HOW DO
I PREVENT
BED BUGS?
Prevention
tips and
resources
Appearance
• I mmature bed bugs (nymphs) and their eggs are
difficult to see with the naked eye.
Cimex lectularius
actual adult size
• Bed bug adults are large enough to be seen. They
appear mahogany to rusty brown-colored in their
natural state, and transition to an even larger size
and a reddish shade after a blood meal.
• They have six legs, are flat and oval-shaped, and
grow to be no longer than ¼ inch.
Habits
•B
ed bugs are attracted to body heat and the CO2
that people exhale. They feed on warm-blooded
hosts, like humans or warm-blooded animals.
magnified 4x
• They are nocturnal insects, feeding at night and
harboring during the day.
• Bed bugs feed for 2-5 minutes on humans. Bite
reactions can take a few minutes to as many as
14 days to appear, but reactions vary.
• Bed bugs can lay 200–500 eggs during their
lifespan.
• They live in cracks and crevices, in electrical outlets,
behind wallpaper, baseboards and picture frames,
inside mattresses, box springs and headboards and
in bedding materials.
Important Facts
• Disease transmission through bed bug bites
remains unproven.
• There is no direct correlation between bed bugs
and cleanliness, but keep in mind that homes with
more clutter do offer more hiding spaces.
1
Though bed bugs can never be completely
avoided, there are specific ways to limit the
risk of exposure and even prevent them.
Experts agree that education is the best way
to curb this epidemic.
With over 25 years of pest management
experience, we have compiled a list of best
practices to help you. Be proactive and
incorporate these practices into your daily
lives to give yourself a calmer peace of mind.
Here’s how.
www.mmenviro.net
W
had virtually disappeared
over the past 50 years, they’re now
back — and in big numbers. This rising
national problem can be found everywhere —
in hotels, schools, hospitals, businesses,
apartments, homes — wherever people
are generally found.
hile bed bugs
M&M Environmental
2
IN Your Home
Avoid bringing used or discarded furniture into your home,
especially mattresses and box
springs, because direct signs of
bed bugs may not be visible.
Wash and dry used or vintage
clothing at high temperatures
before bringing them into
your home.
Monitor for signs of bed bugs,
such as shed skins, fecal matter
and eggs. Check bed sheets for
unusual blood spots.
Eliminate as much clutter as
possible from your home since
clutter gives bed bugs hiding
places and breeding spots
during infestations.
Encase your mattress and box
spring in bed bug-proof encasements to protect them and
make detection of an infestation
easier to spot.
Inspect your bed and bedding
every time you change the
sheets by looking for dark spots
or live bed bugs.
Avoid do-it-yourself treatments,
as this could make matters
worse. Using the wrong kind of
pesticide may end up prolonging the treatment process.
Seal all suspicious or infested
items with plastic. Label items
and dispose of them carefully,
in accordance with property
management guidelines for
apartment buildings.
Vacuum f loors regularly, and
discard the contents of vacuum
cleaner bags afterward.
Research your options for pest
management professionals.
Make sure they are licensed
and certified with the NYS
Department of Environmental
Conservation.
Request a written history of any
bed bug-related details from
the new premises.
Inspect the interior of your
moving truck, whether it’s a
rental or it belongs to a moving
company, for overt signs of bed
bugs before using it.
Check the Bed Bug Registry and
the NYC Department of Buildings web sites for recent bed
bug complaints or violations at
your future residence.
Find a moving company that has
a bed bug prevention protocol
in place that will protect both
their trucks and your personal
belongings.
“Because bed bugs are great hitchhikers,
people cannot simply ‘move’ away
from them until they have completely
resolved their infestation.”
Jim Rueda, CEO, Moving Right Along Moving & Storage,
a full service relocation company that also offers trailers and
pods for self-packing or fumigation. For more information,
visit www.movingrightalong.com.
3
www.mmenviro.net
Participate in resident meetings, because bed bugs often
travel between apartments.
Neighbors should communicate
openly and share tips on prevention, as this will decrease the
likelihood of future infestations.
Catching bed bugs before they
spread can save time, effort
and money.
WHEN YOU Move
BED BUG DETECTING DOGS
An independent study conducted by the University of Florida
concluded that certified canines are 98% accurate in locating
the scent of live bed bugs. When detecting bed bugs, canines
require substantially less time than people do and are able to
detect live bed bug scents even at extremely low infestation
levels. They are especially effective for detecting bed bugs that are
lodged deep in mattresses or sofas — places less easy to pinpoint
with visual inspections. Here’s how to find the right canine team:
M&M Environmental
4
Check for certification by the
National Entomology Scent
Detection Canine Association (see www.NESDCA.com).
Confirm that the handler is
certified to work with that
particular canine. Teams
must be recertified annually.
Ask about the canine’s ability
to differentiate between bed
bugs and other insects.
Avoid companies that don’t
provide written inspection
results.
“Our study has shown that dogs can be trained to accurately
locate live bed bugs and viable bed bug eggs; however,
bed bug detecting canines and handlers are not all equal.
The quality of canines depends on the efficiency of their
training, handlers and what the dogs are trained to do.”
Dr. Philip G. Koehler, p
rofessor of entomology at the University of Florida
and Florida Pest Management Association’s Endowed Professor of Urban
Entomology. In 2008, Dr. Koehler co-published along with Margie Pfiester and
Roberto M. Pereira, ”Ability of Bed Bug-Detecting Canines to Locate Live Bed
Bugs and Viable Bed Bug Eggs.” (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18767752)
5
Consider fumigating* your
personal belongings if you are
moving from a space that has
been affected by bed bugs. To
be fumigated, items must be
specially packed and prepared.
*Fumigation is the use of a colorless
and odorless gas inside of an airtight
environment. When applied correctly,
fumigation has been documented
to be 100% effective in eliminating
insects (and their eggs) in all stages
of life without leaving any residual
fumigant.
WHEN YOU Travel
Check online before you book
your hotel for any reports of
infestations (www.bedbugregistry.com).
Perform a visual inspection of
your room immediately upon
entry. Not all infestations will be
visible, but a room inspection
will mitigate the risk. Inspections are done by:
•Pulling up the sheet and searching the seams for bed bugs,
shell casings or fecal matter.
•Checking under the mattress
tags, where bed bugs can hide.
•Examining the walls near the
bed, headboard and nightstand
as well as the nearby furniture.
Bed bugs can hide under lamp
bases and other items on the
nightstand.
www.mmenviro.net
Hire a canine team to inspect
your new residence before you
move in if you suspect that
there may be a problem.
M&M Environmental
6
Bring a large plastic bag to keep
your suitcase in at hotels.
Keep luggage from contact with
carpet or bed linens, since bed
bugs and eggs are often found
on fabric.
Wash and dry your laundry
immediately when back home.
Wash and dry cloth or canvas
luggage as well. For hard luggage use a steam cleaner and
pay careful attention to the
seams and crevices.
Vacuum bags and suitcases after
a vacation.
Store your luggage in the
shower stall or bathtub. Bed
bugs do not like cold, slippery
surfaces.
AT your Office, Gym, etc.
Keep personal items in a sealed
plastic bag or in a canvas bag
that can be thrown into a dryer
at home.
Avoid putting bags or clothes
on carpeted floors.
Prevent your coat or clothing
from contacting others’, especially in coat closets.
“The heat will kill them; whether it’s in water
or air, bed bugs cannot survive environments
hotter than 120 degrees. You have to watch
out though for not shrinking your clothes
with excessive heat!”
When you do laundry
Launder clothing in a HOT
WATER CYCLE to kill all stages
of bed bugs. In general, hot
water is 130 degrees Fahrenheit
or greater.
Dry clothing in HIGH HEAT for
20 minutes, since all stages
of bed bugs can be killed at
temperatures of 120 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Hand-wash sensitive clothing.
For really delicate items, allow
them to soak in warm water
with plenty of laundry detergent for several hours and then
wash as usual to remove the
bed bugs.
Store treated clothing in airtight plastic bins or sealable
bags. You can also hang clothes
on smooth metal poles, since
bed bugs are not able to climb
on smooth surfaces, but it is not
advisable to do this until after
treating the premises.
Use dissolvable laundry bags.
This makes transferring items
to a washing machine safe,
quick and easy. These bags
are excellent for traveling and
shared laundry facilities.
Disclose to your dry cleaner
or laundering company if your
clothing has been exposed to
bed bugs so that they can take
proper precautions.
7
www.mmenviro.net
Miguel Zabludovsky, CEO, Slate NYC, a specialty cleaning company that offers dry cleaning, laundering and post-extermination
home cleaning services with a completely eco-friendly approach.
Learn more at www.slatenyc.com/bedbugs.
ECO-FRIENDLY APPROACHES TO BED BUGS
M&M Environmental
8
Environmentally friendly
choices are increasingly popular in pest control. Companies
now offer a plethora of ecofriendly solutions for bed bug
removal.
Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) is a set of guidelines
focusing on long-term pest
prevention without harming
human health or safety.
Professionals using IPM practices work closely with clients,
communicating about proper
practices of sanitation and
exclusion. For bed bugs, some
IPM-approved, eco-friendly
tools are scent detecting
canines, EPA-approved organic
pesticides, Cryonite® (instant
freeze), heat and steam
treatment.
If you’re concerned about
possible adverse effects of
pesticides for bed bugs or
other pests, consult your pest
management professional
about green approaches.
“The best strategy to deal with bed bugs is Integrated Pest
Management (IPM), which combines a variety of practical
techniques and products that pose the lowest risk to our
health and to the environment.”
F rom “Bed Bugs Are Back! An IPM Answer” by Dr. Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann
and Jill Shultz. Cornell Cooperative Extension. March 31, 2003.
What if I am…
A Landlord or Property Manager?
Inspect the entire building, or
at least units adjacent to the
affected one. This will decrease
the chances of spreading.
Instruct residents on how to
properly discard infested items
and how to use shared laundry
facilities.
Check the Better Business
Bureau to choose a pest
management professional
with direct experience and a
proven track record for treating bed bugs.
Respond quickly to tenant concerns to decrease the chance
of an infestation spreading to
other units.
“Lease agreements and shareholder’s bylaws
should be reviewed in order to give landlords,
property managers and co-op boards the tools
to address the resurgence of bed bugs.”
Timothy Wenk, attorney with Shafer Glazer, LLP in New York.
Mr. Wenk regularly speaks on the subject of bed bug-related
litigation. For more information, visit www.shaferglazer.com.
9
www.mmenviro.net
Keep an open dialogue with
tenants by scheduling tenant
meetings to ensure that they
feel safe addressing you with
concerns. This will also keep
tenants on the same page when
they must work together towards
a common goal.
A Social Worker or visiting NURSE?
Carry large sealable plastic bags Inquire about insect bites if
you identify them on clients or
to store your coats, briefcases
other household members.
and shoes.
eople working on premises with
P
current infestations should:
Bring a change of clothes and
shoes for work. Change clothes
at work and keep the field
clothes and shoes in a sealed
bag for laundering.
10
Wear disposable covers over
your shoes.
M&M Environmental
Inspect fabric furniture before
sitting to ensure that there are
no signs of bed bugs.
Bring a portable stool to sit on
and remain in the middle of the
room. If this is not possible, only
sit on a hard chair, not on plush
furniture or beds.
A Hotelier?
Work with your pest management professional to establish a
specific protocol for preventing
infestations.
Educate your staff with training classes on your specified
protocol, taught with your pest
management professional.
Create a one-sheet guide for
guests with a detailed outline
of your bed bug prevention
and protocol.
Schedule routine inspections
with a company that works
with a bed bug detecting
canine so that multiple rooms
can benefit from quick and
efficient inspections.
Respond to guest concerns
immediately, leaving no time
for dissatisfaction.
Schedule regular preventive
treatments with your pest
management professional.
Inspect neighboring and adjacent rooms immediately if an
infestation has been identified
to determine if the infestation
has spread.
“New York City has become such a hotspot for bed
bugs partly because of a lack of education. Since
their common name ‘bed bugs’ leads people to
believe that they are restricted to beds, people don’t
understand that they may be carrying them out of
their home, on their person. Clearly, this is incorrect.”
Lou Sorkin, board certified entomologist and expert in bed bug biology
and behavior. Mr. Sorkin works as the consulting entomologist for Entsult
Associates, Inc. For more information, visit www.entsultassociates.com.
11
Refrain from self-treating
suspect areas with over-thecounter pesticides.
Store your coats, briefcases
and shoes in sealed plastic bins
or bags.
Monitor y our students’ behavior for excessive scratching or
itching.
Report any suspicious
sightings, like casings, to a
principal or school official to
ensure that proper measures
are taken.
Replace fabric area rugs with
rubber mats.
Pay attention to students’
appearance for irregularities,
like excessive clusters of
insect bites.
Advise students on how to
inspect home sleeping areas
by describing potential warning signs.
www.mmenviro.net
An Education Professional?
M&M Environmental
12
You do not need to change your lifestyle to avoid
bed bugs. Arming yourself with proper knowledge
and resources will help keep you and your neighbors worry- (and bed bug-) free.
There’s no reason to be embarrassed about bed
bugs. Learning from professionals who deal with
them regularly will help provide you with the
right solutions. Bed bugs can affect anyone —
rich or poor — especially those in urban areas.
Knowing the basics of bed bug biology and
understanding the treatment processes will save
you time, energy and money.
If you encounter bed bugs, do not panic.
Utilize the information and resources provided
in this guide to help find the right professional
to aid you through the process.
If you have any questions, please do not
hesitate to contact an M&M representative
at (212) 219-8218.
Items to aid with detection and prevention
Flashlight Choose one that is small and strong for quick visual
inspections.
Bed bug interceptor These form a barrier between floor and bed.
Bed bugs approaching or descending from the bed will be trapped
inside. They can be purchased online at: www.mmenvirostore.com.
Encasements Used for mattresses and box springs, the patented
zipper technology and specific material makes these items unique
to protecting against bed bugs. They can be purchased online
at: www.mmenvirostore.com.
Portable steamer Used to sanitize clothing, shoes, etc. At 212
degrees Fahrenheit, steam can kill both bed bugs and their eggs.
13
www.mmenviro.net
%
Useful web sites
www.newyorkvsbedbugs.org/ A NYC advocacy group that helps
bring about change and awareness for bed bug-related issues.
www.bedbugregistry.com/ A free public database of North
American bed bug infestations.
www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/vector/vector-faq1.shtml Links to
information from the DOHMH about preventative bed bug practices.
www.metcouncil.net/factsheets/bedbugs.htm Community resource
offering a wealth of information about tenants’ rights with housing,
including bed bug-specific inquiries.
www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Bedbugs.htm Scientific breakdown
of bed bug life stages and bite diagnoses.
www.nysipm.cornell.edu/publications/bed_bugs/files/bed_bug.pdf Essential IPM guide to eco-friendly pest management options.
Printed locally on 100% recycled FSC-certified paper using low-VOC
vegetable inks, a chemical-free CTP production process, and windpowered energy. Design: Michael Kelly Designs; www.mlkelly.com
www.nyc.gov/apps/311 The first agency that a bed bug infestation
needs to be reported to for accurate record keeping.
32 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002
T 212 219 8218
F 212 625 8666
www.mmenviro.net
Proudly serving
NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD
M&M Environmental understands
that no two pest management
situations are exactly alike,
especially with bed bugs.
We’ve earned National Pest Management
Association certifications in QualityPro and
GreenPro, two of their highest distinctions,
awarded to companies with rigorous hiring
and training standards, and those using strict
green practices.
We offer eco-friendly treatments customized
to fit your needs, and if you need inspection help,
our NESDCA certified canine team detects bed
bugs and their eggs. We also offer informational
workshops, an outreach program geared towards
senior citizens, and a video series about safely
preventing and controlling bed bugs.
We evolve by listening carefully to customers’
concerns. Not certain if the insect you found
really is a bed bug? Try our free insect ID
services, in person or online, and we will gladly
tell you what kind of pest you’re dealing with.
For a full range of eco-friendly solutions,
contact M&M Environmental.