In spite of our best efforts, bugs sometimes enter the living areas of our buildings. While most are harmless, some can do harm. Therefore, University Housing has created this bug identification & information page to assist you in identifying which insect you’ve found so we know how best to proceed. In some cases, multiple bug types look incredibly similar but treatments for each very greatly (ex. Cockroach vs. box elder bug). In other cases, the type of bug you see may not have a chemical treatment available. For these types, we have included home remedies that you can try.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs have become more common in the United States and worldwide over the last few years. University Housing takes several precautions to ensure our facilities are free of these pests. Every summer each mattress is inspected for bed bugs. However, there is always a chance that bed bugs will find their way into our buildings by hitching a ride on luggage, clothing, bedding or furniture. If bed bugs are detected in any University Housing room, our staff will respond immediately, and coordinate response with our pest control company. In addition to professional pest control, University Housing has procedures in place to ensure the situation can be controlled and handled. If bed bugs are found in personal furniture, University Housing may require cleaning or disposal of the affected furniture.
What to do
If you suspect that there are bed bugs in your room, call your Service Desk immediately.
Service Desk Contacts
If you have any questions regarding bed bugs, please contact Oscar Gonzalez, Custodial Supervisor for University Housing at gonzaleo@uwm.edu.
Bed Bug Prevention
Check out this resource from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities: http://www.bedbugs.umn.edu/sites/bedbugs.umn.edu/files/y2014m05d23_preventing_bed_bugs_from_entering_your_home.pdf.
Bed Bug Symptoms
Do you think your room might have bed bugs? Here’s how you can find out.
- Check the mattress – bed bugs leave blood marks, dark fecal spots, eggs, and egg shell casings in the mattress, particularly on the seams
- Bites on your body – bed bugs leave small bite marks, usually in a tight lines of multiple bites. They may itch, and look like other insect bites.
If you think there are bed bugs in your room, call your Service Desk immediately.
Bed Bug Treatment
University Housing will:
- Arrange for treatment from a pest control company
- Provide heavy-duty bags for bedding and clothing (which should be washed immediately by the student)
- Extract carpeting (when applicable)
- Replace the mattress (if necessary)
- Schedule follow-up service for all infested rooms for one week after treatment
The resident should:
- Strip all beds down to the bare sleeping surface (remove mattress pad, sheets and blankets)
- Place bedding, and any infested clothing, in heavy-duty bags (provided by University Housing)
- Launder all items in bags immediately! Wash and dry on hottest heat setting.
- Launder infested items separately from other laundry.
- Bag and launder all clothing. University Housing will provide laundry card and detergent for these purposes.
- Move objects away from walls, closets and from under beds.
- If the room needs to be treated, staff need to be able to get to the base boards around the entire room. No items should be on the floor (rugs, clothes, trash).
- Empty nightstands and dressers so they can be treated.
Reminder – Bed bugs do not transmit diseases. However, their bites can cause itchy welts and skin irritation.