Quiz: What Do You Do When Bedbugs Bite?

Bedbugs are small, oval insects that belong to the insect family Cimicidae.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 cannot fly. However, they can move very quickly.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.