They crawl around at night, seeking warm blood to fill their hungry bodies. Once they find a host, they take a bite and feast on the red liquid. Within just a few minutes their bellies grow full. The bed bugs are satisfied.
Bed bugs, the nighttime critters that are usually only discovered after people find traces of their bite marks, have recently made their way back to Chicago. At least 24 incidents of bed bugs have been reported in the Rogers Park and Edgewater neighborhoods within the past six months.
Brian Johnson, associate director of Residence Life, said Loyola has had problems with bed bugs in the past, most recently this January.
"Whenever we have a suspected bed bug problem, we immediately call in the extermination company that works with the institution," Johnson said. "The company will set traps, inspect the apartment and determine what the problem is."
If bed bugs are found in an apartment on campus, Johnson said that students are relocated and are not permitted to bring anything out of the room in order to prevent the highly transmittable bugs from spreading. Along with professionally cleaning the students' belongings, "the room is sprayed a minimum of three times over a two week period. Furniture is discarded, mattresses are discarded and the carpet is steam cleaned throughout the apartment," Johnson said.
Contrary to popular belief, Edgewater's Director of Housing and USGA president Dan Kleinman said, "Bed bugs don't just live in your bed … during the day they hide in dark crevices, such as cracks in walls, under and inside furniture, even in your dresser drawers."
Sophomore Jeffrey LeFevre said he was not aware that bed bugs were back in Chicago. "That's one more thing I don't have time to worry about," LeFevre said. Junior Brenden Wenberg also did not know about the creatures' recent return and said, "It's scary. I don't want to wake up itchy in the morning."
The City of Chicago Department of Public Health states on its Web site that bed bugs are nocturnal creatures that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Though their bites often cause itching, swelling and redness, bed bugs do not carry or transmit diseases and are generally harmless.
If you or someone you know suspects a bed bug problem, it is best to call professional exterminators as soon as possible. In order to prevent the spread of bed bugs, Johnson said it is especially important to not only keep your room clean and keep clothing off the floor, but also to make sure buildings you are visiting are free of the bugs.
"I highly recommend that students be very cautious when visiting off-campus buildings in the city," Johnson said. "Make sure the people you are visiting have not had any problems or experienced any bug bites."
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