They scare the bejeepers out of us!

According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) bed bug complaints have increased 50-fold over the past five years. And they’re not discriminating houseguests: dorm rooms, apartments and even mansions.

It doesn’t get more disgusting than this…
What do they look like?
We’ll spare you a picture, but here’s what to look for if you find a bug in/on your mattress:

• Small, oval and wingless

• Reddish-brown color

• Flat body that looks like a tic or a tiny cockroach

They feed on human blood and can cause an allergic reaction. They don’t carry disease and have never been known to kill anyone. But they’re gross and difficult to kill. If you’ve endured an infestation, you’ll agree it’s better to sleep in a tent in the winter than crawl in a bed with them.
Where do they live?
Originally, bed bugs thrived in dirty, crowded living spaces. But thanks to resistance to pesticides (overuse of commercially available disinfectants) and increased global travel they’re part of life in North America now.

Typically, they follow the food trail (you) but they can live in any dark environment and survive up to a year without feeding. They’re most often found in tiny cracks in furniture, upholstered furniture and, of course, mattresses, box springs and bed frames.

And they’re avid world travelers, hiding in luggage, clothing and even laptop cases. A stroll through TripAdvisor using “bed bugs” as a search term is almost enough to make you stay home – forever.

Where bed bugs live in your home

• Mattresses and box springs – seams, creases and folds

• Under the bed, chairs and nightstands

• Cracks in furniture, walls and floor

• In the folds of all upholstery – curtains, dust cover, rugs, couches and chairs

• In your drawers and closet

• In baseboards, window and door casings

• Telephone, radio and clock

• Remember, they can travel along pipes and electrical wiring between walls

How do I know if I have bed bugs?
Bed bug bites are often mistaken for mosquito bites because they leave the skin itchy and red. But unlike mosquitoes, they leave fecal stains on the sheets and sometimes have an odour.

Quickly pulling back the cover on their hiding places (in crevices and cracks, under wallpaper, in couches, mattresses) before they scurry from the light is the best way to be sure. Or call a professional if you’re unsure.
How do I get rid of them?
NPMA supports federal legislation to “aggressively manage bed bug infestations.” Good news for public housing and hotels, but where does that leave you if a hitchhiker gets a free lift to your mattress?

Spraying the house with pesticide and replacing your mattress may not be the answer. They hide everywhere from the laundry to the smallest crack in the drywall or floorboards. And you can’t starve them into submission either.

Before you nuke them, try a more natural approach:

• Look at your mattress, bed frame and box spring closely. Check for the telltale signs of their presence – brownish-red fecal stains.

• Vacuum everything in your bedroom – mattress, floors, all corners – everything. Do it daily and change the bag immediately after vacuuming.

• Wash all your linens in hot water and dry on high heat.

• Put your pillows in a sealed plastic bag for at least a week.

• Wash and remove all clutter from your bedroom – don’t give them anywhere to hide.

• Repair all cracks in the floor, baseboards and drywall. Remove peeling wallpaper and seal light switch covers.

• Lay sticky tape out during the day to catch transitory bugs and find new hiding places.

It can take up to two weeks to kill all the bed bugs and their offspring. After that, it’s time to consult a professional for help for an extermination – and then maybe a new mattress.

Call the Public Health Department in your city to learn more about the infestation level near you.