Have you noticed
that bedbugs are
increasingly
making
headlines? What
exactly are
these bugs and
how do you check
for them?
Bedbugs
are small
wingless insects
that feed on
blood. Not only
do they feed on
human blood,
they also feed
on most
warm blooded
animals,
including your
household pets.
Bedbugs have
infested homes,
offices, and
even movie
theaters. They
have been found
in hotels and on
cruise ships.
They have even
been found in
clothing stores
on new
clothing.
If you are
concerned that
you have bedbugs
there are a few
places to look
and some signs
you can look
for. One is in
the creases of
your bed linens
and seams of
your mattress
and box springs.
Another is in
your drapery.
Bedbugs like to
hide where it is
dark. What you
are looking for
is fecal matter
from the
bedbugs, which
can range in
color from black
to dark brown.
You may find
dead bugs
-the
adult bugs are
about 1/4 inch
long. You may
even be able to
find the eggs of
bedbugs and even
the casings of
dead bugs.
The bite of the
bedbug may itch
and burn. The
bites are
generally spaced
together in
groups of three
and are raised
red bumps.
Homeowners can
become desperate
when they
realize their
homes are
infested with
these bugs. The
EPA has warned
consumers not to
use outdoor
pesticides and
other chemicals
indoors.
