1 Bed Bugs 101

Bed Bugs 101 (Biology & Behavior) and Research Update
Dr. Susan C. Jones
Associate Professor
Dept. of Entomology

Bed bugs have plagued humans for thousands of years!
Bed bugs are an emerging pest throughout the U.S.!

SW Ohio
Bed Bug Complaints*
Cincinnati Health Dept.3
Hamilton Co. Public Health Dept.1,2
1,101
305
267
266
724
167
84
37
2
~10
2003 &
reporting system
instituted
bed bug inspection program suspended
* Represents a small fraction of overall bed bug infestations in area.
1Verified to be bed bugs. 2 Data courtesy of Greg Kesterman. 3Data courtesy of Camille Jones.

Bed Bug Complaints by Zip Code(46 zip codes, Franklin County, Ohio)
6,589 complaints
2,125 complaints
Data from COBBTF members, compiled by Paul Wenning

©Graphicmaps.com

BED BUG HABITS
Cannot fly
Can walk very fast
Typically hide during the day in dark,
protected sites (esp. cracks & crevices)
Prefer fabric, wood, and paper surfaces
Can cling tightly to surfaces

Host Location by Bed Bugs: Time and Distance Travelled
Slightly modified from :
Reis, M. D. & D. Miller. 2011. Host searching and aggregation activity of recently fed and unfed bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L. ). Insects vol 2.

Bed bugs are very goodhitchhikers!
Bed bugs can be moved from one place to another by hiding in:
luggage
furniture
bedding
backpacks, purses, briefcases
clothing
…

Bed Bugs Hiding in Luggage

In multi-family housing, bed bugs readily spread to units that are adjacent, below, and above the infested unit.

Some Reasons For the Resurgence of Bed Bugs
International travel and commerce
Housing with high tenant turnover
Pesticide use has changed
Pesticide bans
Baits to control ants & cockroaches
Insecticide resistance

Bed bug encounters have sharply increased in the past 1 to 5 years compared to >10 years ago in all regions of the world, except for
Africa/Middle East and South America.

Some Reasons For the Resurgence of Bed Bugs
International travel and commerce
Housing with high tenant turnover
Pesticide use has changed
Pesticide bans
Baits to control ants & cockroaches
Insecticide resistance

Pesticide-exposed bb
Pesticide-susceptible bb
(Harlan strain)
Genes involved in insecticide detoxification were at very high levels in field-collected bed bugs from Ohio.
Pesticide-exposed bb
Pesticide-susceptible bb
Cytochrome P450 (CYP9)
Glutathione S-transferase (GST)
Xiaodong Bai, Praveen Mamidala, Swapna P. Rajarapu, Susan C. Jones, & Omprakash Mittapalli. Transcriptomics of the bed bug (Cimex lectularius). January 2011. PLoS One 6(1): e16336.

Bed Bugs
(Cimex lectularius)
Insects (true bugs)
Temporary external parasites
Feed only on blood
Often closely associated with hosts’ sleeping or resting sites (hide in many places)
Not caused by bad housekeeping!!
BED BUGS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE!

Bed Bug Feeding Habits
Typically feed at night
Prefer to feed on humans
May feed on other animals
rodents, bats, birds
pets (cats, dogs, etc.)
Locate their host using cues such as carbon dioxide and heat

During nighttime,
the majority of fed males aggregated in the shelter whereas
the majority of unfed males remained outside of the shelter.
Average percent aggregated in shelter
Reis, M. D. & D. Miller. 2011. Host searching and aggregation activity of recently fed and unfed bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L. ). Insects vol 2

If you wake up with itchy, red welts that weren’t there when you went to bed, perhaps its bed bugs.
BED BUGS BITES:
Initial bite is painless
Resemble bites from other insects & kin
Some clues that it may be bed bug bites:
Typically are on exposed skin
Often in groups or rows
Confirmation based on finding bed bug evidence

Survey (spring/summer 2009):
474 individuals with verified bed bug infestation in dwellings
Apts (66%), single-family homes (15%), condos/townhomes (9%), shelters (7%), dorms (2%), long-term care (<1%)
Chicago, N.Y., Cincinnati, Louisville, Atlanta, L.A., & Miami
~70% of people had an allergic reaction to bed bug’s injected saliva; ~30% had no reaction
- Swelling
- Welts
- Severe itching (hrs to days)
Difference in reactivity due to age
- Elderly (>65 years old--42% with no reactions)
- Children (1-10 years old--41% with no reactions [note: very small sample size])
No significant difference in reactivity for:
- Males vs. females
- Ethnic groups

Injury From Bed Bugs
Allergic reaction in ~70% of humans
Welts
Severe itching
Anemia
Asthma
Scratching of bites increases inflammation, can lead to secondary bacterial infections
No conclusive evidence of disease transmission (reviewed by Goddard & deShazo. 2009. JAMA 301(13): 1358-1366)

INJURY FROM BED BUGS
Sleeplessness
Agitation
Anxiety
Economic hardship
…

August 2010
CDC & EPA Joint Statement
Bed bugs are a pest of significant public health importance!
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/Publications/Bed_Bugs_CDC-EPA_Statement.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/pesticides/bedbugs/

How to recognize if it’s a bed bug
Beak-like mouthparts
Oval shaped body
Adults: ~1/4 to 3/8 inch long
Body flattened (unfed)
Body swollen (recently fed)

Egg
~0.04 inch (1 mm) long
Glued in place
1st stage nymph
~0.06 inch (1.5 mm) long
Takes a blood meal
then molts
LIFE CYCLE
OF THE
BED BUG
(Cimex lectularius)
Adult (male & female)
Takes repeated blood meals;
life span ~1 to 1½ yrs
2nd stage nymph
Takes a blood meal
then molts
Note: These images depict bugs with a partly digested blood meal.
© The Ohio State University
Dr. Susan C. Jones &
Benjamin R. Diehl
5th stage nymph
Takes a blood meal
then molts
3rd stage nymph
Takes a blood meal
then molts
4th stage nymph
Takes a blood meal then molts

OSU Pest Diagnostic Clinic
614-292-5006
IDENTIFICATION SERVICES
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH)
A free service to Ohioans
ID insects, spiders or other arthropods of medical or public health significance (e.g., bed bugs, wasps, flies, maggots, ...)
Submit the sample via your local health dept.
The Ohio State University
Fee for identification services ($20 for insect sample)
ID wide variety of insects and arthropods and plant diseases
OSU submission form available online:
http://ppdc.osu.edu

Life History Characteristics Show That Bed Bug Numbers Can Quickly Skyrocket … (Early Detection and Treatment are Very Important)
Eggs
Glued in place
1 – 12 eggs / day / female
A single female can produce ~150 eggs
Hatch in 6 – 17 days
Nymphs (immature bugs)
Five nymphal stages
Require a blood meal in order to grow
Adults (males & females)
Require repeated blood meals
Can live 12 – 18 months
Can survive months of starvation

All stages (except 1st instars) of a pyrethroid-resistant strain survived starvation for an average of >49 days.
Mean days of survivorship after starvation
nymphs
adults
Resistant strain, 70° F)
Polanco, A, D. Miller, & C. C. Brewster. 2011. Survivorship during starvation for Cimex lecturarius L. Insects vol 2

Where do bed bugs hide?
Mattresses, box springs
Bed frames
Furniture
Carpets and rugs
Cracks and crevices
Baseboards
Window frames and door frames
Electric outlets and switch plates
Drapery pleats
Peeling wallpaper
Carpet tack strip
Suitcases
…

Bed Bugs Hiding in Mattresses and Box Springs

bed frame
Bed Bugs Hiding in Furniture

Bed Bugs Hiding Behind A Hanging Picture

Bed Bug Prevention
Recognize the tell tale signs
of bed bugs
Take measures to reduce the
risk of getting bed bugs
Prevent bugs from spreading
to new sites

BED BUG PREVENTION FOR TRAVELERS
Make it STANDARD PRACTICE to check for bed bugs in hotel/motel rooms!
Pull back the bedding and look for black fecal spots on mattress & box springs (esp. seams)
Carefully examine the underside of the bed skirt
Look for bb signs along bed frame (especially head board)
Open nightstand drawers and look for bb signs along inner and outer edges
Look for bb signs along baseboards
DON’T STAY IN A ROOM THAT HAS BB SIGNS

BED BUG PREVENTION FOR TRAVELERS
Reduce the chances of getting bed bugs from hotel/motel rooms!
Keep clothes in your zipped suitcase
Don’t keep clothes in hotel chest-of-drawers
OK to hang clothes in closet
Keep your suitcase on the luggage rack
(after first inspecting it for bb signs)
Don’t store your suitcase on the bed, floor,
or upholstered furniture
The bathroom (tub) is the best place to store your items!

Self-Protection Measures
While Working In An Infested Home
Minimize items to be carried inside
Don’t sit on beds, upholstered furniture, or the floor
Do a self-inspection immediately after
departing (remove shoes and thoroughly inspect them)
Change into fresh clothing ASAP
Bag used items (seal the bag)
Disinfect clothing by laundering & drying
Tyvek boot covers
Tyvek coveralls

Guidelines for Reducing the Risk of Transporting Bed Bugs
http://www.centralohiobedbugs.org/pdf/socsvc_guidelines.pdf

OH Dept. of Agriculture
Pesticide Regulation Section
614-728-6987; 800-282-1955
http://www.agri.ohio.gov
Contact a professional pest control company to treat for bed bugs
Make sure properly licensed to apply pesticides
ODA web site lists licensed pest mgt. companies and applicators

Contact a professional pest control company to treat for bed bugs
Once you’ve made sure they are properly licensed to apply pesticides:
It’s advisable to obtain at least 3 estimates
Check for satisfied customer references that relate to bed bug control
Recognize that bed bug control typically takes several insecticide treatments

DO NOT use “bug bombs” against bed bugs!
- ”Bug Bombs” (“foggers”) don’t work
- Few bugs will be killed!
- “Bug Bombs” may cause bed bugs to scatter!!!
“Bug Bombs” will worsen the
bed bug problem!!

Thank You!
Sleep tight,
and don’t let the …
… well, you know the rest

1 Bed Bugs 101

by Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force on Sep 14, 2011

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