Bed Bug Detection and
Management In Schools
Dr. Susan Jones
Professor of Entomology
BE PROACTIVE!!!!Educate the school community on bed
bugsPromptly respond to a bed bug sighting
Bed Bugs In Schools
Presentation Outline
• Myths• Habits• Prevention• Detection methods• Treatment options
Worldwide Resurgence of Bed Bugs Since
Late 1990s
SPAINCANADA
ENGLANDAUSTRALIA
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
January 2013
The Most Bed Bug-Infested Cities in the U.S.
July 2013
20122013
The Common Bed Bug(Cimex lectularius)
Insects (true bugs)• Temporary external parasites• Feed only on blood • Prefer to feed on humans • Alternate hosts:
rodents, bats, birds, pets (cats, dogs, etc.)
Not caused by bad housekeeping!! BED BUGS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE!
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
Bed bugs are very good hitchhikers!
• Clothing• Backpacks• Purses• Books• Other items carried into schools
--Bed Bug Hitchhikers—in shoe tread
--Bed Bug Hitchhikers—in walker & wheelchair
Photos courtesy of General Pest Control Co.
How do bed bugs travel?
• Hitchhiking• Walking
• down a hallway after dropping off an item
• from an infested room to new territory
• from one room to another via pipes, telephone, cable or electrical wires
Bed Bugs In Schools
• Brought in by students, staff, visitors, etc.
• Bugs crawl into the school’s chairs, carpeting, equipment, etc.
• A single bed bug does not warrant panic or school closure!
Control of Bed Bugs In Schools
• Early identification is very important• Staff should be trained re. what to look
for• Maintenance and cleaning crews should
be on the lookout for telltale signs of bed bugs
• Capture a bug for positive identification
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) FOR BED BUGS:
Correctly identify the pest +
Conduct a thorough inspection+
Use sanitation measures+
Apply insecticides to targeted sites
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--Shape and Size
• Beak-like mouthparts• Oval shaped• Body flattened (unfed) to
swollen (recently fed)• Adults: ~1/4 – 3/8 inch long• Youngest nymphs (immature
bugs) are tiny (<<1/10 inch long)
•Youngest nymphs:• almost colorless (unfed)• crimson (recently fed)
• Older nymphs and adults: • various shades of brown (unfed)• reddish brown (fed)
--IDENTIFICATION--Color
Female Male Adult Bed BugsAdult Bed Bugs
Bat Bug(Cimex adjunctus)
Bed Bug(Cimex lectularius)
eye
eye
IDENTIFICATION SERVICES
Ohio State University Pest Diagnostic Clinic• Fee for identification services ($20 per insect
sample)• ID wide variety of insects, arthropods, plant
diseases, etc.• Online submission form:
614-292-5006
http://ppdc.osu.edu
Recognizing Bed Bug Bites
• Skin reactions (avg = 7 of 10 people)
• Redness• Welts• Itching
• Resemble bites from other insects & arthropods• Typically no red spot at the center (such as with fleas and black flies)• Typically occur on exposed skin
• Neck and face; shoulders and arms; back; etc. • Rarely occur on the palms or soles (such as with scabies mites)• Often occur in rows or groups • Confirmation based on finding bed bug evidence
Control of Bed Bugs In Schools
Prompt action is very important for bed bugs!
http://centralohiobedbugs.org
Downloadable Notification Letter For Adapting To Your School
Control of Bed Bugs In Schools
• If a bed bug is positively identified…• Don’t panic. It’s not necessarily a sign
of a bed bug infestation.• A pest control professional should
conduct a thorough bed bug inspection.
Recognize the telltale signs of bed bugs!
• Black fecal spots • Shed skins & eggshells• Live bed bugs (nymphs & adults)• Blood stains from crushed bugs• Welts on exposed skin• Distinctive “buggy” odor (in severe
infestations)
Bed Bugs Behind A Hanging Picture
Tell-tale Signs of Bed Bugs in Furniture
bed frame
Tell-tale Signs of Bed Bugs Behind Baseboards
Tell-tale Signs of Bed Bugs in Electrical Outlets
--Bed Bug Inspection--
Bed Bug-Sniffing Dogs
• Dog and handler should be specially trained and certified• Dog requires daily training, too• The dog’s handler is important• Can have high accuracy • Enable rapid inspections• Expensive
Rutgers University Field Study
August 2011
‘Detection Tools and
Techniques’
By: Changlu Wang and Richard Cooper
Canine team performance
(7 firms; 24 apts.)
Average Range
Inspection time 150 minutes 100-250 min.
Cost $750 $500-1,000
Detection rate 43% 11-83%
False positive rate (signaling bed bugs that
weren’t there) 0-38%
Much variability among canine detection firms.
Can be a useful tool in large-scale inspections.
Overview of the Verifi™ Bed Bug Detector
ComponentsCO2 BOOSTER PACK (lasts for 24 hours)
A
LURE (lasts for 90 days)--Pheromone chamber (mimics bed bug aggregation scent)--Kairomone chamber (mimics host odor)
B
PITFALLC
HARBORAGED
ADHESIVEE
front view (cut away) back view
PITFALL
http://www.fmcprosolutions.com/BedBugs/PropertyManager/Home.aspx
--Active Monitoring Device--
4 in
3 in
5 in
PITFALL— OSU Research Study —
All Stages Of Bed Bugs Were Captured In The Verifi™ Detector Pitfall.
Some Bed Bugs Were Found On The Verifi™ Detector Harborage.
HARBORAGE
— OSU Research Study —
4 eggs1 adult female
Comparison of Erroneous Results with Canine Team, Dry Ice Trap, and Verifi™ Detector
— OSU Research Study —
0
1
2
3
Dog 1 Dog 2 Dog 1 Dog 2
False Positive False Negative FalsePositive
FalseNegative
FalsePositive
FalseNegative
Canine Team Dry Ice Trap Verifi Detector
Nm
be
r o
f E
rrro
rs
Detection Method
Climbup™ Interceptor
Sticky Traps
Bed Bug Detector Trap
--Passive Monitoring Devices--
Control of Bed Bugs In Schools
If numerous bed bugs are identified…
• 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
Sanitation Measures
(Typically are used to supplement additional treatment measures.)
• Use a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered vacuum cleaner.
• It is useful to reduce the number of bed bugs. (A scraping action with the attachment is needed to remove eggs.)
• It is useful for cracks & crevices.
•Dispose of the vacuum bag afterwards.
• Remember that an on-site vacuum can serve as a
harborage for bed bugs.
Use a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner.
Some measures to help reduce the number of bed bugs:
Vacuuming to contain bed bugs
Steaming• Commercial steam unit preferable• Dry steam preferable (less moisture)• Surface temperature should be ~176ºF (80ºC)• Steam immediately kills bed bugs & eggs• Requires working slowly and thoroughly• Steam can penetrate many fabrics & padding
• Some materials too thick for heat transfer•Prolonged drying time (use fan, dehumidifier, natural ventilation)• No residual protection
Photo courtesy of General Pest Control Co.
Some measures to help reduce the number of bed bugs:
Launder bedding, clothing, etc.!
• Wash in hot water (>120ºF, [50ºC])
• Drier on hot setting (>30 minutes)
Some measures to help reduce the number of bed bugs:
Treatment Options
• Heat treatment (whole structure, container)
• Cold (usefulness is limited)
• Insecticides • Residual products (dust, liquid, aerosols) • Fumigation (sulfuryl fluoride)
≥120º F for several hours
Portable Thermal Chamber
Containerized Heat Treatment
Whole Room Heat Treatment
Cold Treatment
• “Bug Bombs” (“foggers”) won’t control bed bug infestations
• “Bug Bombs” may cause bed bugs to scatter!!!
“Bug Bombs” can worsen the bed bug problem!!
What shouldn’t you do for a bed bug problem?
October 2012
http://pct.texterity.com/pct/201210#pg1
cockroach feces
cockroach shed skin
bed bugs nearby
Typically, you shouldn’t dispose of furniture.
• Bed bugs will fall off the furniture as you are moving it, hence spreading the problem.
• Infested furniture usually can be treated.• Bed bugs can quickly infest replacement
furniture.• Items placed on the curb often are
picked up and reused, thereby
spreading bed bugs to other
households.
What shouldn’t you do for a bed bug problem?
• Must be sprayed directly on the bed bugs (‘kills on contact’)
• Most bugs are hiding and WILL NOT be
killed• Little or no residual activity (the
chemical breaks down quickly)
BUYER BEWARE: Grocery store insect sprays won’t eliminate a bed bug infestation!
Words of caution regarding “natural products” for bed
bug control:
• Exempt from EPA regulation• EPA requires no efficacy data• Claims often based on “satisfied
customers”—ask for their research data and evaluate it carefully
• Boric acid does not kill bed bugs.
• Boric acid is a stomach poison that must be eaten by an insect.
Remember that bed bugs feed only on blood.
BUYER BEWARE: Boric acid products don’t work!
Some Basics of Bed Bug Management Using
Insecticides
• There is no single “magic bullet”.• A residual insecticide is necessary.• Control of a bed bug infestation
typically takes several treatments.• It is important to use several different
formulations, and often, several different insecticides.
• Don’t keep using the same insecticide (rotate insecticide use)
Active Ingredient(insecticide class)
Product Name(s)
Imidacloprid + ß-cyfluthrin(neonicotinoid + pyrethroid)
Temprid® SC
Chlorfenapyr(halogenated pyrrole)
Phantom® SCPhantom® PI
Acetamiprid + bifenthrin(neonicotinoid + pyrethroid)
Transport®
MikronTransport® GHP
Thiamethoxam + λ-cyhalothrin(neonicotinoid + pyrethroid)
Tandem®
Dinotefuran + diatomaceous earth
(neonicotinoid + silica dioxide)
Prescription Treatment
Alpine® Dust Alpine® PI
Non-pyrethroid Insecticides For Use Against Bed Bugs
ActiveIngredient
ProductName
Miscellaneous Label Notes
Diatomaceous earth
(=silica dioxide)
Natural Guard Crawling Insect Control
Safer® Brand Ant &
Crawling Insect Killer
- Crack & crevice applications- Slow-acting- Residual (long-lasting) activity- Dusts should be applied in thin layers
- DO NOT allow product to get wet or it will permanently lose effectiveness
- Caution: Avoid inhalation; wear a dust mask during application- Pool grade DE should NEVER be used for pest control. Pool grade DE contains crystalline silica and can be a respiratory hazard.
- Mattresses mentioned on label
Phenothrin w/isopropanol
with synergist
Steri-fab®
Bedlam®
- Steri-fab: General surface application
- Bedlam: Mattresses mentioned on label—emphasis on seams, tufts and folds; spot applic. elsewhere- Contact insecticide, not a residual
Some Insecticides Registered For Use Against Bed Bugs
Responding to a Bed Bug Incident at School
• Obtain samples of the insect for positive ID• Arrange for professional inspection ASAP
• Try to determine who has bed bug infestations at home so that you can offer guidance and suggestions:• Provide educational material on bed bugs• Communicate the importance of eliminating the bed bug
infestation at home• Suggest limiting the number of items brought to school
• Suggest storing school items inside a sealed container away from beds and upholstered furniture at home
Reference: L. J. Pinto, R. Cooper, & S. K. Kraft. 2007. Bed Bug Handbook: The Complete Guide to Bed Bugs. Pinto and Associates, Inc. Mechanicsville, MD.
Responding to a Bed Bug Incident at School
• Have a trained individual (e.g., school nurse) inspect items that are brought into school• Be discreet• Be respectful• Be aware of unnecessary social stigmas• Inspect items prior to entering classrooms
Reference: L. J. Pinto, R. Cooper, & S. K. Kraft. 2007. Bed Bug Handbook: The Complete Guide to Bed Bugs. Pinto and Associates, Inc. Mechanicsville, MD.
http://centralohiobedbugs.org
Presentations Presentations
available for available for
group trainings
group trainings
OSU Extension
Fact Sheets:• HYG-2105 (Bed bugs)
• HYG-2105A (Bat bugs)
For More Information
http://ohioline.osu.edu
Thank You!
Sleep tight, and don’t let the …
… well, you know the rest
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 (especially 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
•Don’t store your suitcase on the bed, floor, or upholstered furniture• Keep your suitcase on the luggage rack (after first inspecting it for bb signs)
Reduce the chances of getting bed bugs from hotel/motel rooms!
• The bathroom (tub) is the best place to store your items!