Bed Bugs

WHAT ARE BED BUGS?

Bed bugs are small wingless insects that feed solely upon the blood of warm-blooded animals
Bed bugs seek out people and animals, generally at night while they are asleep
Bed bugs feed quickly and their bite is painless
Bed bugs are more abundant in rooms where people sleep, and they generally hide nearest the bed or other furniture used for sleeping. Favored places include the bed frame, mattress and box spring
Bed bugs are not known to spread diseases to humans, except in rare cases
Bed bugs reproduce rapidly

BED BUGS CAN EASILY ENTER INTO HOMES OR APARTMENTS

The following can be a source of bed bugs:

Secondhand beds, bedding, and furniture
Clothing and baggage of travelers
Bed bugs can walk from room to room; apartment to apartment very easily
Items from self storage facilities
Rented furniture from rental furniture centers
Items carried in rental, delivery or moving trucks

TRAVEL TIPS

Select clothes that can be laundered in hot water and withstand 30 minutes in a hot dryer
Use hard smooth luggage rather then fabric luggage
Pack plastic bags to seal up purchased items or to isolate items which may become infested
Keep luggage off the floor and beds and keep luggage closed when not in use. Hang clothes on a shower rail
Inspect bed area for brown fecal spotting and bugs on mattress seams, headboard, furniture and objects adjacent to the bed

TREATMENT OF HOME INFESTATIONS

Reduce clutter to limit hiding places for bed bugs
Thoroughly clean the infested room as well as others in the residence
Pull the bed frame away from the wall
Cover mattresses and box springs in special mattress bags or plastic making sure the plastic has no holes and fits snugly around your mattress
Tuck in sheets and blankets so they don’t contact the floor and place the frame legs into dishes of mineral oil
Caulk and seal all holes where pipes and wires penetrate walls and floor
If you own your own residence, contact a licensed pest control operator
If you are a tenant, contact your property manager or landlord

Connecticut has adopted a new law, as of October 1, 2016, on the rights and responsibilities of property owners and tenants regarding the treatment of bed bug infestations. For more details on the law, see Connecticut House Bill 5335.

For more information on bed bugs, can be found at the Connecticut Department of Health website here: Bed Bugs (ct.gov)

CONNECTICUT BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OFFERS NAMES OF PEST CONTROL COMPANIES ON THE WEBSITE: https://www.bbb.org/us/ct

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BED BUGS
Go to:

https://ctlawhelp.org/en/bedbugs

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/CAES/DOCUMENTS/Publications/CCABB/Forum-XI-The-Law-Dicine.pdf
https://portal.ct.gov/CAES/Publications/Publications/Connecticut-Coalition-Against-Bed-Bugs-CCABB-Bed-Bug-Information

http://www.pestworld.org/all-things-bed-bugs/
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SOURCE: Identify US, LLC; CDC; Better Business Bureau; Connecticut Legislative Bill
PREPARED BY: 211/mm
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: November2024