Associate Dean of Students and Director of Campus Life Jed Wartman and Director of the Physical Plant Department (PPD) Patricia Murphy sent out an email to students over the weekend announcing the resurgence of the bed bugs on the Hill. This is the second time that the College has received reports of bed bugs. 

PPD received a work order regarding the bed bugs on Friday, March 4 and conducted an inspection confirming the existence of bed bugs that day. 

The affected room is in Leonard Residence Hall, one of the Hillside residences. The College is once again working with Modern Pest Control to exterminate the bugs, using the same heat treatment that was used during the first incident in Heights Residence Hall last semester. Heat treatment is the “best option available for eradicating bed bugs,” Murphy said. Modern Pest Control conducted the treatment on Saturday, March 5. 

Additionally, on Monday, March 7, both visual and canine inspections were conducted in the affected room and other rooms where the students had recently spent significant amounts of time. All reports of the inspection were negative for any further existence of bed bugs. 

There is no evidence that bed bugs carry disease, according to a bed bug fact sheet compiled by Modern Pest Control and posted on the PPD’s branch of the College’s website. Bed bugs are reddish-brown or mahogany in color and can grow to be the size of an apple seed, according to the fact sheet. They cannot fly, but can move rapidly across surfaces. Bed bugs primarily feed off of human blood, and will prey on any skin exposed while sleeping. Their saliva contains a chemical that prevents humans from feeling them bite, and they usually feed for three to 10 minutes, consuming up to three times their body weight in one feeding. Bed bugs do not have nests and may leave dark spots and stains on sheets. Bites may not show up for three to 15 days, and appear as red, itchy spots and or localized swelling. 

Students who believe they may have a bed bug infestation in their room should contact PPD immediately at ext. 5000.