Reemergence of bed bugs in the U.S.

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Re-emergence of bed bugsin the U.S.

• Abelardo C. Moncayo, Ph.D.
• Vector-Borne Disease Section
• Tennessee Department of Health

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Historical perspective

• Bed bugs have plagued humans for thousands of
  years
• Origin of relationship remains unclear
• Originally a problem for the wealthy
• Enhanced by fire and heated homes
• Present in literature as far back as 400 B.C.E.

3
Decline of bed bugs

• Three major factors
• DDT use in 1950s
• Improved vacuum cleaners
• Changes in home construction

4
Current status

• targeted pest treatments bans, frequent travel
  have led to a bed bug resurgence in the U.S.
• 300 increase in cases from 2000 to 2001
• 70 increase in cases in 2002 and 2003
• Orkin had a 20 increase in bed bug calls in 2004
• Reports of bed bugs in 43 states last year
• Chemical companies are reluctant to enter the bed
  bug market because of failure to control
• Difficult to detect, to treat, and often to
  identify

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Family Cimicidae The bed bugs

• About 91 species in 22 genera
• 12 genera only parasitize bats
• 9 genera only parasitize birds
• 3 species parasitize humans
• Cimex lectularius (worldwide)
• Cimex hemipterus (tropics)
• Leptocimex boueti (West Africa)
• Other species of concern (may bite people)
• Bat bug (Cimex adjunctus)
• Swallow bug (Oeciacus vicarius)
• Chimney Swift Bug (Cimexopsis nyctalis)
• Question of origin
• Humans in caves
• Bats in homes

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Human-biting bed bugs
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In Tennessee ??
Most likely 3 species
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Identification

• Adults 1/4 to 3/8 long
• Brown to reddish brown
• Oval shaped
• Flattened
• Beak-like mouthparts
• Small, stubby, nonfunctional wing pads
• Obnoxiously sweet odor

BED BUG
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Habits

• External parasites that feed on blood
• Humans are the preferred host !
• However - also feed on birds, rodents, bats,
  pets
• Feed during the night with peak activity
  occurring just before dawn
• Seek refuge during daylight in dark, protected
  areas
• Prefer dry fabric, wood, and paper surfaces
• Fast-moving

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Injury

• Painless bite
• Reaction to the injected saliva (individual
  variability)
• Swelling
• Rows of welts
• Severe itching (hours to days)
• No conclusive evidence of disease transmission
• Hepatitis B
• Chagas Disease
• Anxiety

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Immediate Bite Reactions
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Delayed Reactions ( 24 hrs.)
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Life Cycle

• Egg
• Female can lay 1-12 eggs per day
• Deposited on rough surfaces or in cracks and
  crevices
• Hatch in 6-17 days

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Life Cycle

• Nymph
• 5 instars
• Require a blood meal to molt

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Life Cycle

• Adult
• May live for 12-18 months
• Total developmental time takes 21 days _at_ 86?F
  and 120 days _at_ 65?F
• Nymphs and adults can survive for more than a
  year without Food !!

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Feeding - Several Instars
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Engorged Nymphs-1 2
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Engorging Adults N - 2
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Prevention

• Dont bring infested items into the home
• Inspect clothing and baggage of travelers
• Inspect secondhand beds, bedding, and furniture
• Exclude alternative hosts (birds, bats, rodents,
  etc.)
• Caulk cracks crevices in buildings exterior
• Repair or screen openings

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Integrated Pest Management(IPM)

• Correctly identify the pest
• Thoroughly inspect the premises to locate
  harborage sites
• Encourage sanitary conditions
• Apply insecticides to targeted sites

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Inspection tipsrecognize common signs

• Blood stains from crushed bugs
• Fecal spots
• Shed skins eggshells
• Offensive, sweet, musty odor

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Inspection tipscommon harborage sites

• Cracks and crevices
• Mattress, box springs, bed frame
• Window and door frames
• Baseboards
• Carpet tack boards
• Electrical boxes
• Wall hangings
• Drapery pleats
• Loosened wallpaper
• Ceiling moldings

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Sanitation

• Vacuum mattress and premises
• (dispose of vacuum bag) ??
• Scrub mattress seams
• Dry clean or launder bedding and clothing in
  hot water - Dry on high heat.
• Repair plaster cracks
• Glue loosened wallpaper
• Remove wild animal roosts and nests

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Chemical control

• Hundreds of products registered for use on bed
  bugs in US
• Formulations
• 196 pressurized liquids
• 90 ready-to-use solutions
• 53 emulsifiable concentrates
• 47 dusts
• Chemicals
• 196 Permethrin
• 140 Pyrethrins
• 12 variations of -thrins

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Insecticides

• Residual insecticides
• Spot treat harborage sites
• Dust formulations useful for wall voids and
  attics
• Use only an appropriately labeled insecticide
  on mattresses
• No insecticides are labeled for use on bedding
  or linens

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Misconceptions

• Foreigners
• Poor
• Homeless
• Reports
• Type O blood, etc

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Bed Bug Emergency Response Plan (BBERP)