Bed Bugs: a Pest Control a Pest Control Challenge Challenge

BedBed Bugs:Bugs:

a a Pest ControlPest Control

ChallengeChallenge

DescriptionDescription

SmallSmall – 3/16 inch long, oval, flat, reddish - brown insects

True bugsTrue bugs - w/ 3-seg. beak, 4-seg. antennae

Vestigial wings & a thin coat of fine golden hairsgolden hairs

Give off a distinctive “musty, sweetish” odor“musty, sweetish” odor

Partly digested blood in feces causes ““rusty” spotsrusty” spots

MalesMales – pointed abdomen

FemalesFemales – rounded abdomen

Adult Common Adult Common

Bed Bugs, Bed Bugs, C. lectulariusC. lectularius ((L.L.)) UnfedUnfed >>

Nearly Nearly EngorgedEngorged vv

BiologyBiology

Feed only on Blood – Mammals or Birds

Attach small (1 mm long ) whitish eggs to surfaces in harborages where the bugs hide in loose clusters

5 Nymphal instars ( Need >1 blood meal each )

Life Cycle takes 4-5 weeks (egg-to-egg) in ‘good’ conditions [ 75-80% RH; 83-90o o FF]]

Female may lay 200-500 eggs in her lifetime

Adults can survive >>1 yr. without feeding [ Nymphs 3-4 mo. (+) ]

Mating – “Traumatic” Insemination

Eggs & DroppingsEggs & Droppings

Adult Adult Bed Bed Bugs Bugs

MatingMating

Habits ( Behavior )Habits ( Behavior ) - Nocturnal, harbor in clusters, but NOT ‘social’

- Hide in daytime in cracks, crevices, bed frames, behind baseboards, mattress seams, etc.

- Take a blood meal to repletion in 3-15 min.

- “Prefer” humans but feed on other hosts, too

- Travel 5-20 ft. (each way) nightly to feed

- Feed every few days if hosts are available

- Often void part of previous meal while feeding

- Can remain fully active at <45o F

[ if acclimated for 4 - 24 hrs at < 60o F ]

Bed BugsBed Bugs Have Thin, Flat BodiesHave Thin, Flat Bodies

Adult Feeding & DefecatingAdult Feeding & Defecating

Bed Bugs & Rusty Spots on SheetBed Bugs & Rusty Spots on Sheet

Medical ImportanceMedical Importance

- Naturally infected w/ >28 human pathogens

- Never proven to transmit any human disease

- Several species feed on humans

[ Common & Tropical Bed Bugs,

Bat Bugs, & “Bird” Bugs ]

- Salivary proteins cause “sensitivity” to repeated

bites by large numbers of bed bugs

- - 5 stages: no reaction; delayed reaction; both immediate

& delayed; immediate reaction only; & finally, no reaction

- - True hypersensitivity can develop (apparently reversible)

- Serious social stigma to “having” an infestation

““BedBed Bugs”Bugs” ( (s.l.s.l.) that Commonly Bite Humans ) that Commonly Bite Humans

Bed Bat Swallow Bed Bat Swallow

ImmediateImmediate Bite ReactionsBite Reactions

DelayedDelayed Reactions (> 24 hrs.)Reactions (> 24 hrs.)

WhyWhy Bed Bugs are a Control Bed Bugs are a Control ChallengeChallenge

11.. Often hard to detect in small numbers. ( small, nocturnal, cryptic, & fairly mobile )

2.2. No reliable attractant available ( currently ).

3.3. Readily detect (& avoid) many chemicals.

4.4. Adults can live > 1 yr. without feeding. [ Nymphs fed > once can live > 3 mo. w/o feeding ]

5.5. Insecticide resistance newly documented.

6.6. Very easily re-introduced and/or spread.

Bed Bug Control in a Barracks, Bed Bug Control in a Barracks, caca. 1943. 1943

From From Pest Control MagPest Control Mag., May 2006, p. 42 ., May 2006, p. 42 [ Using “Zyklon B” (= HCN) gas ][ Using “Zyklon B” (= HCN) gas ]

Control Strategies & ConsiderationsControl Strategies & Considerations

- Thorough survey & accurate ID

- Educate customers ( may take > 1 visit; &

Sanitation alone will NOT eliminate them)

- Eliminate Clutter (poss. use sealed bags/ bins)

- Vacuuming ( beds, & other harborages )

- Hot launder cloth @ >>113113oo FF (or ‘dry clean’ )

- Treat harborages w/ residual insecticide

- - try to not use highly repellent materials

Control Strategies Control Strategies (Cont’d)(Cont’d)

- Dust electrical boxes, voids

( and maybe seal them shut )

- Seal harborages shut

( pref. w/ silicone-based sealant )

- Consider physical barriers if appropriate

- Sticky monitors maymay detect continued

presence ( but are not very effective )

NoteNote: Uncover bottombottom sticky areas

( this maymay catch bugs crawling underneath )

Thorough InspectionThorough Inspection

MattressMattress (especially seams) (especially seams)

Cryptic Harborage SitesCryptic Harborage Sites

Above Photo by M. PotterAbove Photo by M. Potter

Above (2) & Left Photos by: B. OggAbove (2) & Left Photos by: B. Ogg

Pictorial Pictorial

Key Key

To To

IDID

Bed Bed

BugsBugs

WhenWhen TreatingTreating “Think in 3-D” “Think in 3-D”

1.1. If you treat along part of a baseboard –

remember . . the bed bugs maymay alreadyalready bebe (or cancan gogo) inside or through wall voids,

along pipes, or through air vent passages

to rooms on either side, above, or below.

2.2. Consider concurrently treating the same identical “spots” or “edges” - a. On the other side of the common wall

b. Along the wall-ceiling edges of rooms below

(and/ or above).

Some Interesting Recent DataSome Interesting Recent Data

1.1. A major national Pest Mgt. Co. reported that for the period Sept. ’02 – Apr. ‘06, >24>24 % % of 700 hotels they serviced had active bed bug infestations . . . andand . . . .

2.2. In at least 19.7 %19.7 % of the cases,

at least one “secondarysecondary” room , of

440+ “primaryprimary” infested rooms ,

had live bed bugs at the same time

(before any treatment).

Some “Newer” Techniques & ProductsSome “Newer” Techniques & Products

1. IGRIGRss - Gentrol™ labeled for bed bugs (‘03)

2. HeatHeat or ColdCold ( Bldg., Room, “Batch”, Bed )

3. SteamingSteaming – Mattresses, Beds, etc.

4. Residual PyrethroidsResidual Pyrethroids several are currently

labeled for ‘crack-and-crevice’ treatments

5. EncaseEncase mattress & Pillows in plastic covers

6. PermethrinPermethrin repellent, over-the-counter (s-h)

7. Bug-sniffing dogsBug-sniffing dogs – – quick detection, small pop. quick detection, small pop.

Steam Steam TreatmentTreatment

Photos by F. Meek, OrkinTM

Heat Treatment of a whole AirplaneHeat Treatment of a whole Airplane

Photo by M. Holfeld, Seminole Mag.

COCO22

( “Snow” ) ( “Snow” ) TreatmentTreatment

Photo by CryoniteTMTM

Available through ResidexAvailable through ResidexTM TM www.residex.comwww.residex.com/bedbugs/bedbugs

Bed Bug-Sniffing DogsBed Bug-Sniffing Dogs

Bed Bug Bed Bug Control Control

Code of Code of Practice Practice ( CoP ) ( CoP )

AustraliaAustralia

QuestionsQuestions ??

A FewA Few SuggestedSuggested ReferencesReferences ((a.a.))Blow, J., M. Turell, A. Silverman, and E. Walker.Blow, J., M. Turell, A. Silverman, and E. Walker. 20012001.

Stercorial shedding and transstadial transmission of Hepatitis B virus by common bed bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 38(5): 694-700.

Cabrera, B., and C. K. Heinsohn. 20062006. Instant Symposium : Not letting the bed bugs bite. American Entomologist. 52 (2): 98-121. [[ Includes title article plus nine (9) more short articles as presented by other authors at the E.S.A. National Meetings in Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Dec., 2005. ]]

Cooper, R. and H. Harlan.Cooper, R. and H. Harlan. 20042004. Chap. 8. Ectoparasites, Part three: Bed Bugs & Kissing Bugs. pp. 494-529, In 9th ed. Mallis’ Handbook of Pest Control. S. Hedges (ed. dir.). GIE Publ, Inc., Cleveland, OH.

Doggett, S.Doggett, S. 20062006. A Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug Infestations in Australia. Australian Environmental Pest Managers Assn., Ltd., NSW, Australia. 54 pp.

See: www.aepma,com.au

A FewA Few SuggestedSuggested ReferencesReferences ((b.b.))

Doggett, S., M. Geary, and R. Russell.Doggett, S., M. Geary, and R. Russell. 20042004. The resurgence of bed bugs in Australia: With notes on their ecology and control. Environ. Health, 4(2): 30-38.

Harlan, H., M. Faulde, and G. Baumann. 20072007. Chap. 5. Bed . Chap. 5. Bed Bugs. [ Bugs. [ InIn ] Vector Control. WHO, Geneva. ] Vector Control. WHO, Geneva. [[ inin presspress – – Due to be published Oct., 2006 Due to be published Oct., 2006 ]].

Hwang, S., T. Svoboda, I. DeJong, K. Kabasele, and E. Hwang, S., T. Svoboda, I. DeJong, K. Kabasele, and E. Gogosis.Gogosis. 20052005. Bed Bug infestation in an urban . Bed Bug infestation in an urban environment. environment. Emerg. Inf. DisEmerg. Inf. Dis., 11(4): 533-538 (Apr.) ., 11(4): 533-538 (Apr.)

Jupp, P., R. Purcell, M. Shapiro, and J. Gerin.Jupp, P., R. Purcell, M. Shapiro, and J. Gerin. 19911991. Attempts to transmit Hepatitis B virus to chimpanzees by arthropods. S. Afr. Med. J., 79: 320-322.

A Few Suggested ReferencesA Few Suggested References ((c.c.))

Potter, M.Potter, M. 20042004. Your Guide to bed bugs. PCT Mag. Vol. 32(8). [A special 6-page “pull out” section between pages 12 and 13 of the Aug., 2004 issue].

Snetsinger, R.Snetsinger, R. 19971997. Chap. 9. Bed Bugs & Other Bugs. pp. 392-424, In 8th ed. Mallis’ Handbook of Pest Control.. GIE Publ, Inc., Cleveland, OH.

Usinger, R.Usinger, R. 19661966. Monograph of Cimicidae. Thos. Say

Foundation, Vol. VII, Entomol. Soc. Amer., Lanham, MD.

WHO.WHO. 19821982. Vector Control Series. VI. Bed Bugs. World

Health Organization. WHO/VBC/82.857. 9 pp.

A FewA Few SuggestedSuggested Web SitesWeb Sites These web sites can be “searched” for more possibly

useful details, images, etc. about Bed Bugs.

The National Pest Management Assn.’s web site.The National Pest Management Assn.’s web site.www.pestworld.org

PCT Magazine web site.PCT Magazine web site. www.pctonline.com

Pest Control Magazine’s web site.Pest Control Magazine’s web site. www.pestcontrolmag.com

The Univ. of KY Extension Entomol. web site.The Univ. of KY Extension Entomol. web site. www.uky.edu/Entomology/entfacts/struct/ef636.htm

Or, Search for “bed bugs” on www.Google.com [ NoteNote - some ‘facts’ on some listed sites are wrongwrong !! ]