Bed Bug IPM (2024)

What if you find Bed Bugs?

• Notify Facilities and Services if in University Housing (217.333.3450) or your landlord immediately. The longer one waits to take action the worse the situation may get, including spreading the infestation to your neighbors.

What happens at University Housing?

• University personnel will employ an integrated pest management (IPM) approach when monitoring, inspecting and treating for bed bugs.
• Special attention will be given to residence halls and public spaces (lecture areas, classrooms, and office space) with the greatest potential of student, staff, and faculty contact.
• Passive monitors will be placed in strategic locations and monitored for activity on a routine basis.
• Typical signs of infestation are defined as live or dead specimens, fecal matter, shed exoskeletons, eggs, or a musty sweet odor.
• During periodic inspections if signs of bed bug activity are determined, the following protocol will take effect:
• University personnel will communicate with all responsible groups affected by the infestation.
• Immediately quarantine the area where significant evidence is discovered, including surrounding areas needed for treatment. If bed bug signs are discovered in one area of an office, classroom, or dorm room; the entire area may be quarantined to facilitate treatment and to prevent spread of the pests.
• Quarantine will typically last from 7-21 days and may be extended if initial control treatments fail. The quarantine period length is determined by room temperature and its affect on the bed bug’s gestation cycle. (25ºC = 7 days, 18ºC = 21 days).
• During the quarantine period, inspections will continue, 2-3 pesticide applications or heat treatments may be used and both passive and active monitoring will occur.
• At the end of the quarantine period, a final inspection will determine if complete control has been established.
• University personnel will resume passive monitoring of the area.

For Non University Housing:

After notifying your landlord, preliminary steps can be taken to remove bed bug infestations from personal items and living areas while waiting for pest management professional intervention.

1. If you have a vacuum cleaner, vacuum up the bed bugs you find and dispose of the contents immediately. Wash any bristles and nozzles used with hot water and soap. If the vacuum is not cleaned immediately the vacuum could become infested with bed bugs too.
2. Eggs are difficult to vacuum up, because they are usually cemented to the surface they are laid on. Eggs can be killed with alcohol wipes.
3. Put all clothing in tightly sealed garbage bags. Miscellaneous items can also be placed in tightly sealed garbage bags. Placing clothing, bed sheets and other items, such as shoes, in a drier on high heat for at least 15 minutes will kill all of the bed bugs.
1. Clothes and other items should be kept in some sort of sealed container (such as garbage bags or sealed plastic containers) after being cleaned so that they do not become re-infested with bed bugs.

• If you throw anything out, bag the item and label it "bed bug infested" so no one else brings the items into their homes. Bed bug infested furniture that is thrown out should be slashed with a razor blade or broken so that no one else takes it.
• Bed bugs are very difficult to get rid of on your own; a trained pest control professional experienced in bed bug elimination will be most likely required to eradicate an infestation.
• With the full cooperation between the resident, the landlord, and the pest control professional bed bug infestation can be brought under control.