Download
1 / 21
210 likes | 330 Views
Bedbugs are small, reddish-brown parasites that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. They typically grow up to 5 mm long and thrive in cracks, crevices, and various furniture. Their lifecycle includes transforming from eggs to adults in about 5 weeks, and they can live up to 18 months without food. Treatment options include heat, steam, and insecticides, though effective measures are crucial as bedbug infestations can occur easily. Prevention and routine inspections are vital to control these pests and avoid bringing them into your home.
E N D
WHAT IS A BEDBUG? • It is a parasite • Can grow to be 4 mm to 5 mm long • Feeds on blood of warm blooded animals and loves humans
WHAT IS A BEDBUG? • Prefers to feed at night when it is dark • Oval in shape rust brown color that turns to a darker red after they feed • Shape and size look similar to an apple seed
Where do they live? • In cracks and crevices • In bed frames, mattresses and bedding • In furniture, upholstery, and dressers
Where do they live? • Behind picture frames and bulletin boards • Under wallpaper • Behind baseboards
What is their life cycle? • Transforms from an egg to a nymph to an adult in 5 weeks & sheds their skin 5 times in the process • Females can lay 500 eggs in a lifetime
What is their life cycle? • Eggs hatch in one to two weeks • Live up to 18 month without food but prefer to eat every 5 to 10 days.
History of the Bedbug • Have been around for most of human existence. • Have existed for at least 3500 years • Almost non-existent in the US from 1950 to early 1990’s mainly due to the development of synthetic insecticides such as DDT
History of the Bedbug • Insecticides once used to kill bedbugs are illegal to use in the US . • New insecticides have not been developed for killing bedbugs • International & domestic travel is a main contributor to the bedbug resurgence
HOW DO YOU GET BEDBUGS? • Infested hotels/motels • Sitting on furniture that is infested • Hitchhiking in your luggage • Using used furniture
HOW DO YOU GET BEDBUGS? • Moving into an empty apartment that is infested • Mail (eggs can be transported on letters and packages)
FEEDING HABITS • Come out of hiding at night to feast • The body temperature and sweat glands attract them to humans • Usually stay within 20 feet of their food source but can travel
SIGNS YOU MAY HAVE BEDBUGS • Dark fecal/blood spots are on sheets • Dark fecal/blood spots & trails on furniture, walls, picture frames, baseboards, clothing
SIGNS YOU MAY HAVE BEDBUGS • Bitten at night but never see what is biting you • Bites leave a welt that resemble a mosquito bite
TREATMENTS • Insecticides - can take multiple treatments and is less effective in killing the eggs • Freezing – hard to freeze the entire area but is good for spot treatment • Steam – good for spot treatment
TREATMENTS • Heat – best overall process for large areas and provides the best and quickest results • Hot water wash and hot dryer also kill the eggs and bedbugs
PREVENTION • Routine inspections • Do not allow used furniture • Good housekeeping practices
DHFS DECISIONTO USE HEAT AS PREFERRED TREATMENT • Heat allows treatment with the least long term inconvenience to resident • Heat kills the egg and bedbug • Steam allows us to treat items students need to take out of room during treatment
DHFS DECISIONTO USE HEAT AS PREFERRED TREATMENT • Student is out of room for 24 to 48 hours in most cases • No need for repeated chemical use • Heat attracts the bedbug and kills the bedbug
DHFS DECISIONTO USE HEAT AS PREFERRED TREATMENT • Chemicals can drive it to adjoining rooms and do not kill the eggs • Heat requires one treatment • DHFS staff can perform the heat treatment
IN CONCLUSION • Bedbugs do exist and any of us can bring them home on any given day. • DHFS is prepared to identify and treat them immediately. • DHFS has proven equipment and a trained team with proven results to kill the bedbugs when discovered.
