Q: "In December, I was bit by bed bugs. I went to inform my landlord, who did not respond. Eventually, after recent bites, I had to report them to the city to have someone come to investigate my home for bed bugs. My home is positive for bed bugs and the exterminators will be coming the week after Spring Break to start the treatment."
A: What Are bed bugs?
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene states:
bedbugs are small insects that feed on human blood during the night. They look brownish red and football-shaped when engorged with blood. Nymphs (babies) have similar heads, mouthparts and bodies as adult bed bugs, but their coloration is very different. They’re tan in color and bodies translucent. When a bed bug molt to adult stage, they are sometimes waxy in appearance and more orange in color. They can live for several months in an apartment without feeding on a host. Most bed bug bites are initially painless, but later turn into large, itchy skin welts. These welts do not have a red spot in the center as do the bites from fleas.
How Do Bedbugs Get In My House?
According to Prep4bedbugs.com:
Bed bugs don’t prefer locations based on sanitation or hygiene. They can be found in the cleanest places, but clutter makes it harder to get rid of them. Bed bugs can be found in hotels, motels, airports and resorts, apartments, barracks, buses, cabins, churches, community centers, cruise ships, homes, hospitals, laundromats, moving vans and trucks, nursing homes, office buildings, restaurants, schools, public transportation, theatres, subway stations, used furniture stores and any other public place.
Bed bugs wander between adjoining apartments through voids in the walls and through holes around shared conduits. Bed bugs are easily carried by humans from place to place because they “hitchhike” on personal belongings such as luggage, furniture and mattresses, sometimes even clothes. Bedbugs do not normally travel on a person’s body;. bed bugs travel on clothing and things such as luggage and furniture we bring into our homes. You may notice itchy skin welts. You may also see the bed bugs themselves, small bloodstains from crushed insects, or dark spots from their droppings. It is often hard to find them because they hide in or near beds, other furniture, and in cracks.
How Do I Stop The Itching And Get Rid Of These Bumps…Do I Need To Go To The Doctor?
According to www.bedbugsguide.com/:
You'll need to get rid of the bed bugs, in the meantime, you should focus on trying to keep from getting bitten and using products that will alleviate the itchy feeling. The redness and itch associated with bedbug bites usually goes away on their own within a week or two. You might speed your recovery by using a skin cream containing hydrocortisone or an oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Most of these anti itch creams are over the counter and ease the itch associated with bedbug bites. One that will help out is called Corticool, which is a cream that relieves itching from insect bites or Benadryl Itch Cream or using calimine lotion will help with it. Of course, that won't stop you from actually being bitten but will help the irritation. If you develop a skin infection from scratching bedbug bites, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic.
Visit
The Mayo Clinic to learn helpful hints to relieve your itch and rash!
Is It My Landlords Responsibility?
If you have a bed bug problem, you should first report it to your landlord or property manager. If they do not assist you, you can call 311 to file a complaint.
According to www.newyorkvsbedbugs.com:
"by the New York State Law in a building of three or more apartments, the landlord is responsible for the eradication of bed bug infestations. Vermin are specifically mentioned in Section 80, which states in part:
Multiple Dwelling Law §§ 78, 80 [NYC]
LL shall keep all and every part of a multiple dwelling (three or more residential units) and the lot it is on in good repair, clean and free from vermin, rodents, dirt, filth, garbage or other matter dangerous to life or health.
Cleanliness. 1. The owner shall keep all and every part of a multiple dwelling, the lot on which it is situated, and the roofs, yards, courts, passages, areas or alleys appurtenant thereto, clean and free from vermin, dirt, filth, garbage or other thing or matter dangerous to life or health.
While the landlord is responsible to keep a living area clean and safe, if the infestation is caused by the tenant’s negligence, then the tenant is also responsible."
What Do I do To Get Rid Of The Bedbugs In My Apartment?
According to NYC Health, “To get rid of bed bugs, you need to choose the right company, be clear about what you want done, and monitor the service you get. All companies are not of equal quality, and are not all well trained in managing bed bugs." Here a some suggested tips to consider when finding a Pest Control Company :
• Ask your neighbors who may have successfully managed bed bugs for a referral.
• Use phone and Web directories to find listings. Some companies may list themselves as bed-bug specialists.
• Look for companies that advertise “integrated pest management” services. They’re more likely to inspect and monitor conditions, and they’ll recognize needed improvements.
• Interview companies before you choose them. Insist on inspecting before quoting a final price and be provided with a written inspection report, along with an action plan Compare prices!
• Use companies that are registered with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and have licensed applicators. You can check for information on the company you want to hire by calling (718) 482-4994 or visiting http://www.dec.ny.gov.
What Can I Do To Keep Them Out?
• Clean bedding, linens, curtains, rugs, carpets, and clothes. To kill bed bugs, wash items in hot water and dry them on the highest dryer setting. Soak delicate clothes in warm water with lots of laundry soap for several hours before rinsing. Wool items, plush toys, shoes, and many other items can be placed into a hot dryer for 30 minutes to get rid of bed bugs.
• Scrub mattress seams with a stiff brush to dislodge bed bugs and their eggs.
• Vacuum mattresses, bed frames, nearby furniture, floors and carpets. Pay special attention to cracks and open spaces. Immediately after vacuuming, put the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed plastic bag, and dispose of it in an outdoor container.
• If you find bed bugs on a mattress, cover it with a waterproof, zippered mattress cover labeled “allergen rated,” or “for dust mites.” Keep the cover on for at least one year.
• If your box spring is infested, seal it inside a vinyl box spring cover for at least one year. If no cover is available, throw the box spring away.
• Dispose of infested items that cannot be cleaned and get rid of clutter. Seal tightly in a plastic garbage bag and discard in an outside container.
• Repair cracks in plaster and repair or remove loose wallpaper. hazardous chemicals throughout your home, and are not likely to be effective against bed bugs.
How Do I keep Bedbugs Out Of My Home?
•Wash clothing and inspect luggage immediately after returning from a trip.
• Inspect used furniture for bed bugs before bringing it into your home.
• Never bring discarded bed frames, mattresses, box springs, or upholstered furniture into your home.
• Never resell or donate infested furniture or clothing.
• If you throw infested furniture away, make it undesirable to others by cutting or poking holes in its upholstery or making it unusable. Tape a sign to it that says, “Infested with Bed Bugs!”
List Of Resources:
M & M Pest Control Inc_
www.mandmpestcontrol.com - (212) 219-8218
Best Price Bed Bug Removal | Bed Bug Removal in New York
www.bedbugsinnewyork.info - (866) 906-8162
All Green Bed Bug Control | Pest Control Service in New York
www.bedbugsinnewyork.info - (866) 579-8191
UMG Pest Control
www.umgpestcontrol.com - (800) 854-5480
Pestrol, Inc.
www.buypestcontrolproducts.com - (866) 692-7378
Bed Bug Finders LLC
www.bedbugfindersllc.com - (866) 984-284
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