When Bed Bugs Attack! I Bed Bug Infographic

When Bed Bugs Attack! What are Bed Bugs? Tiny parasites that feed off of blood. (Vampires!) They are about the size of Abe-Lincoln's head on a penny. The lifespan of a bed bug is 10 months but in that time a female will lay 200-500 eggs. Life Cycle of a Bed Bug (1 Begin as larva with a clear coat 2 Hatch into Nymph - 1mm long Molting Stage - 3 Shed 5 4 Adult - 1/4" long exoskeletons. US Cities with Worst Bed Bug Infestations 1. Cincinnati, Ohio 2. Chicago, Illinois 3. Columbus, Ohio 4. Denver, Colorado 5. Detroit, Michigan 6. Washington, DC 7. New York, New York 8. Dayton, Ohio 9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 10. Baltimore, Maryland 1 in S People tave Experienced Bed Bugs Where to Look for Them • Mattress seams, pillow cases, bed headboards, behind peeling wallpaper, cracks in the wall, light switches, mattress vents/grommets, underneath carpet. • Check everything surrounding your bed. They can be anywhere including metal furniture, phones, clocks, etc. How they Get Around Clothing, furniture, and hotels that have high turnover rates. • Bed bugs are transported when you travel. When you go home, they hitch a ride back to your place. Spread between apartment dwellings through tiny cracks in flooring and walls. Bed Bugs are Making a Comeback 2000 <- ->2014 --- ---- --- ---- --- Exterminators have reported an 81% increase in bed bug cases since 2000! Dichlorodiphenytrichloroethane (DDT) was used to exterminate bed bugs in the 50's. It's no longer used because of EPA's ban concerning health affets. The Signs • Bed bugs grow in stages and shed their skin. Bed bug exoskeletons (yellow) can be found on the mattress and on top of the box spring. • Red bite marks or swelling on your body. • Tiny black dots of blood smeared on your bead, baseboards, walls, and carpet. • Trained dogs can be used to detect bed bugs. Visual verification is the main method of inspection. • Accompanied by a sweet musty smell. 5 Facts that Will Make Your Skin Crawl... 1) First they inject a numbing agent so you don't feel it. Then they come back in 10 minutes to feed. 2) Feed on human blood but also feed on the blood of your pets. 3) Bed bugs can live without feeding for up to 500 days! 4) Lay up to 500 eggs in 2 months. That's just a single bed bug! 5) Red bellies mean that they have had a full meal within the past couple of days. How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Wash all clothing, 2 bed sheets, Heat is a bed 1 bugs worst enemy. They will die at draperies, and stuffed animals with hot water. Dry 120°f after 1 everything in the dryerusinghot air. minute. Call a professional 4 for serious infestations. They Thoroughly vacuum 3 all mattress seams, the bed, and the use chemicals that entire carpet in your are safe for humans and pets but you house. Move furniture if need be. have to vacate for 4 hours. Cost = $2k- $3k. Sources: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/faqs.html http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/realestate/when- bedbugs-bite.html?_r=0 • http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/14010900414 3.htm http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and- treatments/guide/bedbugs-infestation http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/tenants/Bed-Bugs.shtml http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Reports of Bed Bugs