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?

• 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

Dini M. Miller, PhD., Dept of Entemology, Virginia Tech Purdue University Cooperative Extension Northern Kentucky Health Department 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

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Mosquito Bites

Tick

Bat Bug

Cockroach Nymph

Carpet Beetle

Cockroach

Easily climbs smooth surfaces.

Can’t climb smooth surfaces.Pads vs. No Pads

Bed bugSite for pesticide absorption

None here

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 TREATMENTINSPECTION MORE DIFFICULT INSPECTION

MUST LOOK FOR LIVE INSECTS AND EGGS

MUST SEARCH FURTHER AWAY FROM BED

Where are bed bugs found inside dwellings?

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Mattresses

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 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

Primary Bed Bug Harborage

~70%5 feet

Secondary Bed Bug Harborages

~23%

“Other” Bed Bug Harborages

~7%

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

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

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

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

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

Equipment for Heat Treatment

6 polystyrene sheets

2 box fans2 heaters

Extension cordsand power strip

1 oscillating fan

Temperature Monitoring

Thermometers Data Loggers

Room Setup for Heat

Treatment

Vials of Bed Bugs

Room Setup Live bed bugs Data loggers Thermometer

sensors Placement

Under pillows on mattress

In cabinetUnder mattress

Placement of Fans and Heaters

Prepared Room

PANELS GOING TOGETHER

TOP GOING ON

HEAT CHAMBER

Heat Chamber

141 F

Room

Under mattress

Under pillow

Under mattressUnder pillow

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 LEGISLATIONBeg Bug Bills Last

Session Senate Bill No. 846 House Bill No. 1207

Key terms: negligence, implied habitability