Bed Bugs - Public Policy Research Center - University of Missouri

Online at pprc.umsl.edu/bedbugs/

BED BUGS  HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN A LIVE BED BUG?  HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED A BED BUG INFESTATION?  HOW MANY USE A CONTRACTOR FOR PEST MANAGEMENT?

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A partnership of the Public Policy Research Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the St. Louis Lead Prevention Coalition. A 12-month project Funded by a grant from the EPA

Special Thanks to the following for their assistance, their expertise, and permission to use materials 

Erik Foster, MS, Medical Entomologist, Michigan Department of Community Health and the Michigan Bed Bug Working Group

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Dini M. Miller, PhD., Dept of Entemology, Virginia Tech

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Purdue University Cooperative Extension

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Northern Kentucky Health Department

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Philip J. Alexakos, MPH, REHS, Manchester Health Department

TEMPERATURE EFFECTS -Below ~55˚ Development stops -Above ~99˚ Development stops

-Thrive at temps between ~68˚ F - 80˚ F -Die at Temps > 113˚F or < 32 ˚F

Adults  Temperature affects life-span  At 98°, females live an average

of 32 days while males live an average of 29 days  At 50°, females live an average of 425 days while males live an average of 401 days

 Females can lay between 200

and 500 eggs in their lifetime (Johnson 1942, Usinger 1966)

½ of the blood ingested is lost by defecation within 5 hours.

Can be confused with…     

Ticks Cockroach nymphs Bat bugs Carpet beetles Other kinds of bug bites Carpet Beetle

Tick

Mosquito Bites

Cockroach Nymph

Bat Bug 22

Cockroach

Bed bug Site for pesticide absorption

None here

Easily climbs smooth surfaces.

Pads vs. No Pads

Can’t climb smooth surfaces.

FOCUS ON INSPECTIONS  INSPECTIONS ARE AS CHALLENGING AS TREATMENTS  PROPER INSPECTIONS REQUIRE TIME  INSPECTIONS CAN BE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGING

TWO TYPES OF INSPECTIONS  INITIAL INSPECTION  POST TREATMENT INSPECTION

INITIAL INSPECTION

 SEARCHING FOR

ANY INDICATION OF INFESTATION  LIVE INSECTS  CAST SKINS  BLOOD SPOTS

POST TREATMENT INSPECTION  MORE DIFFICULT INSPECTION  MUST LOOK FOR LIVE INSECTS AND EGGS  MUST SEARCH FURTHER AWAY FROM BED

Where are bed bugs found inside dwellings?

Mattresses

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Bed Components

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Headboards

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Furniture

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Furniture

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Carpets, Padding, Baseboards

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Basic Inspection Tips  Check for small stains on furniture and  

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bedding Look for shed skins, amber in color Check crevices Check screw and nail holes Turn over furniture to check underside Pull out drawers and inspect all sides

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Secondary Bed Bug Harborages

“Other” Bed Bug Harborages

~23%

~7%

Primary Bed Bug Harborage ~70%

5 feet

Lessons Learned  Waiting too long makes an infestation impossible to completely eradicate  Active surveillance continues  Quick response to new sightings

 Must be a carefully coordinated effort  Must have the support of the property owner and ALL

tenants  Pick up of infested materials must be timely

 Education and ongoing assessments are a must

Lessons Learned  Must identify barriers to success  Languages and Literacy  $$$  New or “gently used” replacement items  Laundry  Relocation  New Tenants  Reducing the “stigma” of reporting

General Protection Tips: Home Visitors  Carry as few extra items with you as possible  Do not bring bags or personal items inside  Consider bringing a portable stool, and sit toward the    

middle of the room If stool not possible, sit on hard chair Do not sit on beds or plush furniture Check clothing after visit and before entering car Put belongings in clear plastic bags

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Protection Tips: Field Workers  Use separate clothes and shoes for field work

 Shake clothes outside before entering car  Change clothes at work  Seal field clothes in clear plastic bag for

laundering  Inspect own living and work space regularly

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Protection Tips: In the Office  Limit personal belongings clients bring in

 Limit plush furniture  Inspect office regularly  Hire pest control at any sign of bed bugs

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Protection Tips: Maintenance Workers  Wear Tyvek suit or other coveralls

 Seal coveralls in plastic bag after use and discard  Dedicate a vacuum for pest control

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BUG DETECTING DOGS  COULD BE THE FUTURE OF INSPECTIONS  MUCH QUICKER

 SIGNIFICANTLY MORE ACCURATE

BED BUG DOGS ADVANTAGES  PROVEN TO BE 96% ACCURATE  CAN INSPECT A ROOM IN A MATTER OF

MINUTES  ARE A MARKETING MAGNET

BED BUG DOGS LIMITATIONS  CAN NOT SEARCH UP HIGH  WORK BEST WHEN PAIRED WITH SAME

HANDLER  NEED REINFORCEMENT TRAINING

ALMOST DAILY

6 polystyrene sheets

Equipment for Heat Treatment 2 heaters

2 box fans

1 oscillating fan Extension cords and power strip

Temperature Monitoring

Thermometers

Data Loggers

Room Setup for Heat Treatment

Vials of Bed Bugs

Room Setup  Live bed bugs

Under pillows on mattress

 Data loggers  Thermometer sensors  Placement In cabinet

Under mattress

Placement of Fans and Heaters

Prepared Room

PANELS GOING TOGETHER

TOP GOING ON

HEAT CHAMBER

Heat Chamber

Under pillow Room Under mattress

Under pillow

Under mattress

141 F

Temperatures during a 2 hour 20 minute Treatment

Start

End

All bed bugs died

Equipment Costs $312.89       

2 Space heaters 6 Polystyrene sheets 2 Box fans 1 Oscillating fan 2 Thermometers 2 Extension cords; power strip Duct or packing tape

WHOLE ROOM HEAT  THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT ARE

PERFORMING WHOLE ROOM HEAT  TWO DIFFERENT ENERGY SOURCES  PROPANE  ELECTRICITY

WHOLE ROOM HEAT USING PROPANE GAS  WORKS GREAT IF ALL ROOMS ARE GROUND FLOOR  NEED A READY

SOURCE OF PROPANE  MAY TAKE UP TO 24 HOURS

WHOLE ROOM HEAT USING ELECRICITY  115 VOLT HEATERS REQUIRE 6 15 AMP CIRCUITS TO OPERATE

 460 VOLT HEATERS NEED A GENERATOR  GETS RATHER

EXPENSIVE

MANUFACTURERS  Temp Air – http://www.temp-air.com/thermal/index.asp  Pest-Heat (manufacture of heat generating equipment)  http://www.pestheat.com/index.html  ThermaPureHeat –

http://www.thermapure.com/bedbugs.php

Now What…  Bedbug Policy Task Force  Policy Change  Reducing risk factors  Curbside bedding/furniture pick-up

 Addressing areas of concern  Used furniture and clothing operations

 Increase funding to treat/support treatment

 Public Education  Increase access to educational materials  Reduce stigma

MISSOURI LEGISLATION  Beg Bug Bills Last Session  Senate Bill No. 846  House Bill No. 1207

Key terms: negligence, implied habitability