Dr. Susan C. Jones Professor of Entomology

1. Bed Bug Biology/Behavior
and
Research Update
Dr. Susan C. Jones
Professor of Entomology

2. The Bed Bug
(Cimex lectularius)
Not caused by bad housekeeping!!
BED BUGS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE!
• Insects (true bugs)
• Typically feed at night
• Feed only on blood
• Prefer to feed on humans
• Alternate hosts:
rodents, bats, birds, pets
(cats, dogs, etc.)
• Cause significant economic,
physical, & mental distress

3. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
(IPM) :
Correctly identify the pest
+
Conduct a thorough inspection
+
Use sanitation measures
+
Use non-chemical measures
+
Apply insecticides to targeted sites

4. --A pictorial guide for recognizing bed bugs and other household pests
--Information on integrated pest management (IPM) strategies
http://u.osu.edu/bedbugs

5. – easily mistaken for bed bugs
– multiple symptoms including itching
(pruritus) and rash-- groups of spots; or
red, inflamed skin with or without
blisters
– complaints of being bitten by something
causing an intense itching and rash
– in some people, irritation of respiratory
tract and eyes
Know your Pest:
Carpet Beetles
furniture carpet beetle
Anthrenus flavipes
larvae
adults
black carpet beetle
Attagenus unicolor
larva
adult
pestcontrol-products
.com/beetle_facts.htm
Larval hairs can cause
dermatitis in humans

6. • Larvae feed on animal materials
– woolens, carpets, furs, hides, feathers, horns,
bones, hair, silk, fish meal, insect pupae, dead insects
– cause surface damage, misc. holes, uneven areas
• Larvae also feed on plant materials
– rye meal, corn, red pepper, rice, flour, wheat
• Adults feed primarily on pollen & nectar (esp. Spiraea spp.
& crape myrtle); pollen is required for egg production
Carpet Beetles
Bridal wreath spirea Japanese spirea Crape myrtle
varied carpet beetle
Anthrenus verbasci
James Kalisch, UNL Entomology
adults
larvae

7. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
(IPM) :
Correctly identify the pest
+
Conduct a thorough inspection
+
Use sanitation measures
+
Use non-chemical measures
+
Apply insecticides to targeted sites

8. It’s important to recognize the
telltale signs of bed bugs!
• Black fecal spots
• Shed skins & eggshells
• Live bed bugs (nymphs & adults)
• Blood stains from crushed bugs
• Welts on exposed skin
• Distinctive “buggy” odor
(in severe infestations)

9. In Electrical Outlets
Behind A Hanging Picture
In Carpeting
In Furniture

10. Bed Bug-Sniffing Dogs
• Dog and handler should be
specially trained and certified
• Enable rapid inspections
• Useful for large-scale inspections
• Expensive
• Much variability among canine
detection firms (10–100%
accuracy; mean accuracy 44%;
15% false positives [Cooper et al.
2014 JEE 107:2171-2181])
--Active Monitoring Tool--

11. SenSci ActivVolcano
• Volcano can be used alone as a passive
monitoring device
• Volcano with the Activ lure is an active
monitoring device
• Lure mimics chemicals on the
surface of human skin to attract
bed bugs
• Lure inside packet and absorbed in
a towelette (~$3 for Activ lure)
• Volcano has clear underside for ease of
inspection (esp. when lure isn’t used)
• Low maintenance (no dust)
--Active Monitoring Device--
Volcano monitor
Photos courtesy of Jeffrey White (BedBug Central)

12. Sticky Trap
Ineffectiveness
“Failures to detect bed
bugs occurred most often
in apartments with the
BDS [sticky] monitor.” Bed
bugs were trapped by
significantly more of the
pitfall monitors (Black
Climbup and BlackOut)
compared with BDS.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Pitfall - Climbup
BG
Pitfall -
BlackOut
Sticky -
BDS
% Apartments Detected
88%
79%
39%
(A) ClimbUp Insect Interceptor BG,(B)
BlackOut BedBug Detector, and the
sticky passive monitor, Bedbug Detection
System (BDS), positioned in preparation
for (C) inspection and (D) installation.

13. August 2010
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/
CDC & EPA
Joint
Statement

14. Bed Bug Bites
• Skin reactions (avg = 7 of 10 people)
• Redness
• Welts
• Itching
• Resemble bites from other insects & arthropods
• Typically no red spot at the center (such as with
fleas and black flies)
• Typically occur on exposed skin
• Neck and face; shoulders and arms; back; etc.
• Rarely occur on the palms or soles (such as with
scabies mites)
• Often occur in rows or groups
• Confirmation based on finding bed bug evidence

15. Health Effects from Bed Bugs
• Skin reactions (7 of 10 people on avg.)
• Redness
• Welts
• Itching
• Secondary bacterial infections
• Anemia
• Asthma
• Anaphylactic shock
• Psychological effects
• Sleeplessness
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Insecticide exposure
• …

16. Histamine, an essential part of the body’s immune system,
may be involved in immune system disorders & allergies.
Study Results:
• Bed bugs defecate lots of histamine (a component
of their aggregation pheromone).
• Bed bug-infested homes had much higher histamine
levels (~21x) in accumulated dust compared to un-
infested homes.
• High histamine levels persisted 3 months after bed
bug eradication.
• Bed bug-produced histamine near sleeping sites
may pose a serious health risk.
• Airborne histamine limits have yet to be defined.

17. • So far, no studies have shown that bed
bugs are able to spread human diseases.
• But cimicids (bed bug relatives) can
transmit disease to birds or bats.
• Certain human diseases can survive in
laboratory bed bugs—a worrying sign.
• Even without spreading disease, bed
bugs can cause many health problems.

18. What’s the status of the bed bug
epidemic in Ohio?

19. OSU’s Ohio Statewide Bed Bug Surveys
(2011 and 2016)
Survey regarding bed bug-related issues
emailed or mailed to pest management
companies and individuals licensed
(category 10A) to treat for bed bugs in Ohio
– 2011 survey
• Response Rate = 225/632 = 35.6%
– 2016 survey
• Response Rate = 329/1041 = 31.6%
pest
management
professionals
(PMPs)

20. Hamilton
Franklin
Cuyahoga
Butler
Stark
Cleveland
Cincinnati
Columbus
Toledo
Dayton
Akron
Canton
2011
Top counties for bed bugs:
• Franklin (2nd in pop. size)
• Hamilton (3rd in pop. size)
• Montgomery (5th in pop. size)
• Butler (8th in pop. size)
• Cuyahoga (1st in pop. size)
Note:
2011 heat map scale
is 4-5X higher than
2005 scale (1000–4000)
Estimated Total Number of Bed Bug Treatments
by Licensed PMPs in Each County

21. Cleveland
Cincinnati
Columbus
Toledo
Dayton
Akron
Canton
Hamilton
Franklin
Cuyahoga
Butler
Stark
LorainErieOttawa
Allen
Delaware
Marion
Top counties for bed bugs:
1) Franklin (ranked 2nd in pop. size )
2) Cuyahoga (ranked 1st in pop. size)
3) Lucas (ranked 6th in pop. size)
4) Hamilton (ranked 3rd in pop. size)
5) Summit (ranked 4th in pop. size)
Portage
Estimated Total Number of Bed Bug Treatments
by Licensed PMPs in Each County
2016Note:
2016 heat map scale
is 8-10X higher than
2005 scale (1000–4000)

22. OSU Survey: Bed Bug Treatment Sites
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
2011
2016
Average % of Work Done at Site Types
(Gov.
Subsidized)
(Not
Subsidized)
Residences made up the largest share of bed bug work,
especially multi-unit residences.

23. Some Basics of Bed Bug
Management
• Early detection and treatment are
very important.
• Bed bug control typically is much
faster and less expensive when the
infestation is detected early.

24. bedbugfoundation.org
Unfed adults: ~1/4 to
3/8 inch long
0.2 inch
The Bed Bug Life Cycle
Total developmental
time (egg to adult):
21 days @ 86F
120 days @ 65F

25. 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
 Adults (males & females)
 Require repeated blood meals
 Can live 12 – 18 months
 Can survive months of starvation
 Nymphs (immature bugs)
 Five nymphal stages
 Require a blood meal in order to grow

26. 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
• Typically avoid contact with human skin
(on-person infestations are uncommon
except in severe infestations,
wheelchairs, persons confined to bed)

27. •All stages of bed bugs moved extensively
within and between apts.
•Bugs moved from infested apts. to units on the
same floor, above floor, and below floor
•Bed bugs dispersed away from hosts and
toward hosts
•Female bugs appeared to be more active
dispersers than males

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

29. •Bed bugs were internally self-marked by feeding
on a blood meal (rabbit or chicken blood)
•Protein marks persisted over time, through
molts, and when marked bugs fed on other
blood types
•Protein marking can eliminate or reduce
handling time for mark-release-recapture
technique using external markers

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

31. --Bed Bug Hitchhikers—
in walker & wheelchair
Photos courtesy of General Pest Control Co.

32. --Bed Bug Hitchhikers—
in shoe tread

33. Bed Bugs In
Public Facilities
• Brought in by visitors, staff, etc.
• Brought in on clothing, coats, shoes, purses,
briefcases, wheelchairs, walkers, etc.
• Bugs then crawl into the facilities’ chairs,
carpeting, equipment, etc.
• A single bed bug does not warrant panic or
business closure!
– Early identification is very important
– Capture a bug for positive identification

34. Tips for Employees That Make
Home Visits
• Minimize items to be carried inside
• Don’t sit on beds, upholstered furniture,
or the floor
• Do a self-inspection immediately after
departing (thoroughly inspect shoes)
• Change into fresh clothing ASAP
(consider keeping a change of
clothes at work)
• Bag used items (seal the bag)
• Dissolvable laundry bags are an option
• Disinfect clothing by laundering & drying
Tyvek boot covers
Tyvek coveralls

35. Disinfect Items by
Laundering & Drying
(kills all bed bug life stages)
Launder clothing
• Wash in hot water (>120ºF)
• Keep dry items in drier on
medium-hot setting for >30 mins.

36. • Continuous freezing (for
small items) in chest
freezer or refrigerator-
freezer unit with disabled
“frost-free” setting
• ~19°F [-7°C] for 3 weeks
• ~5°F [-15°C] for 4 days)
There are limitations to using cold
temperatures for bed bugs:

37. Did you check for signs
of bed bugs in your
hotel/motel room when
you last traveled?

38. 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 (especially
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

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

40. *The Department of
Animal and Plant
Sciences, The
University of Sheffield,
Sheffield, UK
*
•Bed bugs were drawn to dirty clothing
rather than clean clothing.
•Dirty clothes in a hotel room may attract
resident bed bugs and thereby spread an
infestation to travelers.

41. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
(IPM) :
Correctly identify the pest
+
Conduct a thorough inspection
+
Use sanitation measures
+
Use non-chemical measures
+
Apply insecticides to targeted sites

42. Here’s a VERY important
DIY measure:
Remove clutter!
• Clutter offers many hiding places
for bed bugs
• Clutter makes bed bugs difficult
to detect
• Clutter makes bed
bugs difficult to treat

43. • Clothes dryer (dry items kept for
30 min. @ >120ºF [49°C])
• Vacuuming (heavy-duty
vacuum)
• Steaming (hand-held steamer)
• Continuous freezing (small
items) in chest freezer or
refrigerator-freezer unit with
disabled “frost-free” setting
• ~19°F [-7°C] for 3 weeks
• ~5°F [-15°C] for 4 days)
DIY sanitation measures can help reduce
the number of bed bugs:
Jones and Boggs.
2001. OSU Fact
Sheet HYG-2158

44. Vacuuming to contain bed bugs
Jones and Boggs. 2001. OSU Fact Sheet HYG-2158.

45. Reasons why residents
should not dispose of
furniture, mattresses, etc.:
• Bed bugs will fall off the furniture as it is being
moved, hence spreading the problem.
• Infested furniture usually can be treated.
• Bed bugs can quickly infest replacement
furniture.
• Items placed in dumpsters often are picked up
and reused, thereby spreading bed bugs to
other households.

46. Encase mattresses & box springs!
• Be sure to encase both the mattress & box springs
• Specialized encasements trap bed bugs and eggs
• May take 1 year to “starve bugs out”
• Restricts any new bug activity to the exterior of the
encasement, where bugs can be more easily treated
• Be careful not to tear or damage encasements and
make sure the zipper stays closed
• Some exs: Clean Rest, Mattress Safe, National Allergy
Supply, Protect-A-Bed, …
Measures to help reduce the
number of bed bugs

47. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
(IPM) :
Correctly identify the pest
+
Conduct a thorough inspection
+
Use sanitation measures
+
Use non-chemical measures
+
Apply insecticides to targeted sites

48. Bed Bug Treatment
Approaches
• Heat treatment (whole structure, container)
• Important to include
residual insecticide product(s)
• Insecticide treatment (dusts, liquids, aerosols)
• Residual insecticide products are essential
• Accompanied by non-chemical methods
• Fumigation (sulfuryl fluoride)
• Important to include
residual insecticide product(s)

49. Active Ingredient
(insecticide class)
Product Name(s)
Imidacloprid + ß-cyfluthrin
(neonicotinoid + pyrethroid)
Temprid®
SC
Acetamiprid + bifenthrin
(neonicotinoid + pyrethroid)
Transport®
Mikron
Transport®
GHP
Thiamethoxam + λ-cyhalothrin
(neonicotinoid + pyrethroid)
Tandem®
Dinotefuran + diatomaceous earth
(neonicotinoid + silica dioxide)
Prescription Treatment
Alpine®
Dust
Alpine®
PI
Chlorfenapyr
(halogenated pyrrole)
Phantom®
SC
Phantom®
PI
Amorphous silica gel CimeXa™
Clothianidin + metofluthrin + PBO
(neonicotinoid + pyrethroid + synergist)
CrossFire®
Some newer insecticides for use against bed bugs:

50. Bed bugs are developing resistance to newer insecticides…
• Field collected bed bugs showed high
levels of resistance to 4 neonicotinoids:
•Acetamiprid (1 of 2 AIs in Transport)
•Imidacloprid (1 of 2 AIs in Temprid)
•Thiamethoxam (1 of 2 AIs in Tandem)
•Dinotefuran (1 of 2 AIs in Alpine)
• Pyrethroid-resistant populations can
quickly become resistant to
neonicotinoids
• Of 10 field strains, reduced susceptibility was detected in
3 strains exposed to chlorfenapyr (Phantom; a
halogenated pyrrole) and 5 strains exposed to bifenthrin
(Talstar; a pyrethroid).
• Susceptibility to chlorfenapyr and bifenthrin seems to be
correlated despite the different insecticide classes.

51. Fungus –
Newly Marketed Biopesticide

52. Aprehend™ fungal biopesticide
• http://www.aprehend.com/
• Spray-on formula based on an insect-
infecting fungus found in nature
• Fungus quickly spreads from infected
bed bugs to uninfected bed bug
Product
cost:
$150
Sprayer cost: $130
Charging the battery can be
challenging. Be sure to
follow the directions AND
carry an extension cord!
--Jeff White, Bed Bug Central
NOTE: OSU does
not endorse
specific products
or services.

53. Aprehend™ application
• Sprayed strategically in areas with
high bed bug traffic
• Need to use other products for
mattress, cracks, etc.
http://www.aprehend.com/
NOTE: OSU does
not endorse
specific products
or services.

54. Observations re. Aprehend
• After treatment, bed bugs
were noted in odd locations
• Bugs found in sink, dining
room
• Multiple companies reporting
this phenomenon
Slide courtesy of Jeff White, Bed Bug Central

55. 2016
Alcohol
Insecticide
Dust or
Powder
OTC Fogger
“Natural”
Products
Home
Cleaner/
Disinfectant
Professional
Pesticide
2011
Alcohol
Insecticide
Dust or
Powder
OTC
Insecticide
Aerosol or
Liquid
OTC Fogger
Professional
Pesticide
OTC
Insecticide
Aerosol or
Liquid
OTC foggers, alcohol, home cleaners,
and “natural” products all increased
as share of misused products.

56. Percent (mean ± SE) of moribund and dead
adult bed bugs at day 7 after having been
sprayed with various alcohol products.
You will not kill many bed bugs by
spraying alcohol products. (You may
drown some with a thorough soaking).
Amount of spray

57. OSU’s Bed Bug Field Guide
• Free mobile app
• Bed bug identification, biology, and IPM
strategies at your fingertips
Coming Soon…
Collaboration between:
• EduTechnologic
• OSU Urban Entomology team
Funding provided by:
• EPA Region 5
• Ohio Dept. Agriculture (ODA)

58. Some useful resources on bed bugs

59. http://u.osu.edu/bedbugs
Features:
• Household insect ID card w
bed bug tips for printing
• Q&A
• Abstracts of research
publications

60. http://centralohiobedbugs.org
Features:
• Advice for specific groups (hospitality,
social work, schools, etc.)
• COBBTF conference presentations
• Links to resources specific to Central Ohio

61. http://www.cuyahogabedbugs.org/the-
cuyahoga-county-bed-bug-task-force
Features:
• CCBBTF conference presentations
• Links to resources specific to Cleveland area

62. https://www.bedbugs.umn.edu
Features:
• Fact sheets and resources in
numerous languages
• Video tutorials

63. https://nysipm.cornell.edu/whats-
bugging-you/bed-bugs
Features:
• Numerous downloadable fact sheets,
pamphlets, handouts, etc. with
illustrations
• Spanish-language fact sheets and
resources

64. https://www.bedbugcentral.com
Features:
• Many video tutorials
NOTE: OSU does
not endorse
specific products
or services.

65. Acknowledgments
• Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force
• Ohio Pest Management Association
• OSU Statistical Consulting Service
• Tae Lee
• Alden Siperstein
• Alex Tyrpak
• Sarah Casey
• Olimpia Ferguson

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

67. Questions?