Condo Media - November 2012 - 26

PEST MANAGEMENT

by Rich Stevenson

Bed Bug Infestations
A Primer for Association Boards and Owners
ed bugs? Ugh. Ever since the recent outbreak in the U.S., the mere thought of those nasty, parasitic pests can send any condo owner or property manager running for cover. But that’s the last thing you should do when confronted with the problem, because bed bugs are not going anywhere without professional intervention. Proactive steps should be taken to avoid bed bugs in the first place, but if an infestation does occur, it’s best to deal with the situation quickly and aggressively. It doesn’t take long for bed bugs to multiply and establish themselves in previously non-infested dwellings. Once inside condos, cooperatives or homeowner associations, bed bugs are extremely mobile: They can easily travel between shared walls, using cracks in drywall or plaster, and holes for wiring and plumbing to infest adjoining units.

You Found Bed Bugs. Now What?
So what do you do if you find bedbugs — or even suspect them — in your home? First, don’t panic and don’t be embarrassed. The stigma attached to bed bugs is that their presence is related to sub-par housekeeping, but this is absolutely not true. Bed bugs do not discriminate and infestations are not the result of social status or cleanliness. Bed bugs can infest the most pristine, luxurious homes, and even hospitals and fivestar hotels! So don’t let embarrassment keep you from reporting the problem to your association’s property manager, which is the second thing you should do. Failure to alert your manager might endanger the entire building or complex. Third, work with your property manager and a licensed pest management professional (PMP). Eradication of bed bugs is absolutely not a project for amateurs. At the first sign of an issue, many property managers may attempt to correct the situation using do-ityourself (DIY) methods, but in some states it’s illegal for them to apply pesticides (laws vary from state to state). And there have been numerous news reports in recent years

about individuals attempting DIY methods to get rid of bed bugs, resulting in further infestations, injuries, accidents and even destructive fires. The priority of every condo owner and property manager facing bed bugs is to learn the facts about these nocturnal creatures — including information about their identification, signs and habits — and then to seek the help of a PMP to control an infestation if it occurs. Here’s a quick primer on bed bugs.

Bed Bug Identification
Often mistaken for ticks or small cockroaches, adult bed bugs are flat, thin and reddish-brown or mahogany in color. Female bed bugs are roundbodied, while males are more oval in shape. They grow to about a quarterinch long and an eighth-inch wide, about the size of an apple seed.

Bed Bug “Hitchhikers”
Bed bugs do not fly or jump, but can move rapidly over floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces. They are wellknown for their “hitchhiking” tendencies; as they are generally brought into an environment from the outside and may be unknowingly transported and relocated as people travel around, often in personal items carried from home. Bed bugs can easily hitch rides on items such as: • • • • luggage backpacks briefcases clothing

Close-up of bed bugs and blood stains on a mattress.

CONDO MEDIA • NOVEMBER 2012

Condo Media - November 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - November 2012