Resurgence the Resurgence BedBugs of Bed Bugs, their Basic Biology and Control Suggestions Harold J....

the ResurgenceResurgence

of BedBed BugsBugs, their Basic Biology

and Control Suggestions

Harold J. Harlan 621 Maple Hill Lane Crownsville, MD 21032

Adult Male - C. lectularius (L.)

Taxonomic Hierarchy Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta ( = Hexapoda )

Order: Hemiptera ( Sub-Order: Heteroptera )

Family: Cimicidae

Genus: Cimex

Species: lectularius

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius L.

Common Name: the Common Bed Bug

Evidence of ResurgenceSnetsinger: “. Bed bugs may actually cause slums .

. . (Busvine 1951); today (1997) specimens are

unavailable for classes & few young entomologists

have seen an infestation . .” [ Mallis 8th ed.; p.399 ]

Kreuger’s: “Don’t get Bitten by the resurgence of Bed Bugs,” Pest Contr. 68 (3): 58-64 ( Mar. 2000 ).

NPMA: 29 infestations confirmed; 18 states & DC

[ Library Update, Sept. 2001 ]

NPMA: 29 infestations confirmed; 29 states, DC ,

3 Provinces CAN, & 2 states MEX ( Dec. 2003 )

Orkin has treated bed bugs in 34 states (Jan. 2004 )

Adult Female

Adult Male - Engorged

Description

Small – 3/16 inch long, oval, flat, reddish brown insects

True bugs - w/ 3-seg. beak, 4-seg. antennae

Vestigial wings & a thin coat of fine golden hairs

Give off a distinctive “musty, sweetish” odor

Undigested blood in feces causes “rusty” spots

Males – pointed abdomen

Females – rounded abdomen

Dorsal View - Front Half

Ventral View - Head

Adult Female – Lateral View

Identify the Bugs

- 4th Antennal Segment

< 3rd Segment

- “Fringe Hairs” on

Pronotum < Width of

Compound Eye

- Pronotum Front Margin

Deeply Indented

(vs. Only Slightly)

= C. lectularius L.

Bed Bug vs. Bat Bug

Swallow Bug

BiologyFeed only on Blood – Mammals or Birds

Attach small (1 mm) whitish eggs to surfaces in harborages where they hide in loose clusters

5 Nymphal instars ( Need >1 blood meal each instar )

Life Cycle takes 4-5 weeks (egg-to-egg) in ‘good’ conditions [ 75-80% RH; 83-90 degrees F ]

Female may lay 200-500 eggs in her lifetime

Adults can survive >1 yr. w/o feeding [ Nymphs 3-4 mo.]

Mating – “Traumatic” Insemination

Feeding - Several Instars

Engorged Nymphs-1 & 2

Engorging Adults & N - 2

Eggs and Droppings

“Rusty Spots” on Bedding

Male Aedeagus

Female ‘Spermilage’

Adult Bed Bugs

Mating

Medical Importance- Found naturally infected w/ >20 human pathogens

- Never proven to transmit any human disease

- Several species feed on humans

(including: Common & Tropical Bed Bugs,

Bat Bugs, & Poultry Bugs - Salivary proteins cause “sensitivity” to repeated

bites by large numbers of bed bugs - - 5 stages: no reaction; delayed reaction; both immediate

& delayed; immediate reaction only; & finally, no reaction

- - True hypersensitivity can develop (but it is reversible)

- Serious social stigma to “having” an infestation

Feeding a “Rearing Jar”

Immediate Bite Reactions

Delayed Reactions (> 24 hrs.)

Habits ( Behavior ) - Nocturnal, harbor in clusters, but NOT ‘social’

- Hide in daytime in cracks, crevices, behind

baseboards, bed frames, mattress seams, etc.

- Take a blood meal to repletion in 3-10 min.

- “Prefer” humans but feed on other hosts, too

- Travel 5-20 ft. (each way) nightly to feed

- Feed every few days if hosts available

- Often void part of previous meal while feeding

- Can remain fully active at 45o F

[ if acclimated for 24 hrs at < 60o F ]

Bugs Have Thin Flat Bodies

Survey Sites: Bed Frames

Mattress (especially Seams)

Upholstered Chairs

Window Curtains & Frames

Control Strategies

- Thorough survey & accurate ID

- Educate customers ( may take > 1 visit )

- Sanitation will NOT eliminate them

- Initial vacuuming (mattresses, beds, harborages )

- Treat harborages w/ properly labeled residual

- - try to not use highly repellent materials

- Dust electrical boxes, voids (maybe seal them shut )

- Seal harborages shut (pref. silicone-based sealant )

- Consider physical barriers if appropriate

- Sticky monitors ( may detect continued presence)

“New” Techniques & Products

1. Gentrol™ labeled for Bed Bugs (late-2003)

2. Heat Treatments ( Whole-House or Room)

3. Steaming – Matresses, or Beds, etc.

4. Phantom™ (Chlorfenapyr) labeled to control

ants / roaches; indoor ‘crack-and-crevice’

5. PCO Pellets™ (Acephate) still labeled for

‘crack-and-crevice’ treatments

6. Encase matress & Pillows in plastic covers

7. Permethrin repellent, over-the-counter (s-h)

FumigationFumigation1. “Whole structure” fumigation will eliminate

bugs present within treated areas, but . . . . . a. This is seldom economically practical.

b. There is no residual protection.

2. The same things are true for . . . a. “Batch” or “Single-Room” Fumigations,

b. Heat treatments (Whole Bldg. or One - Room), and

c. Cold treatments (Whole Bldg. or One - Room).

Monitors May Help Detect Bed Bugs

Why Bed Bugs Are Resurging 1. Greater human mobility

2. Less use of any residuals – last 5-6 yrs

3. Significant switch to baits for roaches & ants

4. Many PMPs are not familiar w/ bed bugs

- inadequate survey, wrong ID, incomplete treatment

5. Pyrethroids used in most accounts are repellent - bugs do not get a lethal dose (esp. in deep cracks)

- harborages easy to miss in first survey

- bugs may detect & avoid residual treatments

- bug pop. often “split” or move from such treatments

6. People may call any unknown bite - “bed bugs”

Questions ?