What Bed Bugs Look Like

1. In your experience, how common is bed bug misidentification?

It is relatively common, although I do not have my own metrics. The Penn et al. 2017 survey provides a good baseline for how often someone can identify bed bugs, which was between 28 to 35% depending on the type of traveler.

2. Why is it crucial for homeowners to address a bed bug problem?

Bed bugs are blood-feeding ectoparasites that cause severe bite reactions and can impact people’s mental health.

Research from the labs of Dr. Zachary DeVries at University of Kentucky and Dr. Coby Schal at North Carolina State University have indicated the potential for bed bugs to contribute to environmental allergens, which may also affect humans. Finally, if bed bugs are not addressed, they will continue to spread.

3. What is the most significant misconception people have about bed bugs?

One major misconception about bed bug infestations is that people think they can be eliminated overnight with the use of insecticides alone.

Many bed bug populations are resistant to insecticides, so we recommend that integrated pest management is used, which combines non-chemical and chemical control techniques for optimal outcomes. Additionally, it does take some time to ensure a bed bug infestation is eliminated.

4. In your experience, what makes bed bugs so hard to get rid of?

One reason bed bug infestations are hard to get rid of is that a thorough inspection has not been conducted resulting in bed bugs and their harborage sites being missed and not treated.

Another reason bed bugs are hard to get rid of is that they have high levels of insecticide resistance and people will only rely on insecticides to eliminate them.

1. In your experience, what makes bed bugs so hard to get rid of?

Like most insects, bed bug females lay many eggs. Once these hatch, bed bugs walk to places where they can hide until a warm body is detected nearby.

1. In your experience, how common is bed bug misidentification?

It is somewhat common for folks experiencing dermatitis to suspect bed bugs when the cause is something different. It is also somewhat common for folks to misidentify insects and other arthropods found in or near beds (carpet beetles, psocids, especially) and resting areas as bed bugs.

When actual bed bugs are found, it is less common for folks to think they are something else.

2. Why is it crucial for homeowners to address a bed bug problem?

If not detected and controlled, a bed bug population will continue to grow, potentially spreading to new areas and new units or homes. Your bed bug population will eventually become your entire community’s bed bug population.

3. What is the most significant misconception people have about bed bugs?

People think bed bugs are microscopically small and don’t realize that all life stages, even the eggs, can be seen with the unaided eye.

People also think that there are retail products (insecticides) that can be reliably used to control a problem. Often, professional experience and professional products will be needed to control a problem.

Another major misconception is that you can determine the source of bed bugs in rental housing or landlord and tenant situations. This is impractical and, in many cases, impossible.

4. In your experience, what makes bed bugs so hard to get rid of?

Bed bugs are difficult pests to manage for several important reasons.

• They are highly cryptic, meaning that they hide deep in crevices and may not be easily detected.
• They are excellent hitchhikers, meaning they can easily colonize new homes.
• They are often resistant to insecticides, meaning that nonchemical methods such as heat, vacuum, desiccation, and laundering will need to be employed to reliably control a population.

1. In your experience, how common is bed bug misidentification?

About 30% of the time.

2. Why is it crucial for homeowners to address a bed bug problem?

Bed bug infestations can have far-reaching effects on physical, mental, and financial health of homeowners. Treatments are not cheap and can cost more when they are ineffective and have to be repeated.

3. What is the most significant misconception people have about bed bugs?

My house is super clean, so I will never get bed bugs.

4. In your experience, what makes bed bugs so hard to get rid of?

Cryptic behavior, ability to squeeze into the narrowest of gaps to hide out. This helps them to avoid detection and treatments.

1. In your experience, how common is bed bug misidentification?

Bed bugs are small (adults are around the size of an apple seed) and tan to reddish brown in coloration. There are several other pests in the home are similarly sized with similar coloration, and for those who have not encountered bed bugs before, cases of mistaken identity can be made, especially if the insect in question is located on or around the bed.

2. Why is it crucial for homeowners to address a bed bug problem?

When it comes to bed bugs, early detection is key. A small infestation of bed bugs can quickly grow into a much bigger problem if not treated.

3. What is the most significant misconception people have about bed bugs?

In my opinion, the greatest misconception about bed bugs is that they are related to or caused by lack of cleanliness. Bed bugs can be a problem in a variety of environments, from luxury hotels to public transportation, and can be introduced into the home by several means, such as in luggage, on clothing, or in furniture.

4. In your experience, what makes bed bugs so hard to get rid of?

There are a few factors that make bed bugs such a challenging pest. Bed bugs have developed considerable resistance to many of the insecticides used against them, such as pyrethroids. Additionally, their small size and cryptic behavior make them difficult to detect, especially when infestations are small.