Glossary

• Box spring (foundation) – the foundation for a mattress, composed of a boxlike frame filled with springs and supports, covered in cloth. In this context, the box spring is a common hiding place for bed bugs.
• Desiccate – to become thoroughly dried or dried up.
• Ectoparasite – an organism that lives on the outside of another species, from which it obtains nutrients.
• Encasement – a fully enclosed outer covering; in this context a fully enclosed and bed bug proof outer covering made of plastic or fabric that prevents bed bugs from going inside or getting out.
• Exoskeleton – the waxy outer layer or skin of arthropods (insects, spiders, crustaceans, etc.) that support muscles and movement and protect soft tissues of the body.
• Feces/fecal stains – waste matter discharged from the gut; in this case digested blood from the gut of a bed bug that often leaves behind tan or dark stains on surfaces. Bed bug feces can also appear flaky, like pepper.
• Harborage – a place of shelter or a hiding spot.
• Headboard (of bed) – a vertical board at the head of a bed, usually made of wood, wicker, plastic, metal or cloth. In this context, the headboard is a common hiding place for bed bugs.
• HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) – referring to a filter or filtered vacuum, is a filter composed of a mat of dense fibers designed to trap at least 99.97% of the smallest airborne particles, such as pollen and other asthma triggers.
• Instar – an insect in any one of its stages of growth between molts and before the adult stage. Bed bugs have 5 nymphal instars.
• Interceptor – a device that interrupts movement; in this case a device that halts the movement of bed bugs by trapping them alive in a well, and is designed to prevent escape. Also referred to in this guide as a pitfall trap.
• Nymph – the young stage of an insect that undergoes incomplete metamorphosis (with no pupal stage).
• Pesticide resistance - The ability of an organism to withstand the effects of a pesticide by becoming tolerant to its toxic effects by means of natural selection.
• Pitfall trap – the generic term for a passive trapping device that allows insect entry into a pit and prevents escape. Also known as an interceptor in this guide.
• Re-entry time – the time between a pesticide application and the point at which it is safe to enter the treated space, generally (but not officially) considered to be 4 hours for indoor liquid spray applications used for the treatment of bed bugs.

Updated 6/26/2025