Bed Bugs

Do bed bugs spread disease?

No. Bed bugs are not known to carry disease. Repeated bites may result in an allergic reaction to the saliva of these bugs. Continued scratching of the bites could result in infection.

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. In their adult state, they are no more than ¼ inch in length. They can fill themselves with human blood in less than 15 minutes and can lay between 1-5 eggs each day. Eggs hatch in about 10 days. Young bed bugs require five significant blood feedings to reach adult size.

More photos of bed bugs.

How do Bed Bugs get inside:

Bed bugs are generally carried into a home on an object that has been exposed to infestation. This includes:

• Used furniture, particularly bed frames and mattresses.
• Clothing or suitcases that have been used during travel to infested motels and hotels.
• Through holes in walls (like those for wires and pipes).
• Where will I find Bed Bugs?
  • Bed bugs live in cracks and crevices such as:
    • Electrical outlets in walls
    • Behind wallpaper, baseboards, and picture frames
    • Between beds and around the creases of mattresses
    • In bedding materials.

How do I get rid of bed bugs?

Getting rid of bed bugs requires a combination of cleaning, room modification, and insecticidal treatment. Guidelines include:

• Carefully inspect the bed frame, mattress, and other furniture for signs of bed bugs and their eggs. Signs of bed bugs include:
  • Adult bed bugs, wingless insects up to ¼” long
  • Dead bed bugs in the mattress seams
  • Tiny black stains from blood or bed bug droppings on the mattress, sheets, or pillow cases
• Reduce clutter such as clothing, books, etc. to limit hiding places for bed bugs.
• Scrub infested surfaces with a stiff brush to loosen bed bug eggs. Using a new vacuum cleaner bag, vacuum bed bugs from cracks and crevices, then seal the vacuum bag in a plastic bag, and dispose of it in the garbage outside.
• Dismantle bed frames to expose additional bug hiding sites.
• Caulk and seal all holes where pipes and wires penetrate walls and floor.
• Fill cracks around baseboards and moldings to further reduce breeding areas.
• Encase mattresses and box springs in special mattress bags, available at some do-it-yourself moving companies. Inspect the bags to ensure they are undamaged. If any holes or tears are found, seal these completely with permanent tape. Any bugs trapped within these sealed bags will eventually die.
• Do not sell or donate your mattress or box springs or place them out on the curb. They should be slashed so others do not bring them into their homes.
• Dry-clean or wash bed linens and drapes. Use cleaning detergent and bleach in hot water.
• Wash and dry linens and clothing in a hot dryer or in the sun.
• Launder clothing, and seal other travel items if you have traveled to an area where a bed bug infestation was observed or suspected. Leaving luggage for several hours in a closed vehicle in full summer sun may render the items bugfree.

How do I apply insecticides?

Do NOT apply any insecticide or pesticide to surfaces that may come in direct contact with a person, unless the label instructions specifically state that the product may be applied in that manner. Use pesticides on non-skin contact surfaces only, such as crevices in walls, bed posts, box springs, and in the home.

Contact a licensed pest control operator who is knowledgeable and experienced in managing bed bug infestations. The Colorado Department of Agriculture at 303-239-4146 can provide a list of licensed pest control operators.

Who is responsible for fixing the problem?

If you are a tenant, contact your property manager or landlord to discuss your respective obligations and to agree on a plan to manage the infestation. Landlords and/or tenants should request a written integrated pest management (IPM) plan from a pest control operator. A list of operators can be obtained by calling The Colorado Department of Agriculture at 303-239-4146.

Boulder County Public Health does not mediate tenant/landlord issues. Tenant/landlord mediation is available through the following organizations:

City of Boulder, Community Mediation Service	(303) 441-4364
Boulder County, District Attorney’s Office	(303) 441-3700
City of Longmont, Community and Neighborhood Resources	(303) 651-8444
CU Off Campus Student Services	(303) 492-7053

Images Courtesy of:

Department of Entomology and Texas AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M University