Quiz: What Do You Do When Bedbugs Bite?

What are bedbugs?
Small winged insects that feed on mites
Small insects that feed on human and animal blood
The larvae of a type of mite
None of the above
What are bedbugs?
Bedbugs are small, oval insects that belong to the insect family Cimicidae.

How big are adult bedbugs?
About the size of a flea
About the size of a ladybug
About the size of a cockroach
None of the above
How big are adult bedbugs?
Adult bedbugs are 5 mm to 7 mm in length, or about the size of a ladybug. Juvenile bedbugs, or nymphs, are no larger than the head of a pin.

Bedbug bites look similar to mosquito or flea bites.
True
False
Bedbug bites look similar to mosquito or flea bites.
Bedbug bites look similar to other types of bites, such as those from mosquitoes or fleas. Bite marks and patches of itchy, red swelling around them are common signs, but these may take several days to develop. Bedbugs often bite in a linear pattern referred to as “breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Bedbugs frequently transmit diseases to humans.
True
False
Bedbugs frequently transmit diseases to humans.
There’s no evidence that bedbugs transmit diseases to humans through bites, even though they can harbor at least 30 human pathogens. However, aggressive scratching of itchy bites can cause breaks in the skin, increasing the risk of a secondary skin infection from bacteria.

What is the treatment for bedbug bites?
Wash the bites with soap and water
Apply antiseptic creams or lotions
Take an antihistamine
All of the above
What is the treatment for bedbug bites?
The recommended treatment for bedbug bites is to wash them with soap and water, apply an antiseptic cream or lotion, and take an antihistamine if necessary for severe itching. A cool compress or ice may help with swelling. Avoid scratching. If you see signs of infection (tenderness around the bite, enlarging red area, and a white, yellow, or green discharge from the wound), seek immediate medical treatment.

Which factor may have contributed to a recent increase in bedbug infestations?
Restrictions on the use of stronger pesticides
Increase in international and domestic travel
Both of the above
Neither of the above
Which factor may have contributed to a recent increase in bedbug infestations?
Bedbugs were common in the U.S. before World War II but became rare after widespread use of the pesticide DDT began in the 1940s and 1950s. They remained prevalent in other areas of the world and have been increasingly observed in the U.S. in recent years. Increases in international and domestic travel, increased resistance to pesticides, as well as restrictions on the use of stronger pesticides may have contributed to this.

Where are bedbugs commonly found?
Mattresses
Box springs
Furniture crevices
All of the above
Where are bedbugs commonly found?
Bedbugs tend to be most common in areas where people sleep, so they generally are concentrated in beds, including mattresses, box springs, and bed frames. Other sites where bedbugs often reside include curtains, the corners inside dressers and other furniture, cracks in wallpaper (particularly near the bed), and inside the spaces of wicker furniture.

Bedbugs can fly.
True
False
Bedbugs can fly.
Bedbugs cannot fly. However, they can move very quickly.

Which of the following are signs of a bedbug infestation?
Fecal stains on bed sheets
Egg cases in crevices on or near the bed
A sweet, musty odor
All of the above
Which of the following are signs of a bedbug infestation?
If there’s an infestation, you will see fecal stains, egg cases, and shed skins in crevices and cracks on or near beds. If the infestation is severe, you may detect a sweet, musty odor.

A non-chemical way to get rid of bedbugs is to …
Wash and dry infested articles at a high temperature
Reduce clutter and encase mattresses and box springs
Vacuum carpets and furniture
A combination of all of the above
A non-chemical way to get rid of bedbugs is to …
Vacuuming carpets and furniture, cleaning clothing, pillows, and curtains at high temperatures, and removing clutter and encasing mattresses and box springs are all non-chemical ways to get rid of bedbugs. Insecticide can be effective, but it must be applied directly to the bedbugs (pesticide does not stick to their bodies when they crawl through it). In most cases, it’s wise to hire an experienced pest control company that can employ various methods.

What’s the best way to prevent bedbug bites in hotels?
Examine beds and mattresses for signs of infestation
Wear insect repellant while sleeping
Sleep with the lights on
All of the above
What’s the best way to prevent bedbug bites in hotels?
If you’re concerned about the potential for bedbug bites in a hotel, you should examine hotel beds and mattresses for signs of a bedbug infestation, including fecal stains on the bed sheets. Conventional insect repellents don’t appear to be effective against bedbugs, and sleeping with the lights on isn’t likely to deter them.

Which of the following statements about bedbugs is true?
Keeping your bedroom clean can prevent infestations
Bedbugs may be moved from a hotel to a home in suitcases
Bedbugs thrive in 55 to 65 degree temperatures
All of the above
Which of the following statements about bedbugs is true?
Bedbugs may be present in boxes, suitcases, or other goods that are taken from residence to residence or from a hotel to a home. Keeping your bedroom clean will not prevent infestations because bedbugs need only a warm hiding place (70 to 80 degrees) and warm-bodied hosts to thrive.

Bedbugs need to feed at least once a week.
True
False
Bedbugs need to feed at least once a week.
Adults can live for more than a year without feeding, and nymphs can go for months. Bedbugs are active primarily at night and prefer to hide during the daytime.