• Corpus ID: 61405920

Frequently asked questions about bed bugs

@inproceedings{Program2009FrequentlyAQ,
  title={Frequently asked questions about bed bugs},
  author={Education Personnel Program},
  year={2009}
}

• E. Program
• Published 1 August 2009
• Art

Bed bugs are insects that feed on the blood of people and animals. They are small, flat, brown, and oval. They do not have wings. • Bed bug eggs are white and pear-shaped. When they first hatch, bed bugs are clear and lighter in color. As they get older, they become browner. • Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown, flat, and oval. If you look closely, you can see short, golden-colored hairs. Bed bugs do not have wings. They give off a musty, sweetish odor. After they eat, they become swollen and dark red. WHY ARE BED BUGS A PROBLEM? Bed bugs are becoming an increasing problem in many cities and towns. This may be because more people are traveling out of the country to places where bed bugs are a problem. It may also be because certain pesticides for bed bug infestations have been banned. Bed bugs usually get into your home through luggage, clothing, or other personal items during travel. Sometimes hotels have bed bugs. Bed bugs can crawl into your luggage and get carried back to your home. It only takes one bed bug to get an infestation started in your home. Bed bugs may also get into your house by crawling onto your clothes, but this is not likely. A more common way to bring bed bugs into your home is if you buy and wear used clothes or used furniture that have bed bugs in them. Yes, you should look closely at used furniture before you bring it home. Check apartments and dorm rooms. Living in close quarters can make it easier to get bed bugs. They often live in the spaces between walls. If an apartment next to yours has bed bugs, you might also have them. It is hard to fix bed bug problems until all apartments within the building have taken steps to get rid of them. Check vacant apartments for bed bugs before moving in. Bed bugs can survive for months without feeding. WHERE DO BED BUGS HIDE? • Beds (seams, tufts, and crevices of mattresses and box springs), bed frames, headboards, and in clutter under beds • Carpets and baseboards • Behind loose wallpaper • Folds of curtains and drapes • Clocks, radios, or phones near a bed or on a nightstand • Inside and underneath drawers • Picture frames WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A BED BUG INFESTATION? Signs of …