Bed Bug Detection and Management In Schools Dr. Susan Jones Professor of Entomology.

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!