Bedbugs are making a comeback after being nearly eradicated by the pesticide DDT back in the 1950s. If you're afraid that your house may host the next big bedbug convention, this quiz will help you separate the hype from the facts when it comes to these blood-sucking little pests.
Do bedbugs only hang out in the bedroom?
Yes. Bedbugs need to find warm, sleeping hosts, so the bedroom is ground zero.
No. Bedbugs will nest in any warm, dry location.
No. Bedbugs nest in indoor areas where people spend a lot of time.
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Wrong Answer
Bedbugs can nest anywhere you spend a lot of time. If that's in your favorite recliner, bedbugs may shelter there. Although they can travel up to 100 feet a night, they like to stay within 8 feet of their favorite meal -- you.
Can bedbugs infest places like department store dressing rooms and movie theaters?
Yes, but it's uncommon.
Yes. Bedbugs hitchhike on clothing and other objects, establishing communities as they go .
No. Infestations outside of areas where people sleep are an urban myth.
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Bedbugs hitchhike from place to place on clothing and objects like luggage. Once relocated, they can hang out in carpeting, upholstery, drapes and other clothing or furnishings waiting for a free ride to your house.
Experts aren't sure, but it's probably a combination of factors.
The best pesticide to kill bedbugs, DDT, was banned in the early 1970s.
Hot summers and mild winters are a perfect breeding environment for them.
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The experts aren't sure, but it's probably a combination of factors. Changes in the way pesticides are used (baiting instead of widespread spraying), increased international travel and a lack of awareness about bedbugs as pests can all contribute to the growing problem.
Bedbugs are a variety of blood-sucking external parasite that nests near their hosts. Because they're small and relatively flat, they can conceal themselves very effectively in mattress seams, behind headboards, in baseboard cracks, in and under carpeting and behind wallpaper.
What are some of the physical signs that you have a bedbug infestation?
brownish dust near beds and small webs behind baseboards
tiny holes in cotton fabric, red streaks on sheets and a sour odor
reddish spots on bedding and a sweet, musty odor
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There's a good chance you have bedbugs if you see reddish spots on your mattress or bedding and can smell a sweet, musty odor. Another indicator is the presence of discarded bedbug exoskeletons that look like desicated bugs.
