Canine Bed Bug Detection:

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Canine Bed Bug Detection

• Philip G. Koehler
• Margie Dempsey Sapp Endowed Professor of Urban
  Pest Management
• University of Florida
• Department of Entomology and Nematology
• Building 970
• Gainesville, FL. 332611

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Bed Bug Detection

• Visual detection difficult
• Early infestations go unnoticed
• Early control more likely to succeed, and these
  infestations are less likely to spread and are
  cheaper to control

15 bed bug nymphs in slots of drywall screw
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Bed Bug Infestations

• Active
• Live bed bugs
• Eggs
• Inactive
• Dead bed bugs
• Blood spots
• Fecal stains
• Cast skins

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Training Materials for a Detector Dogs
(US Customs)
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Training Steps
Basic Retrieve
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Station for Evaluating Canine Scent Detection
PVC Cap with Hole
PVC Tube
Bed Bugs Inside Pill Cup with Perforated Lid
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Objectives

• Determine whether a dog can be trained to detect
  the scent of Cimex lectularius with a method
  giving food as a positive reward
• Determine whether dogs can differentiate between
• -Other general household pests
• -Active from an inactive infestation
• Determine if dogs can locate bed bugs in hotel
  rooms

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Materials and Methods

• Scent Vials

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Materials and Methods

• Scent-detection stations

PVC Cap with Hole
PVC Tube
Scent Vial
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Data

• Positive indications
• False positive indications

IACUC approval E732
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General Household Pest Experiment

• 4 dogs, 20 replicates per dog

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Bed Bug Detecting Canine
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Differentiation Between General Household Pests
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Bed Bug Materials Experiment

• 3 dogs, 20 replicates per dog

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Differentiation Between Bed Bug Materials
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Hotel Field Experiment

• 3 vials male adults only- 1, 5, and 10
• 3 vials female adults only- 1, 5, and 10
• 2 hotel rooms
• One with only female vials
• One with only male vials
• Randomly hidden in 17 possible locations
• 3 dogs, 6 replicates per dog

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Ability to Locate Bed Bugs in Hotel Rooms
Vials Containing Females
Vials Containing Males
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Conclusions

• Dogs can be trained to detect the scent of Cimex
  lectularius
• Dogs differentiated
• Bed bugs from other household pests
• Active from inactive infestations
• Determined that dogs could locate bed bugs hotel
  rooms

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Using a Bed Bug Dog