Bed Bugs and ME

James DillPest Management SpecialistUniversity of Maine Cooperative Extension

Sleep Tight

Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite!

Bed Bug Explosion

Why?

Why are they back? Why now?

• Massive resurgence in last 10-15 yrs.– Changes in other pest management practices,

cockroaches, ants…– Lack of everyday knowledge and experience

of dealing with bed bugs– Travel? We’ve always traveled..although

there are routes of transmission here.– Used furniture, reconditioned mattresses– Lack of government involvement

Biology

Adult

Cimex lectularius

How Big are Bed Bugs?

Eggs

© Gary Alpert, Harvard University © Boston Bed Bug Authority

Nymphs

Nymphs

© Texas A&M

Mouthparts

Bed Bug Bites

UW Entomology

From Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann

From Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann

From Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann

Health effects of bed bugs

• Bed bugs do not vector disease organisms.

• They may carry hepatitis B in their gut but no transmission known.

• What bacteria do they carry on their bodies?

• Secondary infection – cellulitis resulting from bed bug bites – has been documented.

Health effects of bed bugs

• Cause anemia in severe cases.

• Bites on skin are unpleasant, may scar, and can rarely result in systemic allergic reactions.

• Cause stress, anxiety, sleeplessness (10-20% of fatal accidents from fatigue)

• Large economic cost to sufferers, which exacerbates emotional issues.

Fear and anxiety• The only way for a bed bug sufferer to

know whether their infestation is eliminated is to WAIT to be bitten again.

• Anticipation of being bitten again causes anxiety and stress, and even the delusion that every itch is a bed bug bite.

• This may trigger delusory parasitosis and other psychological issues.

Other Hosts

Bed Bug

Life Cycle5 mm

Dispersal

Methods of bed bug introduction

Passive• Bed bug is introduced

from another infested location, but not by its own locomotion

• Furniture• Mattress• Guests• Employees• Travel bags

Active• Bed bug migrates by

walking from an infested area.

• From one room to another• From one apartment to

another via pipes, telephone or cable wires.

• Down a hallway after dropping off an item being discarded.

Inspection/Monitoring

Inspection/Monitoring

Inspection/Monitoring

Inspection/Monitoring

Inspection/Monitoring

Inspection/Monitoring

Inspection/Monitoring

Inspection/Monitoring

Inspection/Monitoring

Finally, the best trap is…

Inspection/Monitoring

…You!

Inspection/Monitoring

Inspection/Monitoring

Inspection/Monitoring

Where do you check?

Management

Management

Management

Management

Management

Cold

Management

Management

Management

Management

Things that don’t work:• Bed legs in kerosene or gasoline;• Thyme oil;• Abandoning the home for a period of time;• Turning up the heat;• Sleeping with lights on;• Sleeping in a different room;• Buying a new mattress;• Wrapping items in plastic and placing in the sun;• Pesticides, alone, often do not work.

Boston Globe - 1933

Bat Bug (C. adjunctus) Bed Bug (C. lectularius)