Bed Bug Prevention: They're Super Gross

By Rachel Dranetz on October 13, 2017

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One of the downsides of becoming a college student, is communal living. Of course, there are many pros to living in a dormitory on campus, or even in an apartment off campus. But living in close quarters with other students also means that bugs spread like wildfires.

Whether this ‘bug’ is referring to the flu (pegged the FSU Plague) that everyone gets at least once between the months of September and February, or actual bugs, just depends on your luck.

And one bug that has recently shown up on our radar, is bed bugs.

For those of you who don’t know, bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of people and animals while they sleep.

“Bed bug infestations usually occur around or near the areas where people sleep. These areas include apartments, shelters, rooming houses, hotels, cruise ships, buses, trains, and dorm rooms. They hide during the day in places such as seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, dresser tables, inside cracks or crevices, behind wallpaper, or any other clutter or objects around a bed. Bed bugs have been shown to be able to travel over 100 feet in a night but tend to live within 8 feet of where people sleep.” (1)

Recently, a small outbreak of the bugs have occurred on campus, though there have been no official reports of the infestation reaching the dormitories. This weekend, the Williams Building (good luck, English majors), will be closed down to be fumigated. Further pest control will occur in the coming weeks as a preventative measure.

Bed bugs are usually spread from place to place by humans who pick them up, and the infestation can be extremely contagious- particularly since college students are always moving around and living in such close quarters, both inside and outside of class.

So if you have been around the side of campus near Williams and Westcott fountain, there’s a chance that the bug could be spread to your home. (Not trying to traumatize you, just telling you how it is.)

So here’s some signs of infestation, steps to take if you have been infested, and preventative tips to make sure this never happens to you.

Signs that you’ve got Bed Bugs:

  • Bug bites- This is the most obvious sign that you have bed bugs. The bugs are parasitic, meaning that they feed off of animals while they sleep. This will oftentimes leave marks on human skin, though this could not be noticeable for several days after being bitten.
“When bed bugs bite, they inject an anesthetic and an anticoagulant that prevents a person from realizing they are being bitten. Most people do not realize they have been bitten until bite marks appear anywhere from one to several days after the initial bite. The bite marks are similar to that of a mosquito or a flea — a slightly swollen and red area that may itch and be irritating. The bite marks may be random or appear in a straight line. Other symptoms of bed bug bites include insomnia, anxiety, and skin problems that arise from profuse scratching of the bites.” (1)
  • Bed bug exoskeletons- Bed bugs are excellent hiders. However, after they molt bed bugs leave behind an exoskeleton that is easier to find. If you think you see something suspicious on your bed, try using scotch tape to lift it and see what it is. If you find an exoskeleton, chances are your bed is infested.
  • Bed bugs hiding in your bed- The bugs themselves are much harder to find while they’re alive, since they hide during the day and only come out to feed when everyone else is asleep. However there are some places that they’re known to hide in. The first place to look, is in the folds of you sheets and mattress.
  • Rust-colored blood spots- This is essentially bed bug waste. Blood-filled fecal matter can be left behind by the critters on your sheets, or even on nearby furniture. As gross as it is, it makes spotting them a lot easier.
  • Sweet, musty odor- For some reason, (that I will not go into completely because I’m not a bed bug-scientist), bed bugs have, or leave behind a certain smell. It may be difficult for humans to distinguish, but dogs have actually been trained to be able to pick out the scent.
So you’ve been Infested: Don’t Panic!
  • Bites- Bed bug bites do not normally pose a hazardous health threat, but that doesn’t mean being bitten is fun. If you think you have been bitten, try to avoid scratching the irritated areas. Applying antiseptic creams or lotions, or even taking an antihistamine (allergy medication), may also help if the bites are severe.
  • Infestation- Wash everything (sheets, pillow cases, clothes, everything near your bed, the whole shebang), in hot water. For things you can’t wash, such as carpet, use insecticide spray. If you live on campus, contact a dorm adviser, because University Housing can bring in pest professionals to inspect and treat bed bug infested areas.

Tips to Prevent Bed Bugs:

  • When moving- Be sure to inspect your luggage when before you move. Bed bugs are hitch-hikers, and can easily be transported through stuff. While they particularly like soft materials, such as cushions, clothes, and bedding, and carpet, they can also be transported through other items, such as furniture.
  • 1. Avoid placing luggage on bedding during the move in/move out process.
  • 2. Avoid packing items in boxes that you have “found” outdoors, in dumpsters, on the street, etc.
  • 3. Avoid bringing into your room any furniture items found discarded outdoors. (1)
  • When traveling- Keep in mind that hotels/motels can easily be infested.
  • 1. In hotel rooms, use luggage racks to hold your luggage when packing or unpacking rather than setting your luggage on the bed or floor.
  • 2. Check the mattress and headboard before sleeping.
  • 3. Upon returning to your residence hall, unpack directly into a washing machine and inspect your luggage carefully. (2)

For more information on bed bug prevention and pest control, check out cdc.gov or epa.gov.

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Sources

1. http://its.fsu.edu/sites/g/files/imported/storage/original/application/3bb52e0afbd0f09b28c123f2cb165dc0.pdf

2. https://housing.fsu.edu/current-residents/facilities-resources/pest-control

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