Health Protection

What do bed bugs feed on?
Bed bugs prefer to feed on human blood, but will also bite pets, birds and rats. Bed bugs bite at night and will bite all over a human body, especially around the face, neck, upper torso, arms, and hands. Bed bugs can survive up to one year without feeding. Both male and female bed bugs bite. Faecal spots are often found where they rest. Cast skins will also be found especially where infestations are heavy.

How do bed bugs get into my home?
Bed bugs are often carried into a home on objects, such as furniture and clothing. Bed bugs can be found in the following areas:

• Seams, creases, tufts, and folds of mattresses and box springs

• Cracks in the bed frame and head board

• Under chairs, couches, beds, and dust covers

• Between cushions of couches and chairs and between curtain folds

• Under area rugs and the edges of carpets

• In drawers, telephones, radios, and clocks

• Behind baseboards and around window and door casings

• Behind electrical plates and under loose wallpaper, paintings and posters

• In cracks of plaster

What can I do if I have bed bugs in my home?

1. Bed bugs can travel from apartment to apartment along pipes, electrical wiring and other openings.

2. Consult with local Public Health or a professional pest control operator to confirm that you have bed bugs.

3. Inspect your mattress and bed frame, particularly the folds, crevices and underside, and other locations where bed bugs like to hide.

4. Use a nozzle attachment on the vacuum to capture the bed bugs and their eggs. Vacuum all crevices on your mattress, bed frame, baseboards and any objects close to the bed. It is essential to vacuum daily and empty the vacuum immediately. Discard the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed plastic bag and dispose in the garbage.

5. Wash all your linens and place them in a hot dryer for 20 minutes. Consider covering your pillows and mattress with a plastic cover.

6. Remove all unnecessary clutter.

7. Seal cracks and crevices between baseboards, on wood bed frames, floors, and walls with caulking. Repair or remove peeling wallpaper, tighten loose light switch covers and seal any openings where pipes, wires or other utilities come into your home (pay special attention to walls that are shared between apartments).

8. Monitor daily by setting out glue boards or sticky tape (carpet tape works well) to catch the bed bugs. Closely examine any items that you are bringing into your home. Second hand clothing and used furniture could be infested with bed bugs. Use caution.

9. Consult a professional pest control operator to apply insecticide.
   
   

Toronto Public Health

University of Maine Cooperative Extension