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WHAT IS A BEDBUG?

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

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WHAT IS A BEDBUG?

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  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. Where do they live? • In cracks and crevices • In bed frames, mattresses and bedding • In furniture, upholstery, and dressers

  4. Where do they live? • Behind picture frames and bulletin boards • Under wallpaper • Behind baseboards

  5. 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

  6. 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.

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. HOW DO YOU GET BEDBUGS? • Infested hotels/motels • Sitting on furniture that is infested • Hitchhiking in your luggage • Using used furniture

  10. HOW DO YOU GET BEDBUGS? • Moving into an empty apartment that is infested • Mail (eggs can be transported on letters and packages)

  11. 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

  12. SIGNS YOU MAY HAVE BEDBUGS • Dark fecal/blood spots are on sheets • Dark fecal/blood spots & trails on furniture, walls, picture frames, baseboards, clothing

  13. SIGNS YOU MAY HAVE BEDBUGS • Bitten at night but never see what is biting you • Bites leave a welt that resemble a mosquito bite

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. PREVENTION • Routine inspections • Do not allow used furniture • Good housekeeping practices

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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.

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