Bed BugsBob McCandless, R.S.Senior Health Environmentalist

What are Bed Bugs?

• Cimex lectularius• Family Cimicideae

• Small flat insects• Typically about ¼ inch long as an adult• Horizontal lines on body

Brief History

• Bedbugs have been with us since pre-historical times• Mentioned in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics• First called a pest in the 17th Century• Came to America with the first European explorers and

colonists• There were no Native American words for “bedbug”• With each wave of settlers came a new wave of bedbugs• Bedbugs were a fact of life for early settlers• Early efforts at extermination were troublesome

Early Bedbug remedies

• Rabbit’s foot at end of bed• Corrosive sublimate with the white of an egg

applied with a turkey feather • “Corrosive sublimate” = MERCURY

• From “Good Housekeeping” 1888

• Arsenic• Turpentine• Gasoline• 1922 Department of Agriculture

recommends cyanide fumigation

Early Bedbug remedies

Early Bedbug remedies

Good old DDT

• DDT is dichloro diphenyl-trichloroethane• Developed in early period of World War 2• Used to stop spread of infectious disease like

• Malaria• typhus

• Acted by killing mosquitoes, lice and other pests• After WW2, DDT was made available

to the General Public

•DDT nearly brought about the extinction of bedbugs in North America•During the mid 20th Century, finding bedbugs for research was difficult•DDT was banned in 1972 after research indicated it was a possible source of cancer and also caused harm to wildlife, especially birds

After decades of being free of bedbugs…

They’re back…

Bedbugs re-emerged in the mid 1990’s

• Increased international travel to locations with active bedbug populations

• Increased immigration• Many newer strains of bedbugs have

increased resistance to multiple pesticides

DDT vs. 21st Century Bed Bugs

FIELD STRAIN• WOR-1• DOV-1• CIN-1• LEX-1

MORTALITY• 100%• 30%• 10%• 5%

5% DDT PRODUCT FOR 5 DAYS

Many Different Products

Life as a Bed Bug• Thrive in conditions

of 70° to 80°• One female can lay

200-500 eggs in her life span

• Can complete development within one month

• Can produce three or more generations in one year

Life as a Bed Bug• Nymphs need

blood meal for each life stage

• Life span can go from several weeks to several months without food depending on environmental factors

The Blood Meal

• The bite takes from 3 3 to 10 minutes

• During the bite an anticoagulant is released• Stops the blood clotting• Numbs the bite area

• The host seldom knows they are being bitten

The Blood Meal

• Many people are allergic to the anticoagulant, which can affect reaction and symptoms

• Symptoms of bites vary with each individual• Many symptoms develop within a day• Some people have little or no reaction• Some have a delayed reaction (3-5 days)

Bite Reaction

• Survey of 400 people with Bed Bug Infestations

• 72% showed reaction to the bites

• 28% showed no reaction

The Blood Meal

• Bedbug feed

Bed Bug Bites

Bed Bug Bites

Bed Bug Bites

Bed Bug Bites

Not all bites are from bedbugs

Bat bugs look like bedbugs but don’t typically bite humans

Spiders don’t look anything like bed bugs

Not all bites are from bedbugs

Spiders bites don’t look anything like bed bug bites

Bed Bug vs. Bat Bug

What Do Bed Bugs Do to Humans?

• Bed bugs feed on humans to obtain the blood they need to survive• Bed bugs are not known to transmit disease• Generally bite at night• Feed on exposed skin, face, neck, hands or arms

• Bite characteristics• Small, hard, swollen white welt may develop at the site of the

bite• Rash may occur• May cause itching that lasts several days

Where are Bed Bugs Found?

• Crowded places where people often move/relocate

• Hotels/motels• Dormitories• Shelters• Homes• Schools• Apartments

• Trailer parks• Lush corporate offices• Movie theaters• Laundry facilities• Hospitals• Nursing homes• Prisons

History is Repeating Itself

• Bed Bugs Where Found in these places pre DDT era

• Homes

• Schools

• Offices

• Hotels

• Prisons

• Theaters

• Libraries

• Any Public Place

Where are Bed Bugs Found?

Clean as well as dirty places; clutter makes it easier for them to hide

Where are Bed Bugs Found?Clean as well as dirty places; clutter makes

it easier for them to hide

Signs of an infestation

• Typically they infest mattresses, box springs, bed frames and couches• These areas will have dark spots and stains from

dried excrement• May be red or rusty spots of blood on bed sheets,

mattresses or walls• Heavy infestations may also have a musty smell

(though not a good indicator)

• Bed bugs can survive without feeding for a year• Even vacant units can contain bed bugs

How are Bed Bugs Spread?

• Very efficient hitchhikers• Often infestations can be traced to travel• Attach to luggage, backpacks, clothing from beds, furniture, etc.• Bed bugs move when and where the infested object is moved

• Often spread through the re-use of secondhand furniture• Used beds, couches and other items can be infested with eggs

and nymphs that can be hard to find or see• Do not pick-up items from the curb for re-use

Major Events

• The 2000 Olympics in Australia

• Been Linked as one of the largest reason for spread of Bed Bugs in North America and Europe

• 98% of the hotels in Sydney had at least one room with BB infestations.

2010 Equestrian Games

• Expecting 5-600,000 tickets to be sold

• 25 Countries Represented.

• Expected 75/64/71 Triangle to all be affected

How Can Bed Bugs Be Prevented?

• Do not use secondhand beds, mattresses, box springs, couches or furniture especially if you are unsure of their history

• Watch for signs of bed bugs when you travel by examining bed sheets, the mattress/box spring seams and headboard

• Keep your suitcase off the floor and away from the bed when traveling

Travel Tips

• Look at the room to seek potential hiding places for bed bugs, such as carpet edges, headboards, mattress seams, pillow case linings, wall trim or other tiny crack-like places bed bugs might hide

• Look for signs of bed bug activity: droppings, eggs, bloodstains or even bed bugs themselves

• Use hangers or hooks capable of keeping all clothing distant from the floor or bed

Travel Tips

• Zip close your suitcase or travel bag, when you're not using it

• Elevate luggage off the floor to tables or chairs--these may also be hiding places, but less likely

• Keep any bed bugs you find (intact if possible) to show the hotel owner/manager

• Trust your instinct

Self Prevention and Detection

• If you feel that you have come in contact with bed bugs always do a self check using• A small flashlight • Magnifying glass • Check clothing, shoes, hair, any other

belongings that might have come into contact

If you come in contact with Bed bugs

• Clothing and bedding should be washed in hot soapy water and dried in a dryer hot cycle

• Suitcases, backpacks and personal bags • Inspect thoroughly

• Seams• Cracks and crevices• shoestrings

• Vacuum thoroughly• Need to seal bag after changing

• Have professional exterminator evaluate and treat as needed

How Can You Get Rid of aBed Bug Infestation?

• Treatment by a professional exterminator is necessary

• Two main methods:• A combination of insecticides and other steps

• Applied to all areas where infestation is or places where they tend to hide

• Multiple applications may be required• In apartments and hotels, extermination of nearby

units will also be required• High heat method

• Due to danger involved, only professionals should use this method

Bed Bug Treatment

• 1945 “Amateur efforts usually result in amateur results.”

• Arnold Mallis in Pest Control Magazine

How Can You Get Rid of aBed Bug Infestation?

• Furniture may have to be discarded, especially if heavily infested with bed bugs

• Launder everything in question in hot cycle • Clutter should be cleaned up• Follow ALL instructions from pest control companies

Simple tasks you can do• Keep clutter to a minimum

• Bedbugs have more places to hide when there is a lot of clutter

• Vacuum regularly and thoroughly• Make sure to seal bag when changing

• Thoroughly and regularly inspect bedding• Look for signs of blood spots, or small debris

• Kill all bedbugs on sight• Alcohol is effective

• Only if it comes in direct contacts with the bedbugs• Does not kill eggs

• Enclose mattress/box springs in zip-up mattress cover• It won’t eliminate them but will kill any bedbugs

that are hiding in mattress

Groups that Should Be Looking Out for Bed Bugs

• Schools

• Family services: Home visits• Nurses, social workers, etc.

• Cleaning/maids

• Garbage Collectors

• EMS/EMT

Detection of an Infestation and Treatment: Schools

• Look for the following for possible infestation:• Bugs or shedding in

backpacks, clothing, shoes

• Bug bites and rash on open skin

• If an infestation does occur then all or some of these steps can be taken:• Letter to parents

explaining what they are, how to treat them and prevention methods

• Treatment of school by professionals

Detection and Treatment Family Services: Home Visits

• Detection methods• Look for bug bites

and/or rash on open skin

• Look for bug shedding and blood droplets

• Treatment for health professional • Educate the family

on how to rid the house of bugs

• Prevention on how to keep the bed bugs from coming back

• Educate on how to treat bed bugs (brochures)

Tips for Home Visiting personnel

• Keep personal bags and items off floor or couches

• Try to set bags, etc. on non-upholstered furniture

• Try to stand or else sit only on non-upholstered furniture

• Where light colored clothing for easier bug detection

• Keep a spray bottle with alcohol • Spray any bugs found

Treatment of Infestation:Cleaning Business/Maids

• Detection• Look in sheets,

bedding, furniture, any cervices

• Blood droplets • Bug shedding • Bugs themselves

• Educate client on what the next step would be

• Tell client what you have found

• Maid Services• Tell property manager

what you have found• Manager should call an

exterminator • Exterminator should

check surrounding rooms for same problems and treat as well

Detection and Treatment:EMT/EMS

• Prevention: • Try not to brush against furniture• Try to avoid setting bags on floor or beds• Allow families on ambulances to bring only bare

minimum of personal effects

• Detection: Look for bug bites and rash areas on the skin. If going into the home of client look, around at the surrounding area for signs of infestation.

• Check for bed bugs if you suspect exposure• Spray any found with alcohol

Garbage Collectors

• When handling contaminated waste, remember to make sure that it is covered properly, and has markings to be sure that it is a contaminated product. This will better ensure that bed bugs will not travel to another location• Careful - waste may not be marked• Self inspection is necessary

• Wear garments to help protect you so

you do not spread bed bugs

Bed bug myths• Bed bugs spread disease…FALSE

• Bed bugs have never been proven to transmit disease…yet.

• Bed bugs prove a place is dirty…FALSE• Bed bugs are equal opportunity pests- they infest clean

or dirty places, no matter if rich or poor

• Bed bugs are microscopic …FALSE• Bed bugs are typically about a quarter inch long

• Bed bugs fly…FALSE• But bed bugs can crawl quickly, like an ant

Bed bug myths

• Bed bugs can enter a house on their own…Partially true• Usually they hitchhike their way in, but they can move to

adjoining apartments or condos, etc.

• One bug can cause an infestation…Partially true• Has to be a gravid (pregnant) female• A single male/female pair can cause an outbreak

• You can rid them by simply cleaning…FALSE• Requires thorough inspection• Requires multiple treatments

Conclusion

• Bed bug infestations need professional treatment by exterminators

• Sources of infestations can be used household items, personal items

• Try to reduce exposure risks

• Inform clients about what they can do if they find bed bugs.

• Coping with bed bugs is really a lifestyle change

• Education is the KEY

ROCK HARDPLACE

WHERE WE ARE:

Any Questions?

For More Information, Contact:

Northern Kentucky Health Department

Environmental Health and Safety610 Medical Village Drive

Edgewood, KY 41017859.341.4151

WWW.NKYHEALTH.ORG

Sources

• 2009 University of KY Short Course

• University of KY Bed Bug Website