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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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