Frequently Asked Questions
Why are bedbugs making a comeback?
There are a variety of factors. Increase in travel has brought more bedbugs into the country as well as spread their numbers domestically. Chemical compounds which were used to treat for bedbugs in the past have been banned and replaced with compounds which do not pose the same health risks.
Can you see bedbugs with the naked eye?
Yes. All stages (from egg to adult) can be seen with the naked eye. Adult bedbugs are comparable to a tick in size, but eggs and first nstar nymphs are very small and usually require a trained eye to find.
Are bedbugs vectors for disease?
Current research has not shown bedbugs to be vectors of disease.
Are there any over the counter products you recommend for treating bedbugs myself (bombs/sprays/dusts)?
No. Although some over the counter products will kill bedbugs when it is directly applied to them, many times a bedbug infestation can be made far more difficult to solve when home bought products are used. A "bomb" or "spray" around the bed will often cause bedbugs to disburse and find new harborage in areas which may be more difficult to treat. Oftentimes a vacuum is the best solution if live bedbugs are found in an area. Rubbing alcohol can also be applied to live bedbugs (with a cotton swab) which will kill them.
What are things to look for to see if I have an infestation?
Obviously, if you have found bugs in your bed, you should put them in a glass jar for inspection by a professional pest control operator or an entomologist. Unfortunately, unless there is a longstanding infestation in which there are a large amount of bedbugs, odds are you will not find a bedbug in the bed with you. The second step would be to inspect your sheets for small blood stains. Bedbugs excrete the blood they have injested after it has been processed, and the remains are a small dark stain which almost appears to be black ink. The folds of the mattress can be inspected for adults and stains, as well as eggs and cast skins. Since bedbugs prefer to harbor on natural fibers, they are often found inside the boxspring (remove the membrain and inspect the untreated wood) or under the folds of where the membrane is stapled to the frame. Although bedbugs prefer to harbor on wood (or cardboard, or paper), they can just as liekly be found in a computer monitor, behind a electrical switch plate, or in curtain rods.
If I have bedbugs in my bed and I sleep on the couch, will the problem go away?
Unfortunately not. Although bedbugs do require blood for survival, there meals can be infrequent. Bedbugs can easily survive for months (and sometimes around a year!) without a single blood meal. Also, although they prefer to harbor in one place, they can meander around the home in seach for a new host. If the problem exists, it must be treated by a professional.
What if I move out?
It is very likely that somewhere in your belongings bedbugs are harboring and that by moving you will simply bring the bedbugs to your new home. If you have just moved from an infested home or apartment, all items should be inspected by a bedbug detecting canine that cannot be laundered.
Do I have bedbugs because my home is dirty/cluttered?
Although there is are misconceptions and social stigmas surrounding the bugs, the answer is no. Bedbugs are not discriminators. They do not care what your net worth is, or if you leave your dirty clothes on the floor instead of thowing them in the hamper. Bedbugs don't care how good you look in the morning, how bad you smell, or what celebrities you may know. They are insects that can be picked up in a very expensive resort, or on the bus, or brought into your home in a nightstand you bought on Craigslist. Those that have an infestation should now be ashamed, but get it inspected and treated (by heat, cold, or registered product) by pest management professionals.