With fall approaching in a matter of weeks and schools and colleges dorms opening, the Polk County Public Health Department is reminding everyone that bed bugs can be a major issue in college dorms and apartments and has some hints on what you can do to keep yourself safe them before you move into your new dorm or room.
Bed bugs are found in many places, including homes, schools, retail facilities, office buildings, libraries, and other public areas. Bed bugs are parasites that feed on humans, using the blood to grow and reproduce. Bed bugs are also capable of feeding on animals, including dogs, cats, and other pets. But be sure you have bed bugs before trying to control them. The “Let’s Beat the Bed Bug” campaign at the University of Minnesota found that 76 percent of samples submitted for identification are not bed bugs.
- Adult bed bugs are oval, flattened, brown, and wingless insects approximately 1/4″ to 3/8″ long (5-9 mm). They are similar in appearance to a wood tick.
- After the bug has taken a blood meal, its color changes from brown to purplish-red, and it becomes larger and more cigar-shaped.
- Young bed bugs resemble the adult in shape but are much smaller, 1/16″ (1.6 mm), when they first hatch. They are nearly colorless except after feeding.
Bed bugs typically group together in out-of-the-way areas, although some bed bugs will live by themselves, away from the rest of an infestation. The best way to check for an infestation is to look for bed bugs where you sleep or rest. The greatest chance of finding bed bugs is while you are traveling. It is a good habit to check your room whenever you stay in a hotel, motel, or similar place.
While bed bugs are most commonly found in bedrooms, infestations can occur in other rooms, including bathrooms, living rooms, and laundry rooms.
People can be bitten without realizing it. Bite reactions vary from no reaction to mild (a red spot) to severe (rash or hives).
If you think there might be bed bugs on your items, seal everything in plastic bags until they can be laundered, washed by hand, heated, or frozen.
- Before leaving the location, sort anything that can be washed and place them in plastic bags.
- Separate the laundry as you would if you were normally laundering items.
- Set the washer and dryer for the hottest setting that the fabric can stand.
- If using a dry-cleaning service, mention that the items may have bed bugs and that they can keep the articles in the plastic bags until just before loading them into the machines.
- Inspect suitcases and other items that cannot be placed into a washing machine and place them into plastic bags if you find bed bugs.
- Suitcases may be hand-washed using soapy water and the hottest water possible.
- A temperature of 100°F to 120°F should be hot enough.
- Use a scrub brush along the seams and folds.
Items that cannot be washed may be heated or frozen.
- A two-hour core exposure at 120°F (45°C) is considered a minimum target temperature for heat treatments.
- For freezing, a minimum of 23°F (-5°C) must be maintained for at least five days.
- The exposure time can be reduced if the articles are flash frozen at a temperature of -15°F (-26°C), which would freeze the eggs instantly.
- Most household freezers will have temperatures between 30°F and 20°F.
- A 2-week freeze time is recommended if you are uncertain of the freezer temperatures.
If you heat or freeze items, these conditions must reach the core of the treated articles.
If you find anything suspicious, be sure to contact the residence life of your college or apartment immediately. To learn more about bed bugs and what you can do to prevent them, you can go to https://extension.umn.edu/biting-insects/bed-bugs#what-you-can-do-yourself-49011.
