions\/1878"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timeshow.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timeshow.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timeshow.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timeshow.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}