Dr. Susan C. JonesAssociate ProfessorDept. of Entomology
Bed Bugs 101 (Biology & Behavior) and Research Update
Bed bugs are an emerging pest
throughout the U.S.!
Bed bugs have plagued humans for thousands
of years!
SW OhioBed Bug Complaints*
Cincinnati Health Dept.3
reporting system instituted
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* 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.
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Hamilton Co. Public Health Dept.1,2
Bed Bug Complaints by Zip Code
(46 zip codes, Franklin County, Ohio)
2,125 complaints
6,589 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.
Host Distance ( inches)
Sex of bed bug RepsTime (sec)
Average ± SE
Distance traveled ( inches)
Average ± SE
Speed ( inches/ sec) Average ± SE
10 Male & Female 20 24.5 ± 1.5 a 15.4 ± 0.7 a 0.67 ± 0.04 a
20 Male & Female 16 90.5 ± 4 a 49.7 ± 3.2 a 0.59 ± 0.10 a
Female 8 193 ± 27 b 93.9 ± 12.1 b 0.75 ± 0.08 a
Male 8 296 ± 49 c 184.4 ± 26.6 c 0.63 ± 0.04 a
F 24 35 1
P 0.0001 0.0001 0.409
40
Bed bugs are very good hitchhikers!
• luggage• furniture• bedding• backpacks, purses, briefcases
• clothing• …
Bed bugs can be moved from one place to another by hiding in:
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
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)
Pesticide-exposed bb Pesticide-susceptible bb (Harlan strain)
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!
• Locate their host using cues such as carbon dioxide and heat
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.)
During nighttime, the majority of fed males aggregated in the shelter whereasthe majority of unfed males remained outside of the shelter.
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Reis, M. D. & D. Miller. 2011. Host searching and aggregation activity of recently fed and unfed bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L. ). Insects vol 2
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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
If you wake up with itchy, red welts that weren’t there when you went to bed,
perhaps its bed bugs.
Confirmation based on finding bed bug evidence
• ~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
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
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
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/
CDC & EPA Joint
Statement
• Beak-like mouthparts• Oval shaped body• Adults: ~1/4 to 3/8 inch long• Body flattened (unfed)• Body swollen (recently fed)
How to recognize if it’s a bed bug
LIFE CYCLEOF THE
BED BUG (Cimex lectularius)
Adult (male & female)~0.26 inch (6.5 mm) long
Takes repeated blood meals; life span ~1 to 1½ yrs
4th stage nymph~0.12 inch (3 mm) long
Takes a blood meal then molts
2nd stage nymph~0.08 inch (2 mm) longTakes a blood meal
then molts
5th stage nymph~0.18 inch (4.5 mm) long
Takes a blood meal then molts
Egg~0.04 inch (1 mm) long
Glued in place
3rd stage nymph~0.1 inch (2.5 mm) long
Takes a blood meal then molts
Note: These images depict bugs with a partly digested blood meal.
1st stage nymph~0.06 inch (1.5 mm) long
Takes a blood meal then molts
© The Ohio State University Dr. Susan C. Jones &
Benjamin R. Diehl
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:
OSU Pest Diagnostic Clinic
614-292-5006
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
Adults (males & females) Require repeated blood meals Can live 12 – 18 months Can survive months of starvation
Nymphs (immature bugs) Five nymphal stages Require a blood meal in order to grow
Resistant strain, 70° F)
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All stages (except 1st instars) of a pyrethroid-resistant strain survived
starvation for an average of >49 days.
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 Bugs Hiding in Furniture
bed frame
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
• 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
Reduce the chances of getting bed bugs from hotel/motel rooms!
• The bathroom (tub) is the best place to store your items!
Self-Protection MeasuresWhile 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
• Make sure properly licensed to apply pesticides
• ODA web site lists licensed pest mgt. companies and applicators
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
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
Contact a professional pest control company to treat for
bed bugs
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
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