Printer
TextDon't Sleep on Bed Bugs, These Tiny Insects are Nothing to be Ignored
With an infestation rate trailing only New York City, bedbugs are making
their presence known in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are flat, wingless, blood-sucking insects less than ¼”
long. They range in color from light brown to reddish-brown. Bed bugs lay
up to 540 eggs in a lifetime, and each baby can be ready to ready to
reproduce in only 21 days. They are not known to spread diseases.
However, bed bug bites can cause itchy welts that may become infected
sores when scratched by the victim. Additionally, bed bug infestations
may cause considerable psychological distress and embarrassment to their
victims as well as being costly and difficult to eliminate.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?
Almost anywhere. From inside floor cracks and under carpets to
behind loose wallpaper and in or under mounted light fixtures, bed bugs
can be found in dark undistrubed areas. Beds, furniture and clothing are
also common spots.
How Do You Know You Have Them?
A person wakes up with multiple red, itchy bite marks on the body.
Tiny blood stains or smears appear on the sheets. Bed bugs are seen
clinging to furniture, mattresses, or any other hiding spot. A large
amount of red-black fecal material is found anywhere bed bugs live. The
infested room has a sweet, musty odor that cannot be explained.
Dealing With Bed Bugs
If you have bed bugs, do not panic. They can be contained and
eliminated from your home with proper action. Bedbugs are “lazy” insects.
They do not run, travel long distances on their own, or fly. In fact,
they may stay in the same location without food for up to one year! But,
they may crawl into or attach themselves to clothing, luggage, furniture,
or any other item a person leaves in an infested area. Wherever this
newly infested item is moved, bed bugs can make a new home and
stay.
Because bed bugs do not move long distances by themselves, a population
can be contained if they are not moved by other means. Do not move new
items into the infested room or take items from this room. When items
must be removed, they should be stored in trash bags and washed
immediately or thrown away outside away from the structure. All laundry
and linens, such as bed clothes, mattress covers, pillowcases, curtains,
dust-ruffles, throw rugs, and tablecloths need to be removed (in trash
bags) and washed immediately. Items should be washed with a strong
detergent in the hottest temperature setting possible and stored away
from the infested room until the bed bugs are controlled.
Where Can I Learn More?
If you have an established problem with bed bugs in your home or
establishment, you should contact a qualified pest management
company.
For more information about bed bugs, contact the Community Health and
Safety Division of the Fairfax County Health Department: 703-246-2300;
TTY 703-591-6435
Fact or Myth?
Fact: Bed bugs are on the rise
Myth: Bed bugs are associated with filth. Truthfully, it does not matter
to a bedbug how clean your house is. They are bloodsucking insects and
are not attracted to food products.
Fact: Bed bugs do not carry disease. To date, there has been no proof
that bed bugs carry disease pathogens or are able to transmit blood
related disorders.
Myth: Bed bugs chew their way into your mattress or bore their way into
your furniture. Truthfully, bed bugs cannot chew at all. They have
mouthparts much like that of a mosquito. Therefore, they will only be
found on the outside of your mattress, provided there are no holes
already there. They also can crawl in between furniture seams, where two
pieces are nailed together, but don’t create new holes in furniture.
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