Bed bugs

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How to Make a Bed Bug Interceptor Trap out of Common Household Items

Benjamin A. Hottel, Rebecca W. Baldwin, Roberto M. Pereira, and Philip G. Koehler

Bed bugs have become an increasingly common pest problem throughout the United States. To discover whether bed bugs are present in a room or a piece of furniture, you can make interceptor traps out of commonly found household items and disposable plastic containers.

Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius Linneaus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Shawn E. Brooks

This document provides a comprehensive profile of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius, detailing its biology, distribution, and management. Bed bugs are blood-feeding parasites found in human dwellings, bird nests, and bat caves. They are active mainly at night and can be transported via clothing and luggage. The document covers identification features, life cycle, and signs of infestation. Management strategies include sanitation, mechanical methods, and cautious use of pesticides. Despite their potential to carry diseases, bed bugs have not been implicated in disease transmission to humans. Published: June 2000.

What Not To Do for Bed Bugs/Qué No Hacer contra las Chinches

Faith M. Oi, Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman, Eddie Connor, Marty Overline, Brian Taggart, and Louis Witherington

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for General Public audience(s). in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Health and Wellness

Bed Bugs and Blood-Sucking Conenose

P. G. Koehler, R. M. Pereira, M. P. Lehnert, and J. Hertz

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for General Public audience(s).

Pests in the Home Series: Bed Bugs

Lisa Hamilton, Katherine Allen, LuAnn Duncan, Nelly Nelson, Karen Stauderman, and Faith M. Oi

Bed bugs are wingless, blood-feeding insects. Adults are about 3/16 inch long, broadly flat, and oval with brownish color that can change to reddish-brown after feeding. They generally feed on people at night while they sleep, taking 3 to 10 minutes to feed and returning for more every seven to 10 days. Bites can itch but clear up within two to three weeks. Bed bugs infestations are preventable and controllable. While bed bugs do bite people and feed on blood, they are not known to transmit pathogens that can cause diseases in humans. This publication is intended to answer commonly asked questions about bed bugs.