BEd BUGS

Bed bugs are oval, flat, and about 4–6 mm long. They are reddish-brown, but after feeding turn darker and plumper. Their eggs are tiny, white, and sticky, while nymphs are translucent before taking on a more orange-red hue. Though small, their presence becomes noticeable through bite marks, blood spots on sheets, or shed skins.

Bed bugs prefer to stay close to their food source, you. They typically feed at night and hide during the day in cracks, crevices, and seams of mattresses or furniture. While they don’t feed daily, they can survive for months without a meal, making them incredibly persistent.

In New York City and Westchester, bed bugs thrive in nearly every type of living space. They are commonly found in apartments and multi-family buildings, where shared walls and frequent movement of tenants allow infestations to spread quickly. Hotels, motels, and college dorms are also prime environments since bed bugs can easily hitch a ride on luggage or personal belongings. Even single-family houses are not immune, especially when second-hand furniture or frequent visitors bring them in. Beyond homes, bed bugs have been discovered in schools, hospitals, and even on public transportation. Their ability to travel unnoticed on clothing, furniture, and bags is what makes them such a persistent problem across neighborhoods and communities.

A female bed bug lays several eggs per week, which hatch in under two weeks. Nymphs begin feeding immediately and go through several stages before becoming adults. Adults can live for over a year, and in that time, multiple generations can be produced. This cycle is what makes early detection and treatment so important.

One of the first signs of a bed bug problem is the appearance of small, red, itchy bite marks on exposed areas of skin such as the arms, legs, or neck. Infestations often leave behind blood stains or dark spots on bedding and mattresses, which are caused by crushed bugs or their droppings. Another telltale indicator is a musty, sweet odor that lingers near their hiding areas. As bed bugs grow, they also shed their exoskeletons, leaving behind translucent shells that can often be found around mattress seams, baseboards, or furniture crevices.

Bed bugs don’t spread diseases like mosquitoes, but their bites can lead to allergic reactions, secondary skin infections from scratching, and significant stress or anxiety. Infestations can also make it difficult to sleep, affecting quality of life.

Preventing bed bugs starts with awareness and regular inspection. Bedding, mattresses, and furniture should be checked often, especially after traveling or moving into a new space. Used mattresses or second-hand furniture should never be brought inside without a thorough inspection, as they are a common source of infestations. When staying in hotels, it’s best to keep luggage off the bed and wash clothes in hot water after returning home to avoid bringing pests back with you. Sealing cracks, crevices, and baseboards around the home also helps reduce potential hiding places, making it harder for bed bugs to settle in.