Features
Illustration By cilly geranios ’19
Spring cleaning: Bed bugs
By Maddy Maher ’18
April 6, 2017
On Tuesday, April 4, Campus Safety Director Francis Coots introduced himself to Student Assembly with a topic to remember: bed bugs. Coots, as well as Associate Dean of Students for Health and Safety Jeff Landry, informed SA that bed bugs were recently discovered on campus, but that Physical Plant is already on top of the extermination process so there is no need to panic.
One infestation site has already been identified, deep-cleaned and fumigated, and bug-sniffing dogs will scope out the rest of campus over the next few days. Once Physical Plant assesses the situation and determines where the bed bugs are on campus, they will proceed with an external pest control operator and develop room-specific treatment plans for infested areas.
In the meantime, here are a few useful facts and tips on how to stay calm and handle the bed bug breakout.
What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs, or Cimex lectularia, are oval shaped, flat, brown to reddish-brown insects that typically grow to an average of five millimeters in length. While they are difficult to spot, bed bugs produce a distinct odor described by the Environmental Protection Agency as “musty—sweetish” scent. While the Environmental Protection Agency, the Center for Disease Control and the United States Department of Agriculture all classify bed bugs as a public health pest, there is no need to break out the hazmat suits just yet. Bed bugs feed on mammalian and avian blood, and their bites may leave itchy bites that cause skin irritation, but they do not transmit or spread diseases of any kind.
Bed bug misconceptions:
If I get bed bugs, I need to throw away all fabric-based belongings.
Nope! Washing clothes, sheets, and other belongings on high heat settings for 60 minutes can kill both bed bug eggs and full grown insects.
Bed bugs reproduce rapidly.
Unlike most insects, female bed bugs typically only lay one egg per day. Breakouts occur, however, because bed bugs are expert hitchhikers. They easily latch on to clothes, backpacks, and other fabric-based belongings.
Bed bugs live in dirty places.
Bed bugs are not partial to unhygienic locations. They do, however, thrive in cluttered environments where they can stay easily hidden, so take this as an opportunity to do some spring cleaning!
What can we do to wrap up this bed bug fiasco?
While Physical Plant will deal with the bulk of the bed bug extermination, there are still a few things that Hamilton students can do to keep our campus itch-free. If you suspect a bed bug breakout in your room or residence hall, report it to your Residential Advisor and to Physical Plant immediately. If you have bed bug bites, contact the health center for further treatment plans. Most importantly, do not panic! Bed bugs are gross and pesky, but they do not pose any major health and safety risks, and Physical Plant has plans to exterminate them well under way.