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Bedbugs

 

 

 

Itchy

 

Critters

 

Scratch, scratch, scratch. They're baaaccckkkk! Bedbugs, nuisance pests that many of us have never seen in our lifetimes, are making a comeback. DDT nearly wiped out bedbugs after World War II, but the insecticide was toxic to the environment and banned. Changed pesticide practices and the boom of world-wide travel opened the door for the return of the flat, oval insects. Anywhere warm-blooded people spend the night--homes, hotels, homeless shelters and more--bedbugs are moving in.

Two people have called Panhandle Health District since the beginning of the year with complaints about bedbugs. Pest control companies in the five northern counties say calls to them about bedbugs are increasing. The reddish-brown critters the size of an apple seed are finding comfortable hideaways in bedding and furniture, and they're hard to eliminate.

Bedbugs are more annoying than dangerous. They bite and take a blood meal, but the bite is usually painless. They remain attached for less than 20 minutes. Their bites cause red spots typically with a darker red spot in the middle, and they itch. Bites are usually on the face, neck and arms and last about a week before disappearing on their own. Persistent scratching can infect them. Skin cream with hydrocortisone or an oral antihistamine can speed the healing process.

Severe itching, blisters or hives indicate an allergic reaction. Anyone with an allergic reaction should seek medical attention.

Bedbugs feed on warm blood, but there's no evidence that they transmit blood-borne diseases.

Preventing the arrival of bedbugs in your home is the best strategy to staying bedbug-free. Here are some tips to help:

  • Wash all linens and clothing purchased at garage sales or thrift stores in hot water (120F) and dry in a hot dryer before first use.
  • Inspect secondhand furniture and mattresses thoroughly before bringing them into your home.
  • Launder your bedsheets and clothing frequently.

When traveling:

  • Check hotel mattress seams for bedbug excrement.
  • Place luggage on a table or dresser instead of the floor.

If prevention doesn't work, here are some signs to identify bedbugs quickly:

  • Red bites in a line or cluster on the face, neck and arms.
  • Red/brown spots from old blood on the mattress seams and binding.

Bedbugs hide in the daylight. Use a flashlight to find them at night. Here are some favorite bedbug hide-outs:

  • Mattresses and box springs, bed frames, headboards;
  • Under peeling paint and loose wallpaper;
  • Under carpeting near baseboards;
  • In upholstered furniture seams;
  • Under light switch plates and electrical outlets.

Eliminating bedbugs is time and energy intensive and may require several tries and a great deal of persistence. Bedbugs live six months to a year. A female bedbug can lay more than 200 eggs in her lifetime. With odds like those, professional help may be the answer, but here are some do-it-yourself measures to try:

  • Vacuuming carpets, furniture and bed mattresses;
  • Washing bedsheets, blankets and clothing in hot water (120F) and drying in a medium to hot dryer for 20 minutes;
  • Disposing of infected mattresses and box springs. Special mattress and box spring encasements can be purchased which keep the bugs inside.
  • Using pesticides specific to bedbug elimination. Pesticides need to be used according to directions and never applied directly to a mattress that people sleep on.

Think bedbugs won't happen to you? Read this New York Magazine story to learn why bedbugs like everyone:

 

Here are some helpful websites with bedbug information:

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