BED BUGS Once a rare find, bed bugs now have become more common again. There are several theories about why this insect has made an apparent comeback. The most widely accepted seems to be associated with international travel. In many countries, this insect was never "put to rest." With the frequency and ease of international travel, the bed bug was bound to reappear in the United States...

DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS The common bed bug has some fairly distinct characteristics:

• The adult is around 3/16-inch (4 to 5 mm) long
• Flat and oval in shape
• Brown in color, changing to reddish after feeding
• Covered with short golden hairs
• Lacks full wings; only wing pads
• Emits an "obnoxious" smell

A bed bug’s life starts with an egg that is laid in cracks or crevices close to where the adult feeds. These eggs are cemented in place and there may be a great number of eggs in a small area. Studies have shown numbers of offspring can range from 200 to more than 500. The eggs hatch into nymphs. Each nymph will require a blood meal to pass through each molt. If a blood supply is not available, the nymphs will be patient. Some studies suggest that close to two months can pass without the nymph feeding, which can greatly increase the time required to pass into adulthood. The average life span of these insects, if all conditions such as temperature, relative humidity and food supply are good, can be just short of a year. Humans are the preferred source of the blood meal; but in our absence, they will readily feed on other animals, such as birds, bats, guinea pigs and several others. Although the bite is normally painless, most people do develop an allergic reaction to the saliva of the insect. This reaction produces swelling that may extend beyond the bite location. Bed bugs have been found to carry more than 25 different disease organisms. They are suspected by some to be able to spread some of these diseases to their host, but it has never been proven.

BED BUG CONTROL The control for these creatures can be difficult. Several good pesticide formulations are labeled for bed bug control and repellent and non-repellent dusts work well if placed into the proper harborage. Liquid residuals will also work, however some of them have drawbacks, such as water staining and exposure to non-target organisms. Since these little creatures like to live close to their food source, it is important to thoroughly inspect all areas where people might spend some time in a room.

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Other Pests
German Cockroaches • American Cockroaches (waterbugs) • Rats • Mice • Bed Bugs • Flies • Stinging Insects • Fleas • Mosquitoes • Stored Product Pests • Fabric Pests • Birds • Vertebrate Pests