Bed Bug Biology and Control

Bed Bug Nomenclature Are they Bedbugs or Bed bugs? European: Bedbug American: Bed bug Bed bugs are true bugs Insects in the order Hemiptera are known as bugs All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs http://www.worldtrip.co.uk/images/information/bed_bug.jpg

Bed Bugs True bugs in the order Hemiptera Exopterygote insects Have hemelytra or half-wings - Bed bugs have abbreviated wings True bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts Have glands that release repugnatorial substances

www.uos.harvard.edu/ehs/pes_bedbug.shtml

Bugs Bed bug Cimex lecturlarius Cimex hemipterus: tropical bed bug Other bugs that attack humans: Bat bug Swallow bug Poultry bug http://medent.usyd.edu.au/bedbug/temp/common_tropical_females.jpg

Bed Bug Pest Status From Walter Ebeling s text Urban Entomology Are grouped with lice, fleas and cockroaches which are all associated with bad housekeeping (which may or may not be the case) Can emit odors from scent glands that is noticeable to some people and has been referred to as a sweet smell

Bite Reactions and Disease Bites tend to occur around the head and upper torso It has been reported that only 30% of people bitten by bed bugs ever develop a reaction http://www.bed-bug.org/wp-content/uploads/bed-bug-bites.jpg

Bite Reactions Bite is painless Redness is a result of an allergic reaction to the saliva which acts as an anticoagulant http://medent.usyd.edu.au/bedbug/bites.jpg

Bed Bug Litigation When lawsuits occur after bed bug attacks, they can involve: Hotel or apartment personnel Pest Control Company Lawsuits are best avoided by being attentive and responsive to complainant http://medent.usyd.edu.au/bedbug/bites.jpg

Easily transported by humans Cluster in crevices Come out in the dark Needs blood to develop and produce eggs Suck blood and inject saliva that can cause irritation Carry pathogens but not known to transmit to humans Do not feed on baits

Reproduction Females lay between 10 to 50 eggs at a time in irregular masses Can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime Eggs are laid in hidden areas Attached with cement

Bed Bug Mating Mating is stressful for the female Male pierces the females abdomen to deposit sperm- a process called traumatic insemination Repeated matings in a short period of time can severely injure or kill the female www.bed-bugs.co.uk/gallerymain.htm

Nymphs hatch in a few days to a few weeks, depending on temperature Nymphs are lighter in color than adults may be very difficult to see Nymphs will go through 5 molts before becoming adults Bed Bug Nymphs

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http://www.entm.purdue.edu/publichealth/images/downloads/lifecycle-bedbug.jpg

Bed bugs prefer to aggregate or form clusters on rough surfaces Lay eggs where they aggregate and will return after feeding Deposits of cast skins, egg shells and fecal material build up over time Aggregation

From bed-bugs.co.uk: A major infestation where over 150 live bugs were counted. Aggregation

www.uos.harvard.edu/ehs/pes_bedbug.shtml

Aggregation and Feeding Prefer wood and paper over stone, plaster or metal Herms (1939) observed that when wood beds were used, bugs stayed close to points of attack When legs of beds were placed in cans of oil, bed bugs would climb onto the ceiling and drop down on top of victims

Bed bugs under plaster

Feeding Are nocturnal: feed at night Will complete a blood meal in 3 to 5 minutes Engorged bugs are plump and elongated http://www.ipmctoc.umn.edu/assets/images/bedbug_profile_sm.jpg

Bed Bug Longevity Dependent on: Whether or not they have fed Temperature Humidity Starvation and low temperatures cause bed bugs to enter a state of semihibernation http://www.aboway.com.tw/file/download/iceberg%202.jpeg

Longevity From Walter Ebeling s text Urban Entomology At 44.6 o F and 90% RH, unmated females survived for 550 days (almost two years) when kept without food At 73.4 o F and 90% RH, unmated females survived for 181 days (~ 6 months) With regular feeding, bugs lived for ~ 1 year

Low and High Temperatures If kept below freezing, eggs were killed in 2 weeks to 1 month Fed bugs can survive low temperatures longer than starved bugs At high temperatures > 113 o F: eggs, nymphs and adults were killed after a few minutes to hours, depending on developmental stage

Bed Bug Transport Suitcases Pilots and flight attendants Vacationers and business travelers Backpacks Trains Airplanes Itinerants Bedding Carts in hotels Microsoft office clip art

Bed Bug Control

Historical Bed Bug Control DDT was the insecticide of choice for control of bed bugs in the 40 s and later Resistance to DDT developed Resistance to DDT lasted for up to 5 years Malathion used as an alternate treatment

Historical Bed Bug Control Alternate insecticides Lindane Trichlorfon Dichlorvos Malathion Silica Aerogel Not recommended for mattress treatments http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/graphics1/lindane.jpg

http://www.moraca.org/node/116

Mattresses Mattresses may be enclosed in plastic cover, with zipper seams taped If discarded, should still be sealed to prevent infestation in hallways during removal Measures should be taken to prevent use of infested mattresses by others http://www.cooperpest.com/bedbugs/web/mattress_cover2.jpg

Successful Programs Include: Detailed inspections Detailed recommendations for initial and continued control Exclusion Sanitation Monitoring Multiple treatment strategies Follow-up

Non-Chemical Controls Bed bugs can harbor: Mattresses Bed frames Headboards Baseboards Wall voids Electrical sockets Popcorn ceilings Plaster Wallpaper Baits do no work Must improve sanitation Crevice reduction (sealing)

Non-Chemical Control Methods Laundering of all possible items: Bedding Clothes Stuffed toys Dry steam treatments Vacuuming Clutter removal http://www.washdays.co.uk/sta60009cropped.jpg

Chemical Controls Primarily pyrethroid chemistries Dr. Dini Miller (Virginia Tech) conducted research and found: Pyrethroids are not repellent to bed bugs Of the formulated pyrethroids, Demand CS was by far the most effective, even against highly resistant strains of bed bugs Non-repellent chemistries were ineffective in achieving residual control of bed bugs

Demand CS Insecticide

Bed bugs - Control Treatment of adjacent rooms Residual treatment to crevices Demand CS @ 0.4 or 0.8 oz/gal provides 3 to 6 month residual +

Demand CS Features High activity, low use rates No visible residue, no odor Microencapsulated formulationadheres to cuticle and tarsi of bedbugs where other residual treatments will not Long residual, resistant to ph Broad label; PCO, turf, ornamentals Food-handling uses Cost-competitive

Capsule Performance Insect with UV capsules Capsules adhere to insects Active ingredient diffuses through capsule coating when in contact with the insect s waxy cuticle Transfer effect with untreated insects

Demand CS releasing on insect

In Conclusion Bed bug infestations can occur anywhere Not necessarily related to sanitation Are very difficult to control Must use a truly integrated and thorough approach Repeated inspections are essential- even after no bugs are reported It only takes one female to re-establish an infestation

2008 Syngenta. Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. Greensboro, NC 27409. Important: Always read and follow label directions before buying and using these products. Demand CS and the Syngenta logo are registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Syngenta Customer Center: 1-866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368). www.securechoice.us Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. warrants that its products conform to the chemical description set forth on the products labels. NO OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, SHALL APPLY TO SYNGENTA PRODUCTS. Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. neither assumes nor authorizes any representative or other person to assume for it any obligation or liability other than such as is expressly set forth herein. IN NO EVENT SHALL SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION, INC. BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY USE OR HANDLING OF ITS PRODUCTS. No statements or recommendations contained herein are to be construed as inducements to infringe any relevant patent now or hereafter in existence.