Bed bugs have resurged in recent decades due to less potent insecticides and increased travel entomology.ca.uky.edu. These nocturnal insects feed solely on blood and hide near sleeping areas entomology.ca.uky.edu. Bed bugs are skilled hitchhikers and can travel on luggage, clothing and used furniture. They do not fly or jump but crawl rapidly. Nymphs resemble adults but are smaller and translucent until they feed. Females lay up to five eggs a day and hundreds over their lifetime; eggs hatch in about a week, and immature nymphs must feed and molt five times before reaching adulthood entomology.ca.uky.edu. Understanding their life cycle helps break the infestation.
Identification
- Appearance: Adult bed bugs are reddish‑brown, oval, flattened and about 3/16 inch long entomology.ca.uky.edu. They cannot fly but can crawl rapidly.
- Hiding spots: Bed bugs hide during the day in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards and cracks near sleeping areas entomology.ca.uky.edu.
- Signs: Look for dark spots (dried excrement), shed skins and reddish smears on bedding entomology.ca.uky.edu.
- Resilience: Bed bugs can survive months without feeding and often spread through luggage, furniture and second‑hand items entomology.ca.uky.edu.
Management
- Confirm infestation: Proper identification is crucial; other insects such as bat bugs can be mistaken for bed bugs.
- Reduce clutter: Clutter provides hiding spots; laundering bedding and vacuuming cracks reduces populations.
- Consult professionals: Elimination often requires insecticide treatments or heat treatments by a licensed pest control company entomology.ca.uky.edu.
- Prevent re‑infestation: Inspect second‑hand furniture before bringing it into the home and use mattress encasements designed to trap bed bugs.
- Encase and isolate: Use mattress and box spring encasements labeled for bed bugs to trap insects and prevent them from escaping or entering. Move beds away from walls and keep bedding off the floor to eliminate pathways.
- Integrated approach: Successful elimination relies on a combination of non‑chemical methods (vacuuming, heat or steam treatments, encasements) and targeted insecticide applications by trained professionals. DIY foggers often drive bed bugs deeper into hiding and are not recommended.
- Travel tips: Inspect hotel rooms, especially mattresses and headboards, when traveling. Keep luggage on stands away from walls and launder clothing in hot water upon returning home.
If you suspect bed bugs, act quickly to prevent spreading. Rise Pest Pros offers thorough inspections and effective treatment options in Louisville.
