What are bed bugs?

Where are they found? Dirty, older buildings? Not necessarily!

“Cimex lectularius” might sound like the name of a dignified Roman emperor. But the facts about this insect, commonly known as the bed bug, are far less appealing.

This brown, oval-shaped bug can be from 3/16 to 1/5 of an inch long. Their small, flat body size and shape allow them to easily navigate the tiny cracks and spaces a building offers. They are resistant to many pesticides, so some sprays will not affect them, while others will only irritate them, and make them look elsewhere for food. They are not enticed by ant traps or cockroach bait.

Keeping your home or office clean and fresh is not enough to keep the bed bugs away. Once they get a start, they multiply furiously. And once a population has established itself, it’s much harder to get rid of them. They can’t be eliminated by simply giving the room, home, or building a good cleaning. Early detection is important.

Bed bugs have mastered the art of hitchhiking. You can unknowingly pick them up while at a friend’s home, at school, work, or while traveling, because they will hop onto your luggage, school bags, clothing, or other personal effects. Your son or daughter coming home from college might bring more “guests” than you expect. Buying used furniture or clothing can also provide bed bugs with a ride into your home. (Think twice, before picking up that “free” sofa from the curb and loading it into your car.)

Bed bugs are more likely to be dropped off or picked up anywhere people come together: hotels, offices, public transportation vehicles and centers, theaters, college dorms, and other gathering places. These places don’t have to be old and dirty. New, clean, upscale places can just as easily serve as bed bug receiving and dispatching areas. These bugs are equal-opportunity pests. They don’t discriminate. Everybody is at risk.