What should I do after finding bed bugs - Vector Control Services ...

What should I do after finding bed bugs?
DON’T OVERREACT!
If you are a renter and suspect a bed bug infestation,
notify the landlord or management
immediately or contact the Alameda Co. Vector
Control Services District (510.567.6800) to
schedule an inspection and technical assistance.
In California the owner of the property
is responsible for the elimination of the bed bug
infestation. Follow instructions from management
and the pest control operator. Tenants,
management, and the pest control company
must work as a team to manage a bed bug infestation.
Millimeter Scale—1mm Increments
Reduce clutter to eliminate hiding places
and help with treatment.
For more detailed instructions, call our
District.
Hiring an experienced pest control company is
strongly advisable. Bed bug control is difficult
to do yourself. Elimination of bed bugs requires
meticulous and thorough treatment of
all possible bed bug hiding places and furnishings
that are best performed by trained pest
control operators.
SUMMARY
When you discover that you have bed bugs—
don’t panic! Anyone can get bed bugs and an
infestation is not necessarily associated with a
dirty environment or poor housekeeping. For
successful intervention, follow these steps:
Act immediately or the infestation will
spread and get out of control.
Do not try to solve the bed bug problem by
yourself.
Keep your home/room clean and reduce
clutter.
Follow the pest control company’s recommendations.
For further assistance, call our District:
Prior to bed bug treatment:
Thoroughly vacuum areas where bed bugs
may hide, especially mattresses and box
springs. Dispose of vacuum contents or
bag in an outside garbage bin.
Launder bedding and clothing in hot water
(120 o F) and dry. Store in sealed plastic
bags.
Enclose mattress and box spring with mattress
encasements.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
VECTOR CONTROL SERVICES DISTRICT
1131 Harbor Bay Pkwy, STE 166
Alameda, CA 94502
Phone: 510-567-6800
Email: ehvector1@acgov.org
Web: acvcsd.org
Business Hours: 8:30 AM to 5 PM, M-F

Introduction
BED BUGS
(Cimex lectularis)
Though once rare in Alameda County, bed bug
infestations have become fairly common. Bedbugs
are easily transported in infested clothing,
mattresses, and upholstered furniture. Additionally,
bed bugs can be acquired when using
public transport, at public gatherings (i.e. theaters),
purchasing used furniture and clothing, or
traveling to or visiting infested places.
General Characteristics
Bed bugs range in size from 1/16 in. (1.5 mm)
as an immature to 1/4 in. (6 mm) as an adult.
Adults are wingless with a flattened, oval
shape, and dusky red in color. After feeding,
their bodies can elongate to 3/8 in. (8 mm).
The bed bugs have a beak specialized for
sucking blood. However, bed bugs are not
known to transmit disease to humans.
Bed bugs tend to congregate and hide in
confined spaces such as cracks, crevices,
behind peeling paint, wall hangings, folds
and under buttons of mattresses, sofas,
and furniture.
Bed bugs are usually nocturnal.
Bed bugs can travel long distances searching
for a blood meal but are usually found
near the host.
Bed bugs usually feed every 7 days or so.
How do I know if I have bed bugs?
Bed bug bites are painless, but may cause
swelling and itching. Multiple bites are common.
Some individuals do not react to the bite
and may not be aware of a bed bug infestation.
Since these bugs are active at night and feed
while the human host is sleeping, the first signs
of an infestation is often indicated by the
3 Week
Old Bed
Bug Bites
Recent Bed
Bug Bites
This is a picture of “between the cushions” of a bed bug
infested sofa. To the naked eye, you only see the larger
bugs, but up-close you see the rest of the story...
appearance of small blood (fecal) spots on light
colored sleep wear and bed linen.
Any house is a good habitat for bed bugs. The
level of sanitation and maintenance can determine
the size and extent of the pest population.
Motels, hotels and other establishments with a
constant turnover are more prone to infestations.
Bed Bugs in
Mattress Seam
Bed Bug Biology
Life cycle: egg – nymph –adults. Completed
between 1 ½ to 5 months.
The female lays up to 500 eggs in her lifetime,
gluing eggs in batches of 5 or so in
cracks and crevices.
Eggs are resistant to pesticides.
Nymphs and adults can survive 6-8 months
without feeding especially at low temperatures
(64⁰ F).
Blood Spots From
Bed Bug Feeding
Where to look?
Look for nymphs, adults, skin casings, fecal
spots, and blood spots on seams, tufts, or folds
of mattresses, box frame, bed frame, head
board, adjacent furniture, walls, baseboards,
and door and window casings and trim, wall
hangings, furniture, drapes.