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Peyton Brookes is a workforce development expert and has written professionally about technology, education and science since 2009. She spent several years developing technology and finance courses for social programs in the Washington, D.C. area. She studied computer and information science at the University of Maryland College Park.

Cimex lectularius, or the common bed bugs, feed on the blood of mammals and are adapted to living with humans, according to the University of Kentucky. These pesky insects are the source of physical discomfort, restless nights and can become a financial burden. They appear in a number of places, including hotels, college dorms and the average home or rental property despite cleanliness. California enforces an "implied warranty of habitability," which addresses residential vermin.

Bed bugs have a knack for tucking their brownish, flat, oval-shaped bodies into the most obscure places and are often mistaken for ticks. Their size and ability to successfully hide contribute to the difficulty in controlling them. Signs of bed bugs include dried excrement that appears as a reddish or brown stain on mattresses and box springs and blood smears on bed sheets according to the University of Kentucky. A moderate to heavy infestation encourages them to spread out at which time they can be found anywhere in the home. These small insects hide during the day and feed on their hosts at night. Itchy welts, bumps or bites that appear after sleeping are a sign of an infestation. Though they may not transfer disease and the physical effect is minimal, bed bugs can cause insomnia due to the fear of being bitten at night.

The eradication of bed bugs requires diligence, persistence and patience. It may also require a large sum of money. A typical family may spend up to $5,000 on inspections, storage fees and exterminators, and owners of large rental properties can spend up to $80,000 according to "The New York Times." As a result, tenants and landlords may tussle over the responsibility for the appearance of the bugs. This is where California's "implied warranty of habitability" addresses the very basic requirements for a suitable resolution.

The California Supreme Court case Green v. Superior Court set the standard for California's habitability law. Under this law, a unit must provide "clean and sanitary buildings, grounds, and appurtenances (for example, a garden or a detached garage), free from debris, filth, rubbish, garbage, rodents, and vermin," states the California Department of Consumer Affairs. The "implied warranty of habitability," established in the case makes a landlord responsible for the repair of serious defects that affect habitability. Tenants who suspect bed bugs or other vermin have legal rights and must complete a process to resolve the issue.

In California, tenants have the right to live in a habitable unit, but they must meet their own responsibilities. Keeping the unit clean and free from debris are important even though bed bugs appear in the cleanest of homes. Under California Civil Code Section 1942, tenants can repair and deduct from the rent. In order to repair and deduct, the tenant must notify the landlord in writing of the issue, wait a reasonable period and hire a qualified professional. The reasonable period is 30 days unless the issue is severe. The total expenditure cannot exceed one month's rent, however the option is available twice in a 12-month period. Essentially, the tenant can repair and deduct up to two months of rent in a 12-month period.

Tenants also can move out of the unit immediately without notice. The tenant should still request the landlord eradicate the insects immediately, take pictures of the infestation, provide a letter stating they are vacating under Civil Code Section 1942 and request a final walkthrough. Prior to immediately vacating, consulting an attorney can provide valuable insight into the results of a possible legal battle for property abandonment.

California's Bed Bug Laws and Tenant Rights. Cimex lectularius, or the common bed bugs, feed on the blood of mammals and are...

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California's Bed Bug Laws and Tenant Rights | eHow

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california — Got bed bugs? Bedbugger.com

UC IPM Home > Homes, Gardens, Landscapes, and Turf > Bed Bug

Bed bugs adults and nymphs. Scale bar represents 5 millimeters.

Bed bug eggs on paper. Eyespots are visible as red dots on the developing bed bug embryos.

Life stages of a bed bug. The five nymphal stages each require a blood meal before molting to the next stage. The increments on the ruler are millimeters.

Bed bug bites cause swellings that become red and irritated when scratched. Some people, however, exhibit no visible symptoms after being bitten.

Fecal spots of bed bugs. Eggs and cast skin (exuviae) are visible in the upper left-hand corner.

Bed bugs are blood-sucking insects in the family Cimicidae. Both nymphs and adults feed on sleeping or sedentary humans, mostly at night, a time when this pests stealthy habits are difficult to observe.

Bed bugs are found worldwide in association with human habitations. The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is a widely distributed species most frequently found in the northern temperate climates of North America, Europe, and Central Asia. It occurs more sporadically in southern temperate regions. In tropical regions C. hemipterus, the tropical bed bug, is the dominant species. The most common species found in California is C. lectularius.

The growth and development of C. lectularius is optimal when it feeds on humans; however, this insect also feeds on other species of mammals and on birds found near the home including chickens, mice, rats, and rabbits. Bat bugs and swallow bugs, close relatives of bed bugs, may also be found in and around human dwellings and may sometimes bite humans, although their preferred hosts are bats and birds, respectively.

Until recently, bed bug infestations were thought to be associated primarily with crowded and dilapidated housing. However, bed bugs have undergone a resurgence in pest status and can now be found even in the finest hotel and living accommodations. The reasons for this resurgence arent totally understood but appear to involve increased global travel and commerce, ease of movement of infested items, widespread insecticide resistance, and changes in pesticides available to control this pest.

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Bed Bug Management Guidelines--UC IPM - Home Page - UC ...

Bedbug facts Bedbugs are small, oval insects that feed by sucking blood from humans or animals. Bedbugs do not fly. Bedbugs can live anywhere in the home. They can live in cracks in furniture or in any type of textile, including upholstered furniture. They are most common in beds, including the mattress, box springs, and bed frames. Bedbugs are most active at night. They may bite any exposed areas of skin while an individual is sleeping. Common locations for bedbug bites are the face, neck, hands, and arms. A bedbug bite is painless and is generally not noticed. The bites may be mistaken for a rash of another cause. Small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin are the most common sign. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and itching. Typically, no treatment is required for bedbug bites. If itching is severe, steroid creams or oral antihistamines may be used for symptom relief. Fecal stains, egg cases, and shed skins (exuviae) of bedbugs in crevices and cracks on or near beds are suggestive that bedbugs may be present, but only observing the bugs themselves can confirm an active infestation. A professional pest-control company may be required to help identify and remove bedbugs from the home. What are bedbugs? What do bedbugs look like?

Bedbugs are small, oval non-flying insects that belong to the insect family Cimicidae, which includes three species that bite people. Adult bedbugs reach 5 mm-7 mm in length, while nymphs (juveniles) are as small as 1.5 mm. Bedbugs have flat bodies and may sometimes be mistaken for ticks or small cockroaches. Bedbugs feed by sucking blood from humans or animals. Adult bedbugs are reddish brown in color, appearing more reddish after feeding on a blood meal. Nymphs are clear in color and appear bright red after feeding. The wings of bedbugs are vestigial, so they cannot fly. However, they are able to crawl rapidly. Temperatures between 70 F-80 F are most favorable for bedbugs, allowing them to develop into adults most rapidly and produce up to three generations per year.

Reviewed by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR on 6/21/2013

Bed Bugs - Initial Symptoms Question: What were your initial symptoms for bed bugs?

Bed Bugs - Treatments Question: Were you able to effectively treat and rid your home of bed bugs?

Bed Bugs - In Hotels Question: Please describe your experience with bed bugs.

Bed Bugs - Prevention Question: How have you prevented bed bugs from recurring in your home?

Bed Bugs - Identification Question: Have you seen actual bed bugs? If so, please describe them, along with your experience at home or at a hotel.

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Bed Bugs Bites, Signs, in Hotels, Treatment, Symptoms ...

While the American press has largely focused on beg bug outbreaks along the Eastern Seaboard, the bugs remain an annoyance for residents of less temperate states such as California and Florida. Due to its large economy, the states significant population, and the presence of several of the countrys largest metropolitan areas, California is a major source of bed bug problems in the USA.

The Golden State is home to three of the countrys largest city areas the Los Angeles Area, the San Diego Area, and the San Francisco Bay Area. With high population densities and a significant dense real estate presence, the cities can be breeding grounds for insects, household pests, and annoyances such as bed bugs, mosquitoes, and small rats and rodents.

Its a problem that isnt helped by the states fairly warm temperature. South California is one of the nations high-risk zones for pest development, owing to its comfortable year-round temperature and its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The states northern regions are also at risk, although low levels of humidity and a lack of suitable natural space has prevented bed bugs from becoming an issue.

But despite its pest-friendly climate and high-density housing presence, Californias major cities have yet to experience a bed bug outbreak on the scale of those seen in New York City. While the pests are an issue in dense residential communities, the states relative lack of high-rise buildings and ultra-dense housing has made the spread of such

How are bed bugs spreading throughout California?

Due to its variable climate, California is home to two major species of bed bug the more common Cimex lectularius and the warmth-seeking Cimex hemipterus. Both strains are attracted to the warm environments offered in the state, with major apartment buildings and city homes offering a buffet of sites for feeding, living, and comfortable reproduction.

The nations bed bug capital New York City has experienced significant spreads of bed bugs from one major housing building to another. Due to Californias less dense city spaces, the bugs tend to spread through shared clothing and on public transportation. In dense areas such as inner San Francisco, the bugs can easily spread due to close proximity residential and office buildings.

Hotels, particularly low-end hotels with a less dedicated cleaning presence, are major sources of the bugs. Guests can catch the bugs by sleeping in an unclean bed, which can often house millions of the irritating mites at once. Hotels housing bed bug infestations are required by law in most parts of California to alert authorities and use qualified extermination services, although not all do.

How can you prevent the spread of bed bugs in California? Start by researching any potential hotels and accommodation options online before making a booking. Hotels that fail to clean their rooms of bed bugs and other mites often receive negative feedback online. If you run into one, take note of it and search for an alternative place to stay while on vacation or a short weekend break.

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Bed Bugs California - Bed Bug.org