Top 12 Bed Bug Myths Philadelphia, PA | Bed Bug Protection Intl

MYTH #1: BED BUGS ARE ONLY FOUND IN BEDS

Despite their name, bed bugs are not limited to only beds. In fact, bed bugs have been known to hide up to 20 feet from one's bed, and can be found lurking most anywhere inside the room.

Places bed bugs often choose as secondary places to hide, include: chairs, couches, curtains, bureaus, picture frames, carpeting, molding, vents, ceiling fans/lights, smoke detectors, and even electrical outlets.

Truth is, at just the size of an apple seed, and possessing a flat, thin body, a bed bug can hide practically anywhere.

MYTH #2: BED BUGS ARE DUE TO POOR HYGIENE

Although once believed that the presence of bed bugs were an indication of poor hygiene and housekeeping, such is not the case. The fact of the matter is, bed bug infestations are typically caused by their ability to gain entrance into a home or business by hiding inside a person's clothing or a variety of objects, including suitcases and used furniture.

While a cluttered environment will help to provide a hiding place for bed bugs, these insects are not attracted by the condition of a home or office. Instead, the only concern bed bugs have regarding a structure is that it provides access to hosts to feed on, not whether the environment is clean and tidy or not.

As noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

"Bed bugs have been found in five-star hotels and resorts and their presence is not determined by the cleanliness of the living conditions where they are found."

MYTH #3: BED BUGS SPREAD DISEASE

While bed bugs have been suspected of transmitting in excess of 40 diseases, from leprosy to hepatitis B, there has been no scientific evidence to date to confirm that bed bugs are responsible for any kind of infection.

To date, the only known type of medical problem that bed bugs are able to cause for their human victims, is the allergic reaction many experience due to the various anesthetic compounds and proteins that are injected into the skin by bed bug bites, which can cause rashes and swelling, as well as severe effects for those possessing sensitive immune systems.

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bed bugs should not be considered a medical or public health hazard.

MYTH #4: INFESTATIONS CAN BE TREATED BY NON-PROFESSIONALS

Treating bed bugs on one's own is not often recommended, for several reasons.

Firstly, once bed bugs get inside, they can be most difficult to locate. One reason for this is due to the fact that they can remain all but invisible during the day, as they are mainly active at night when humans are usually asleep. Another reason bed bugs are difficult to locate is that their size and body shape enable them to hide most anywhere within a room or dwelling.

As such, while many of the do-it-yourself methods, such as steam, freezing (CO2), and over-the-counter pesticides are effective for killing bed bugs that are visible, failure to locate and kill the entire population of bed bugs along with their eggs, a bed bug infestation will not be successfully eradicated.

Secondly, most of the over-the-counter products for sale to the general public are not sufficient for killing an entire bed bug population, and may actually cause bed bugs to disperse throughout other areas within a home, office, or even to another structure sharing common walls, making the eradication process more difficult to achieve.

The fact is, complete bed bug eradication is typically only accomplished by using the services of an experienced pest or bed bug control provider, as is routinely recommended by many state and federal agencies:

"A licensed pest control professional is necessary to get rid of bed bugs."
--Pennsylvania Department of Health

"The NJDHSS recommends that homeowners hire a pest control professional licensed by the state of New Jersey."
--The NJ Department of Health and Senior Services

"If you suspect that you have an infestation, contact your landlord or professional pest control company that is experienced with treating bed bugs."
--Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

MYTH #5: BED BUGS ARE NOT VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE

It was once believed that bed bugs were not visible to the naked eye. One reason for the myth may be that bed bugs typically only choose to expose themselves during feeding time, which is mainly at night since they do not like sunlight. And when not feeding, bed bugs are experts at remaining concealed due to their ability to hide most anywhere within a room or building.

Thus, in a practical sense, bed bugs are often not seen unless an earnest effort is made to find them.

Nevertheless, bed bugs can most definitely be seen by the naked eye if one knows where to look or happens to discover them while they are feeding or inside the bed with their victim.

Young bed bugs (nymphs) are between 1/20 to 1/5 inch in size, or about the size of a poppy seed. Adult bed bugs are about 1/5 inch long, or roughly the size of an apple seed. As such, bed bugs can be seen with the eye alone, though magnification makes it easier to spot them during an inspection.

MYTH #6: BED BUGS ARE ONLY ON THE EAST COAST

The once-held belief that bed bugs are confined to the East Coast is false.

This was discovered in part by the results of the 2011 National Bed Bugs in America survey conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Here, 17 percent of those participating in the survey in the Northeast reported encountering bed bugs; 20 percent of those in the Midwest reported seeing bed bugs, with 20 percent in the South; and 19 percent in the West.

Those 2011 findings are supported by the recent 2014 study which identified the top 50 U.S. cities for bed bug populations. Here, with cities such as Denver (4th) Los Angeles (5th), Dallas/Ft. Worth (7th) topping the list, it is plain to see that bed bugs are not limited to the East Coast.

The fact of the matter is, bed bugs can be found throughout the entire United States.

MYTH #7: REMOVING INFECTED FURNITURE GETS RID OF BED BUGS

Though it once may have been thought that removing furniture containing bed bugs would eliminate an infestation, such is definitely not true. While getting rid of furniture and other items infested with bed bugs may reduce the size of the infestation to some degree, it is usually not recommended as a solution since this alone will not eliminate the problem in most instances.

That's because with the ability to lay eggs at the rate of one or two per day, coupled with the ability to go at least several months without feeding, eradicating a bed bug infestation requires all bed bugs and bed bug eggs be located and ultimately destroyed, not just those found in infected furniture.

MYTH #8: SLEEPING IN WELL-LIT ROOMS PREVENTS BED BUG BITES

Believing that leaving the lights on in a room will prevent bed bug bites likely stems from the fact that bed bugs prefer the dark and are active mainly at night, and that feedings often occur just before dawn.

However, this belief is not accurate. Indeed, leaving the lights on will not prevent hungry bed bugs from feeding. That's because bed bugs are not strictly nocturnal.

As such, bed bugs have the ability to tailor their activities in accordance with their surroundings. For instance, bed bugs will change their feeding schedule in order to prey upon those whose occupations require them to work at night and sleep during the day.

MYTH #11: HEATING HOUSE CAN KILL BED BUGS

This idea is false.

In theory this would work since heat can destroy bed bugs. However, this is not achieved by simply turning up the thermostat.

That's because to effectively kill bed bugs with heat, temperatures must be at least 110ºF, and sustained for several hours. Additionally, everything within the area must be heated to such temperatures, including furniture, walls, ceilings, vents, etc.

To accomplish this task, specialized equipment must be used.

MYTH #12: METAL BEDS PREVENT BED BUGS

Not true.

Although it is true that bed bugs may have a tougher job climbing a bed with a metal frame, this design also provides additional places for bed bugs to hide.

Simply replacing one type of frame for another will not deter bed bugs from feeding. In truth, bed bugs can ultimately infest any type of furniture one chooses to sleep on.

BED BUG MYTHS DEBUNKED