Bed Bug Tips & Information
Top Things to Know About Bed Bugs
- It's not about cleanliness—anyone can get bed bugs.
- Bed bugs are often picked up while traveling (Spring Break, abroad, etc.) from hotels and resorts.
- When entering into a hotel room, check for bed bugs immediately.
- Awareness is key to prevention. Know where to look.
- If you notice signs of bed bugs, contact your housing office:
University Park
Altoona
Beaver
Behrend
Berks
Greater Allegheny
Harrisburg
Hazleton
Mont Alto
What are bed bugs?
Are bed bugs harmful?
How do I prevent bed bugs?
Where do I look for signs of bed bugs?
What do I do if I find bed bugs?
What should I not do if I have bed bugs in my room?
How does Housing handle an infestation?
Who should I contact if I have an infestation?
What are bed bugs?
- Bed bugs are small wingless insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts.
- Similar to a mosquito, bed bugs bite and suck blood.
- They are oval and flat and range from 1/16 to 1/8 inches long.
- Bed bugs are hard to see, but the signs they leave behind are easier to spot when looking for them.
- Bed bugs are "hitchhikers" and are often picked up while traveling (Spring Break, abroad, etc.) from hotels and resorts in luggage and laundry.
Are bed bugs harmful?
- Bed bug bites consist of a raised red bump or flat welt, and are often accompanied by intense itching similar to mosquito bites.
- They are not known to spread disease.
- Except for allergic reactions, there are no health implications.
How do I prevent bed bugs?
- Bed bugs are "hitchhikers" and are often picked up while visiting another student’s room or when traveling so always be on the look out for bed bug signs when visting or traveling.
- Bed bugs can be carried from one area to the other on or in your clothing, luggage, and other belongings.
Where do I look for signs of bed bugs?
- Check bed seams, frames, and the area around the bed.
- Bed bugs leave dark red spots in mattresses and can hide out in tight crevices in dressers, bed frames, and floorboards.
- It's important to check first and avoid infested rooms completely.
What do I do if I find bed bugs?
- Bed bugs are very disruptive to a students schedule and they are very hard to irradicate so the best stategy is to exercise care to not bring bed bugs back to your room.
- Contact your Housing Office:
University Park
Altoona
Beaver
Behrend
Berks
Greater Allegheny
Harrisburg
Hazleton
Mont Alto - It's important to take care of the problem before the infestation gets worse and/or spreads. The process to eliminate bed bugs is lengthy and needs your full cooperation to properly exterminate the bugs.
- Wash your clothes in hot water or place them in a bag in a freezer.
- Bed bugs can be killed by heat over 111 degrees and cold below 32 degrees.
What should I not do if I have bed bugs in my room?
- Do not try to get rid of the bed bugs yourself. It takes a long process to get rid of the infestation.
- Do not immediately throw away belongings. Furniture, clothes, and other belongings can be treated. (However, mattresses are often discarded)
How does Housing handle an infestation?
- Once bed bugs are located in a residence hall room the room and all the belongings in it are quarantined.
- Student occupants are asked to provide a set of clothing that the Housing staff can treat through a 30 minute high heat process.
- While the set of clothing is being treated the students are asked to thoroughly shower. The heat treated clothing is then given to the students after they have showered.
- A local pest control company inspect all belongs in the room and treats as necessary.
- The remainder of the student's clothes are transported in plastic bags and are heat treated in clothing driers for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Mattresses are treated or discarded.
- Students are relocated to another living space anywhere from 3 to 24 days while the room is being treated numerous times and reinspected.
- Exterminators use insecticides and a combination of heat and cryogenic treatments as appropriate.
Who should I contact if I have an infestation?
- Contact your Housing Office:
University Park
Altoona
Beaver
Behrend
Berks
Greater Allegheny
Harrisburg
Hazleton
Mont Alto
