Myths about Bed Bugs

• Getting rid of the bed will get rid of the bed bugs. This is not the case as bed bugs can also nest in cracks and crevices around the house.


• Leaving the mattress outside for a few days in extreme cold temperatures gets rid of the bed bugs. Bed bugs are extremely resilient and although they will succumb to cold temperatures below 32°F if the freezing temperatures are maintained for several days, in most cases they will not die but instead become dormant.


• Leaving the apartment for a few weeks will starve the bed bugs todeath. Unfortunately nymphs and adults can live for several months without food. The adult's lifespan may encompass 12-18 months


• Bed bugs can jump (like fleas) and even fly. This is false. Bed bugs are crawlers, they can't fly and they don't have wings. This is the reason they hide close to the host.


• Bed bugs can be treated with the same products as cockroaches. As for baits, they are specific for certain pests such as cockroaches and ants, and there are no baits for blood-feeding insects like bed bugs. Moreover, since bed bugs are armor plated, a lot of the pesticides and remedies that work for other insects are not effective for bed bugs.


• Bed bugs are too small to see. Bed bugs can be easily seen with the naked eye. Actually, bed bugs look similar to an apple seed in size and appearance. However they may be difficult to find


• Bed bugs are only found in filthy places. Bed bugs are attracted by exhaled carbon dioxide and body heat, not by dirt, and they feed on blood, not waste. And althought the cleanliness of their environment has an effect on the control of bed bugs, and housekeeping in association with proper preparation and mechanical removal by vacuuming will certainly assist in their control, they can still be found in clean places.