bed bugs and me james dill pest management specialist university of maine cooperative extension
TRANSCRIPT
Bed Bugs and ME
James DillPest Management SpecialistUniversity of Maine Cooperative Extension
Sleep Tight
Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite!
Bed Bug Explosion
Why?
Why are they back? Why now?
• Massive resurgence in last 10-15 yrs.– Changes in other pest management practices,
cockroaches, ants…– Lack of everyday knowledge and experience
of dealing with bed bugs– Travel? We’ve always traveled..although
there are routes of transmission here.– Used furniture, reconditioned mattresses– Lack of government involvement
Biology
Adult
Cimex lectularius
How Big are Bed Bugs?
Eggs
© Gary Alpert, Harvard University © Boston Bed Bug Authority
Nymphs
Nymphs
© Texas A&M
Mouthparts
Bed Bug Bites
UW Entomology
From Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann
From Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann
From Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann
Health effects of bed bugs
• Bed bugs do not vector disease organisms.
• They may carry hepatitis B in their gut but no transmission known.
• What bacteria do they carry on their bodies?
• Secondary infection – cellulitis resulting from bed bug bites – has been documented.
Health effects of bed bugs
• Cause anemia in severe cases.
• Bites on skin are unpleasant, may scar, and can rarely result in systemic allergic reactions.
• Cause stress, anxiety, sleeplessness (10-20% of fatal accidents from fatigue)
• Large economic cost to sufferers, which exacerbates emotional issues.
Fear and anxiety• The only way for a bed bug sufferer to
know whether their infestation is eliminated is to WAIT to be bitten again.
• Anticipation of being bitten again causes anxiety and stress, and even the delusion that every itch is a bed bug bite.
• This may trigger delusory parasitosis and other psychological issues.
Other Hosts
Bed Bug
Life Cycle5 mm
Dispersal
Methods of bed bug introduction
Passive• Bed bug is introduced
from another infested location, but not by its own locomotion
• Furniture• Mattress• Guests• Employees• Travel bags
Active• Bed bug migrates by
walking from an infested area.
• From one room to another• From one apartment to
another via pipes, telephone or cable wires.
• Down a hallway after dropping off an item being discarded.
Inspection/Monitoring
Inspection/Monitoring
Inspection/Monitoring
Inspection/Monitoring
Inspection/Monitoring
Inspection/Monitoring
Inspection/Monitoring
Inspection/Monitoring
Inspection/Monitoring
Finally, the best trap is…
Inspection/Monitoring
…You!
Inspection/Monitoring
Inspection/Monitoring
Inspection/Monitoring
Where do you check?
Management
Management
Management
Management
Management
Cold
Management
Management
Management
Management
Things that don’t work:• Bed legs in kerosene or gasoline;• Thyme oil;• Abandoning the home for a period of time;• Turning up the heat;• Sleeping with lights on;• Sleeping in a different room;• Buying a new mattress;• Wrapping items in plastic and placing in the sun;• Pesticides, alone, often do not work.
Boston Globe - 1933
Bat Bug (C. adjunctus) Bed Bug (C. lectularius)
