1. Bed Bugs 101
(abbreviated version for web)
Dr. Susan C. Jones
Associate Professor
Dept. of Entomology

2. First things first:
Don’t use bug bombs to
treat bed bugs!
- ”Bug Bombs” (“foggers”) don’t work
- Few bugs will be killed!
- “Bug Bombs” may cause bed bugs to scatter!!!
“Bug Bombs” will worsen the
bed bug problem!!

3. BED BUG HABITS
• Cannot fly
• Can walk very fast
•
Typically hide during the day in dark,
protected sites (esp. cracks & crevices)
• Prefer fabric, wood, and paper surfaces
•
• Can cling tightly to surfaces

4. Bed bugs are very
good hitchhikers!
Bed bugs can be moved from one
place to another by hiding in:
• luggage
• furniture
• bedding
• backpacks, purses, briefcases
• clothing
• …

5. Bed Bugs Hiding in Luggage

6. In multi-family housing, bed bugs readily
spread to units that are adjacent, below,
and above the infested unit.

7. Some Reasons For the
Resurgence of Bed Bugs
• International travel and commerce
• Housing with high tenant turnover
• Pesticide use has changed
– Pesticide bans
– Baits to control ants & cockroaches
• Insecticide resistance

8. Some Reasons For the
Resurgence of Bed Bugs
• International travel and commerce
• Housing with high tenant turnover
• Pesticide use has changed
– Pesticide bans
– Baits to control ants & cockroaches
• Insecticide resistance

9. Bed Bugs
(Cimex lectularius)
• Insects (true bugs)
• Temporary external parasites
• Feed only on blood
• Often closely associated with
hosts’ sleeping or resting sites
(hide in many places)
Not caused by bad housekeeping!!
BED BUGS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE!

10. Bed Bug Feeding Habits
• Typically feed at night
• Prefer to feed on humans
• May feed on other animals
• rodents, bats, birds
• pets (cats, dogs, etc.)
• Locate their host using cues such as
carbon dioxide and heat

11. If you wake up with itchy, red welts that
weren’t there when you went to bed,
perhaps its bed bugs.
BED BUGS BITES:
• Initial bite is painless
• Resemble bites from other
insects & kin
• Some clues that it may be
bed bug bites:
• Typically are on exposed
skin
• Often in groups or rows
Confirmation based on
finding bed bug evidence

12. Injury From Bed Bugs
• Allergic reaction in ~70% of humans
• Welts
• Severe itching
• Anemia
• Asthma
• Scratching of bites increases inflammation,
can lead to secondary bacterial infections
• No conclusive evidence of disease
transmission (reviewed by Goddard & deShazo.
2009. JAMA 301(13): 1358-1366)

13. INJURY FROM BED BUGS
• Sleeplessness
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Economic hardship
•…

14. August 2010
CDC & EPA
Joint
Statement
Bed bugs are a
pest of significant
public health
importance!
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/Publications/Bed_Bugs_CDC-EPA_Statement.htm
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/bedbugs/

15. How to recognize if
it’s a bed bug
• Beak-like mouthparts
• Oval shaped body
• Adults: ~1/4 to 3/8 inch long
• Body flattened (unfed)
• Body swollen (recently fed)

16. Egg
~0.04 inch (1 mm) long
Glued in place
1st stage nymph
~0.06 inch (1.5 mm) long
Takes a blood meal
then molts
Adult (male & female)
LIFE CYCLE
~0.26 inch (6.5 mm) long
Takes repeated blood meals;
OF THE
life span ~1 to 1½ yrs
BED BUG 2nd stage nymph
~0.08 inch (2 mm) long
Takes a blood meal
(Cimex lectularius) then molts
Note: These images depict bugs with
a partly digested blood meal.
© The Ohio State University
Dr. Susan C. Jones &
Benjamin R. Diehl
5th stage nymph
~0.18 inch (4.5 mm) long 3rd stage nymph
Takes a blood meal ~0.1 inch (2.5 mm) long
then molts Takes a blood meal
4th stage nymph then molts
~0.12 inch (3 mm) long
Takes a blood meal then molts

17. IDENTIFICATION SERVICES
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH)
– A free service to Ohioans
– ID insects, spiders or other arthropods of medical or public
health significance (e.g., bed bugs, wasps, flies, maggots, ...)
– Submit the sample via your local health dept.
The Ohio State University
– Fee for identification services ($20 for insect sample)
– ID wide variety of insects and arthropods and plant diseases
– OSU submission form available online:
http://ppdc.osu.edu

18. Life History Characteristics Show
That Bed Bug Numbers Can Quickly
Skyrocket … (Early Detection and Treatment
are Very Important)
 Eggs
 Glued in place
 1 – 12 eggs / day / female
 A single female can produce ~150 eggs
 Hatch in 6 – 17 days
 Nymphs (immature bugs)
 Five nymphal stages
 Require a blood meal in order to grow
 Adults (males & females)
 Require repeated blood meals
 Can live 12 – 18 months
 Can survive months of starvation

19. Where do bed bugs hide?
• Mattresses, box springs
• Bed frames
• Furniture
• Carpets and rugs
• Cracks and crevices
• Baseboards
• Window frames and door frames
• Electric outlets and switch plates
• Drapery pleats
• Peeling wallpaper
• Carpet tack strip
• Suitcases
•…

20. Bed Bugs Hiding in
Mattresses and Box Springs

21. Bed Bugs Hiding in Furniture
bed frame

22. Bed Bugs Hiding Behind A
Hanging Picture

23. Bed Bug Prevention
• Recognize the tell tale signs
of bed bugs
• Take measures to reduce the
risk of getting bed bugs
• Prevent bugs from spreading
to new sites

24. BED BUG PREVENTION
FOR TRAVELERS
Make it STANDARD PRACTICE to check
for bed bugs in hotel/motel rooms!
• Pull back the bedding and look for black fecal spots on mattress
& box springs (esp. seams)
• Carefully examine the underside of the bed skirt
• Look for bb signs along bed frame (especially head board)
• Open nightstand drawers and look for bb signs along inner and
outer edges
• Look for bb signs along baseboards
DON’T STAY IN A ROOM THAT HAS BB SIGNS

25. BED BUG PREVENTION
FOR TRAVELERS
Reduce the chances of getting bed
bugs from hotel/motel rooms!
• Keep clothes in your zipped suitcase
• Don’t keep clothes in hotel chest-of-drawers
• OK to hang clothes in closet
• Keep your suitcase on the luggage rack
(after first inspecting it for bb signs)
• Don’t store your suitcase on the bed, floor,
or upholstered furniture
• The bathroom (tub) is the best place to store your items!

26. Contact a professional pest control
company to treat for bed bugs
• Make sure properly
licensed to apply
pesticides
• ODA web site lists
licensed pest mgt.
companies and
applicators

27. Contact a professional pest control
company to treat for bed bugs
Once you’ve made sure they are properly
licensed to apply pesticides:
• It’s advisable to obtain at least 3
estimates
• Check for satisfied customer references
that relate to bed bug control
• Recognize that bed bug control typically
takes several insecticide treatments

28. DO NOT use “bug bombs”
against bed bugs!
- ”Bug Bombs” (“foggers”) don’t work
- Few bugs will be killed!
- “Bug Bombs” may cause bed bugs to
scatter!!!
“Bug Bombs” will worsen the
bed bug problem!!

29. What if can’t pay for treatment?
• Follow steps for prep (clean,
vacuum)
• Contact exterminators to see if
payment plan is option
• Try to limit exposure to invested
areas to limit spread

34. DO NOT use “bug bombs”
against bed bugs!
- ”Bug Bombs” (“foggers”) don’t work
- Few bugs will be killed!
- “Bug Bombs” may cause bed bugs to
scatter!!!
“Bug Bombs” will worsen the
bed bug problem!!

35. Thank You!
Sleep tight,
and don’t let the …
… well, you know the rest