Indianapolis has a bed bug problem. Here's what you can do to keep them out of your home

Bed bugs are active year-round, but the summer and fall months bring ample opportunity for the tiny pests to hitch rides on vacation luggage as people move across the country via airports and visit hotels and Airbnbs.

While there is no official bed bug season, August through October often see an uptick in infestations as those summer tagalongs find new homes and head off to dorm rooms alongside college students.

Indianapolis is not unfamiliar with this problem. The city has repeatedly earned the dubious honor of being named one of the worst in the country for bed bugs. Orkin’s Bed Bug Cities List for 2023 ranks Indianapolis at No. 7, a slight improvement from last year's ranking at No. 6. The list is based on data from metro areas where Orkin performed bed bug treatments between Dec. 1, 2021, and Nov. 30, 2022. It includes residential and commercial eradication.

The top 10 cities for bed bugs, according to Orkin are: 

1. Chicago
2. New York (+1)
3. Philadelphia (-1)
4. Cleveland-Akron, OH (+4)
5. Los Angeles (+7)
6. Detroit (-2)
7. Indianapolis (-1)
8. Baltimore (-3)
9. Washington D.C. (-2)
10. Columbus, OH (-1)

That tiny sound you're hearing? It's the smug applause of a billion insects. Read on and learn how to silence them.

What do bed bugs look like?

Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed. They're small, measuring roughly 1-7mm with a flat oval body, dark protruding eyes, and they have short antennae. Adults are reddish brown in color after feeding on blood. The young are whitish-yellow and closer in size to a poppy seed — and while science hasn't confirmed it yet, they probably enjoy listening to all the music you think is garbage.

How to tell if you've been bitten by bed bugs.

Like a mosquito bite, bed bugs leave itchy, red swollen marks on the skin that could take upwards of a day or more to break out. That's because they inject an anesthetic and an anticoagulant to prevent people from knowing they're being nibbled on.

Bed bugs will bite the arms, back, neck, face and any exposed body parts of people while they sleep. Feeding can take anywhere from 3-12 minutes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and the bites are often grouped closely together, sometimes in lines or even zig-zag patterns.

Bites from bed bugs can affect people in different ways. A lucky few might show no physical symptoms at all while some people might experience serious allergic reactions. To rule out other household pests, check for signs of a bed bug infestation.

What are signs you have bed bugs?

Most people don't realize they've got a bed bug problem until their skin breaks out in itchy red welts. These bite marks can take anywhere from 14 days to appear, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who recommend you check your bed sheets or mattress for the following signs:

• Dark spots (about this size: •), which are blood-filled fecal matter excreted by bed bugs (gross).
• Pale yellow exoskeletons, which look like tiny eggshells that baby bed bugs shed as they molt.
• A musty, sweet odor that bed bugs produce through glands on their lower body.
• Blood stains where bed bugs have been accidentally crushed (sorry, not sorry).
• Live bed bugs in the seams, piping and folds of your mattress.

Do bed bugs spread disease?

These insects can be terribly annoying but they're not known to spread disease, according to the CDC, even after feeding on multiple hosts. However, the itchy welts might leave you scratching a lot, which could lead to a secondary skin infection.

How did bed bugs get into my home?

Bed bugs are resilient little jerks who play the world's worst game of hide-and-seek. To begin, they're small and sometimes difficult to spot. They cling to luggage, gym and travel bags, furniture, bedding and clothing. They can be found across the globe, from cost-friendly motels to fancy five-star resorts, moving from place to place, infecting each location where they often hitch a ride into your home.

While bed bugs feed every 5-10 days, they can survive several months to a year without consuming blood.

How can I prevent bed bugs?

A bed bug infestation can happen no matter the season, according to American Pest Solutions, who offer these tips for preventing their spread:

• Staying at a hotel? Bed bugs are attracted to soiled clothing (anything you've worn). Don't leave your clothing on the floor or draped over furniture. Pack a plastic bag that you can use to seal and store soiled laundry.
• Bed bugs will lay eggs in dirty clothing, so wash and dry your laundry on the hottest temperature setting when returning from a trip. Wash your kids' things after they return from a sleepover.
• Inspect your bedding and luggage carefully if you've been traveling. Look for signs of bed bugs, such as tiny white eggs (bed bug nymphs), black stains, black droppings, brown or red blood stains, and insect skins. If you see signs of bed bugs on items that can't be washed, keep those items outside of your home until they can be treated.
• Remember this before your next yard sale trip: Bed bugs can hide in furniture. If you see a mattress at a garage sale or an abandoned couch on the side of the road, know that bed bugs could be hiding inside of it. At the very least, do a detailed inspection for signs of bed bugs listed above.
• Inspect your hotel mattress for bed bugs and check the baseboards, electronics and upholstered furniture. Bed bugs can get into walls and hide behind electrical outlets. While doing your inspection, leave your bags on the tiled floor in the bathroom.

Other tips you can follow at home include:

• Use a strong, light-colored protective cover on your bed that encases both your mattress and box spring.
• Vacuum frequently.
• Reduce clutter in your home where bed bugs can hide.

How to get rid of bed bugs.

We know you don't want to hear this, but getting rid of bed bugs can take weeks, sometimes months. These insects multiply quickly. Females can lay eggs continuously so long as they have a steady supply of blood, and they can lay up to 500 eggs in their lifetime, according to Catherine Hill and John MacDonald of the Entomology Department at Purdue.

A wandering female can lay an egg in any room of your house. After 37 days, the egg will have grown into a mature adult bed bug that can live in a crack the width of a credit card.

Insect repellents do not work against bed bugs. Foggers or "bug bombs" cannot reach the tiny cracks where these insects like to hide. In fact, residue from the fogger might cause the bed bugs to move into a new room of your home.

Most experts recommend you call a professional exterminator as soon as possible to eradicate these pests.

What should I do with my clothes, bedding, and furniture if I have bed bugs?

The Indiana Department of Health recommends you place items like clothing, bedding, toys and backpacks into sealed bags to prevent the spread of bed bugs. These pests hate the heat, so place your clothing in the dryer on a high heat setting for 20-30 minutes.

Isolate your bed by pulling it from the wall and set the legs in bed bug traps. When finished vacuuming, place the dirt, dust and leftover contents into a separate sealed plastic bag before dumping it in the trash.

If you can, dispose of any beds, mattresses and cloth-covered furniture where bed bugs have been present. Don't just leave them on the side of the road; be a good Hoosier. Wrap those contaminated items in plastic to prevent any bed bugs from escaping, and label the items clearly, “bed bug infested,” so others won’t accidentally bring these pests into their home.

For more information online about bed bugs, visit the websites of the EPA, CDC or the Indiana Department of Health.

John Tufts covers evening breaking and trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.