SLEEP TIGHT , DON’T LET THE BED BUGS BITE”

Dean Geller- Technical SupervisorIntegrated Pest Management GroupManitoba Housing

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OUTLINE The Epidemic Bed Bug Phobia Bed Bug Identification Life Cycle Bed Bug Feeding Habits & Behaviour Habitat How Do You Know if You Have a Bed Bug Infestation Remediation and Control Protecting Yourself From an Infestation Questions

THE EPIDEMIC HOW WIDE SPREAD ARE BED BUGS?

WORLD DISTRIBUTION

The increase in numbers may be due to changes in modern pest control practices.

This includes the use of insect-specific baits and gels, which do not work for bed bug control.

The prohibition of previously successful pesticides. Pesticide resistant bed bugs More people are traveling which increases the

chance of bringing the insect back in their luggage Use of second hand furniture or clothing Increased urbanization Poverty

Why are bed bug numbers increasing?

Bed Bug Phobia

6

Bed bugs do not spread disease - TRUE Bed bug are caused by poor sanitation or filthy

conditions - FALSE Unlike lice and fleas, bed bugs do not live on people

or animals - TRUE Bed bugs can’t jump or fly, so you can’t suddenly be

infested with they just by being in a room that has them - TRUE

Bed bugs are restricted to the poor. FALSE, anyone can get them

True or False?

WHAT ARE BED BUGS? Bed bugs are small wingless insects that feed solely

on the blood of warm-blooded animals.

Bed bugs look a lot like wood ticksHumans are the primary host.Bed bugs will feed on rodents or birds when a

human blood meal is not available.There are other similar types of bugs – Bat bugs

IDENTIFICATION

Bed Bugs – Size – Shape – Colour There are seven stages to the life of a bed bug:

Eggs are 1.5 mm in length and are white in colourHatchlings or 1st Instar nymph are clear in colour before feeding and

are 1.5 mm in length (size of a poppy seed)Adults are brown to red in colour, oval in shape and flat when viewed

from the side. (thickness of one credit card before feeding and 3 credit cards after feeding)

Adults are approximately 5.5 mm in length (size of an apple seed)

IDENTIFICATION

Instar Bed Bug Nymph On Finger

BED BUGS BEFORE AND AFTER FEEDING

BED BUG LIFE CYCLE

7 Stages for a bed bug

Egg – 1 mm (impervious to insecticide while inside)First stage larvae – 1.5 mmSecond stage larvae – 2.0 mmThird Stage larvae – 2.5 mmFourth stage larvae – 3.0 mmFifth stage larvae – 4.5 mmAdult Stage – 5.5 mm (size of an apple seed, able to procreate)

With each stage there is a required blood meal and then a moulting

BED BUG LIFE CYCLE

Life Cycle◦ Females lay ~200 eggs◦ Eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks◦Nymphs start to feed

immediately◦Nymph stage is 14-30 days◦ Entire life cycle is 4-9

weeks(in a perfect world!)◦Adults may survive up to

18 months or more without feeding

Bed Bugs – Cimex Lectularius

Bed bugs have an unusual mating behaviour that is known as traumatic insemination. The male bug penetrates the females body with a modified copulatory organ called a paramere

Females lay 200 to 500 eggs in life cycle

These eggs are laid over multiple days and multiple places

Eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks

Bed bugs are most active at night, but are opportunists who will feed if necessary during the day depending on the sedentary habits of the host.

They are attracted to heat (body warmth) and Co2, i.e. Breathing The feed mainly on human blood and feed for 3 to 10 minutes Their bite is painless and may result in a small red itchy bump. Unlike fleas or lice, bed bugs do not live on people, but only visit them to

feed. After feeding, bed bugs generally crawl to a hiding place to digest their

meal and molt to the next life cycle stage. Bed bugs that develop solely on human hosts are usually moved from one

location to the next on infested furniture, bedding and/or transfer by humans

The may migrate in multi-unit buildings to other suites along heating/plumbing/electrical conduits or pipes.

Bed Bug Feeding Habits

BED BUG BITES #2

Bed Bug Bite #3

HABITAT

Bed bugs do not live on people although they sometimes unintentionally hitchhike.

They hide in cracks & crevasses where they won’t be disturbed.

Bed bug like to be close to their blood source, but they will travel when necessary.

Bed Bugs around and in joint in table leg

Bed Buds in the Cording of a Mattress

Bed bugs in the fold of the mattress

Is there physical evidence of an infestation?• Are you or the occupants being bitten?• Are there blood spots on your bedding or

clothing?

Are you finding feces, moulted skin?

Do you notice an offensive, sweet, musty odour which comes from a bedbug’s scent glands?

How Do You Know if You Have Bed Bugs?

During the day, bed bugs tend to hide close to where they feed; for example, where people sleep.

Bedbugs are attracted by heat(body) and Co2(breathing)

Bedbugs do not have nests, but they do tend to gather and hide in routine places.

If bedbugs are present, there will be dark spotting and staining on your sheets, mattress, pillow, carpets and clothing.

Bed Bug Inspection

Pull drawers out of dressers and check the inside. Check under lamps on nightstands

Check cracks and crevices along baseboards and walls.

Check torn or loose wallpaper, decorative borders, and behind paintings and pictures.

Check the seams of your mattress and/or boxspring

Conceivably check any crack the width of a credit card

Bed Bug Inspection

Bed bugs under fabric of futon

Bed bugs on box spring liner

•Reduce clutter and hoarding•Regular vacuuming and bag removal•Use hot water to wash soiled laundry or alternatively dry clean.•Dry clothing in the dryer for about 20-30 minutes on high heat•Use climb-up interceptors around the legs of the bed. Double sided taped also works•Install bed bug proof mattress covers and encasements•Move furnishings away from the perimeter of the room

Prior to

Extermination

Getting Rid of Bed Bugs

Preparation Guidelines• It is very important that tenants follow the preparation guidelines provided by their

landlord or hired pest control contractor.• Proper preparation is key to reducing to eradicating bed bugs.

• Provides access to all areas for treatment• Removes harbourage locations• Reduces physical activity at location

•Is the physical killing or removal of bed bugs•Is the exclusion or encapsulating of bed bugsMechanical

•Spraying of the suite or bed bugs using contact and/or residual chemical plus in some cases, use of insecticide dust.Chemical

•Heat the building and contents to a minimum of 120F / 49C. Contents could also be heat treated off-site. Time consumingHeat

Getting Rid of Bed BugsExtermination

•Plan your attack!!!•Tenants generally require 5-8 days of advance notice and may require outside agencies for assistance.•Extermination usually requires more than one visit and may take weeks or months or even years•PREPARATION is KEY!!!

Extermination

Take Time

Getting Rid of Bed Bugs

The best way to prevent bed bug problems is to keep them out of your home in the first place.

Do not bring infested items into your home. Closely check or inspect your luggage or the and clothing,

Check the luggage and clothing of your guests, especially after travel to other countries

Be wary of second hand furniture and clothing and inspect them very carefully before bringing them into your home.

Remove or destroy wild animal roosts and bird nests in or on your house.

How can bed bug problems be prevented?

The best way to prevent bed bug problems is to keep them out of your home in the first place.

Do not bring infested items into your home. Closely check or inspect your luggage or the and clothing,

Check the luggage and clothing of your guests, especially after travel to other countries

Be wary of second hand furniture and clothing and inspect them very carefully before bringing them into your home.

Remove or destroy wild animal roosts and bird nests in or on your house.

Observe Certain Personal PrecautionsDo not sit on upholstered furniture if you think the location has

a bed bug concern. Stay to hard chairsDo not place your purse, jacket, bag, etc on the furniture or even

set it down on the floorEnsure that the room is brightly litDo not wear loose clothing with cuffs.In badly infested homes or suites wear a tyvex suit with tyvex

foot wear.Upon return to home, have a clean change of clothes available

to change into, place your soiled clothing directly into a sealed plastic bag before entering your home. Run clothes wash and dry asap using hot water and a medium to medium-hot dry cycle.

Visiting and don’t know if there are Bed Bugs?

Province of Manitoba Bed Bug Website – www.manitoba.ca/bedbugs , ph. 1-855-3MB-BUGS(1-855-362-2847) or email: bedbugs@gov.mb.ca

www.bedbugger.com (US website) Province of Ontario site – www.bedbugsinfo.ca Google Dr. Michael F Potter of the University of

Kentucky or Dr. Lou Sorkin, Entomologist from American Museum of Natural History

www.bedbugcentral.com (US website)

Bed Bug Resources and Websites

QUESTIONS

Who will you be sleeping with tonight?

Dean GellerTechnical SupervisorIPMG-Manitoba Housing