The Environmental Health Department offers Nashua residents guidance on how to deal with bedbugs. If you have a concern about bedbugs, please take the time to educate yourself before you make any decision about furniture disposal or pesticide usage.
Bed Bug Basics
Bed bugs are small wingless insects that do not fly
They depend upon blood from animal hosts as their sole source of food. (Feed ~every 5-10 days)
They are flat, oval shaped, and a mahogany color as an adult
They can wedge themselves into any crack or crevice
They are most often nocturnal, but will come out in the day if an area is dark and they sense food is near
Most people are not awakened by bed bugs while being bitten.
Not everyone will show signs of being bitten
Adults have been shown to live over a year with no blood meal
They can survive sustained heat and cold if given time to adjust
Not considered a filth pest.
No “grooming behavior” meaning ingestible insecticides do not work
Females typically lay about 5-7 eggs a week/500 eggs in lifetime
While some pathogens have been found in the gut of bed bugs, they have not been shown to transmit diseases to humans
Guide to Controlling Bed Bugs in Your Home
Bed Bug Brochure (English) Bed Bug Brochure (Spanish)
Code Enforcement Bed Bug Law Brochure
Resources
EPA CDCBed Bug CentralHome Visitor Safety Bed Bugs in Public Places
Bed Bugs in Shelters and Group Homes Call 603-589-4530 for specific information or insect identification.