COMMON NAMES:  Bed Bug

SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae, Cimex lectularius

SIZE:  ¼ “

IDENTIFICATION:  Nymphs are nearly invisible but after biting a person and gorging on blood they turn a deep, mahogany red and swell to double the size of a ladybug.  They drop sickly sweet smelling blood-infused feces all over the bed.  Infestations can be detected by welts and irritation caused by bites, fecal smears and blood spots on the pillow cases, sheets and mattresses.

BIOLOGY:  Eggs are laid in cracks and crevices.  They are long, white and have a distinctive cap on one end.  Nymphs hatch in 6 – 17 days, molt 5 times and become adults in a minimum of one month but usually longer.

HABITAT:  Cracks in furniture, baseboards, loose edges of wallpaper, crevices and other protected areas.

FEEDING HABITS:  Bed bugs feed on humans, mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, horses, cattle and poultry.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE:  The medical significance is primarily limited to itching and inflammation from the bites. 

NATURAL CONTROL:  Thorough, regular and non-toxic cleaning.

ORGANIC CONTROL:  Treat all cracks, crevices, seams of bed springs, mattresses, door casings, back of pictures, electrical switch plates and furniture upholstery with orange oil products, plant oil products and natural diatomaceous earth. 

INSIGHT:  These guys are a food source for the Kissing Bugs which are much more dangerous to people. 

Question: I have bedbugs that I suspect came from an antique bed. It has plenty of places where bugs can hide.I read about bedbugs, and it appears that they are similar to fleas in that they can live for up to a year without food (blood). I tried treating the bed and all the areas around it with d-limonene and boric acid, but I do not know how much to use. It does not seem to be working. S.C., Irving

Answer: Using a capful of a high-quality d-limonene product per washer load should clean the bedding without harming the fabric.