Bed bugs are reddish-brown, flat, oval, wingless insects. They give off a musty, sweetish odor. After they eat, they become swollen and dark red. Bed bugs are hardy and can live for up to 18 months without feeding.

Bed bugs feed on the blood of people and animals. Unlike mosquitoes, bed bugs do not transmit diseases to people. They typically live in bedding in homes, and usually bite at night when people are sleeping. They do not have wings and cannot fly, but can be transported by “hitchhiking” on personal belongings. Bed bugs are typically slow moving and prefer to stay close to their meal source (e.g., in a mattress at a home); however, people can unknowingly carry them into an office building.

Prevention and monitoring methods for pests, including bed bugs, typically include:

Reducing clutter in in offices/cubicles that can provide harborage for pests

Using glue board or other traps to monitor for pests

Keeping records for all pest sightings (e.g., date, location)

Identifying all pests by a pest management professional

Inspecting areas where pests are sighted

Physically removing pests through cleaning

For additional information, please review the Massachusetts Bed Bug Protocol here.