Do you have Bed Bugs?
Front cover: Do you have Bed Bugs? A help guide for the identification of BED BUG
infestations. Stephen L. Doggett
Back cover: Bed bugs are on the increase globally, but how do you know if you
have an infestation? More importantly, how can you recognize their signs in order to
avoid them in the first place? This guide will help you to identify bed bugs and teach
you where they can be found. An essential guide for pest controllers, accommodation
providers, travellers – in fact anyone who wishes to stay bed bug free.
Stephen Doggett is a world authority on bed bugs and their control, and is the
principal author of A Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug Infestations in
Australia.
For all your pest control needs contact:
Dedication page: Dedicated to my Mel, who introduced me to bed bugs and with
it, a new world…
Copyright © Stephen L. Doggett, 2013
First published 2013 by Stephen L. Doggett
www.bedbug.org.au
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no
part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a database
and retrieval system or transmitted in any form or any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written
permission of the owner of copyright and publisher above.
Original photographs by Stephen L. Doggett
Printed by Dobson’s Printing
Design by David Fleming
Do you have Bed Bugs? A help guide for the identification of Bed Bug infestations.
Doggett, Stephen L.
ISBN 978-0-646-90660-7
Footers: Do You Have Bed Bugs?
Know Thy Enemy!
Know The Signs
Where to Find Bed Bugs
Contents Page:
Contents
Introduction
Know Thy Enemy!
Life Cycle
Adults
The Egg
Juveniles
Exuviae
Know The Signs
Spotting
Infestations
Blood Spots and Bites
Bite Reactions
Where to Find Bed Bugs
Mattresses
Bed Frames, Bed Heads, Pillows
Wooden Bed Slats
Furniture
Walls and Pictures
Carpet, Curtains and Electrical
Other Items
Other Locations
If You Suspect That You
Have Bed Bugs
Do’s and Don’ts
Glossary
More Information
About the Author
Acknowledgements
1
2
5
5
7
9
11
12
15
17
19
21
22
25
27
29
31
33
35
37
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
Page 1:
Introduction
ho would believe that an almost forgotten pest would come back to haunt modern society as bed bugs have.
Currently we are in the middle of a true global resurgence involving both the tropical (Cimex hemipterus)
and the common (Cimex lectularius) species.
Bed bugs are blood sucking insects and their bites result in irritating skin lesions that can itch for days to weeks,
while for some folk, the presence of bed bugs may lead to mental scarring. However, the group most impacted are
those who provide beds for others. Bed bugs are hard to eradicate; they are difficult to find and can not be easily
killed by insecticides. This means that control is very laborious and expensive. In hotels and apartment complexes,
bed bugs rapidly spread from one room to another. Along with the threat of litigation from irate bitten guests, this
means that bed bugs pose a huge economic burden to hotels, and society in general.
W
As bed bugs are so challenging and costly to eradicate, they are a pest best avoided.
Unfortunately these days, wherever you sleep, sit or work, you could be exposed
to the insect. The secret to minimizing
bed bug impacts is early detection and prompt action. To do this you need to know how to recognize the insect.
This guide will help you to identify bed bugs, to recognize their signs, and teach you where the insect can be found.
This is an essential help guide for pest controllers, accommodation providers, health officials, travellers, in fact anyone
who may have to eradicate bed bugs, or wish to avoid them in the first place. This document is not about control, there
are many great resources in this area and a list of references are included to assist you in eliminating yourself of these
unwanted guests.
Stephen Doggett, September 2013
Remember: Detect early and act quickly!
Page 2: Know Thy Enemy! Proper identification of the insect is essential for
confirming a bed bug infestation.
Page 3: Adult female common bed bug, approx 5-6mm in length. Actual size.
Page 4: Life cycle of Cimex lectularius
The Common Bed Bug
Egg
First instar nymph
Second instar nymph
Third instar nymph
Fourth instar nymph
Fifth instar nymph
Adult male
Adult female
Page 5:
Life Cycle
The life cycle of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius (left), takes around two months to complete at 22
degrees Celsius. There are five nymphal instars (stages), with the youngest (i.e. first instar) being cream in colour
and around 1.5mm in length before a blood meal. As the bed bug grows, it sheds its skin and these can usually be
seen in an infestation (see pg 10).
Through successive moults the insect becomes darker and larger in size until
the adult stage.
Bed bugs do not have wings and thus cannot fly. They move by walking (they do not jump) and can be carried
to new sites in a variety of items.
Adult Bed Bugs are around 5-6mm before a blood meal, extending to
about 7mm when fully engorged (as below). One female may lay 200 eggs
or more throughout her life. An adult male is slightly smaller than the female and can be
distinguished by the pointed end; females are more rounded.
Page 6: Day 0
Day 6
Day 10
Page 7:
The Egg
The egg is 1mm in length, off white and with an upturned end. This is capped off by a cover, known as the
operculum, from which the nymph emerges. The appearance of the egg can give an indication of its age and
whether or not it is viable (i.e. the unhatched nymph is still alive).
To the left is the same bed bug egg photographed over ten days. Top, the egg is freshly laid and opaque in
appearance. Note how the egg is glued in place.
Middle, the egg is now six days old.
The red spot is the eye of the developing nymph. Bottom, freshly hatched post ten days laying, the egg is translucent
and the operculum is hanging off to the right. Eggs that are collapsed and not rounded indicate that the nymph is
dead, or has emerged.
Typically eggs are laid in groups in cracks and hollows. In the image below, eggs were laid along the depression
formed by the stitching on a mattress.
Page 9:
Juveniles
Top left, newly hatched first instar bed bugs. These often aggregate nearby to the eggs. The young nymphs can be
identified by the distinctive rounded yellow patch towards the end, topped by a dark inverted ‘C’ marking. At this
stage, bed bugs are very small (1.5mm) and can hide in very narrow cracks and crevices, thus being very difficult
to find.
Bottom left, all nymphal stages and both sexes of adults bite and suck blood for nutrition, or in the case of the
female, to gain protein for egg development. Here are nymphs in various stages of engorgement, from no blood, to
two with a partial blood meal, to one with a full load.
To grow, nymphs must shed their old skin. Below is a freshly emerged fifth instar, next to its exuvia (shed skin).
Freshly emerged, bed bugs are pale but soon this nymph will darken to its typical rich red-brown colour.
Page 11:
Exuviae
As mentioned on the previous page, nymphs must shed their skins in order to grow. Left page. In the top image
are each of the different nymphal skins (exuviae), from the first instar on the left, to the
fifth instar on the right. The scale is a
ruler marked in 1mm increments. Inset is a fifth instar exuviae viewed side on.
Once an adult, bed bugs no longer moult.
Below left, in a typical infestation a range of exuviae can be seen. These are very light and can be easily blown
about or moved by static electricity. Young nymphs can hide inside the larger exuviae, and dislodging these can
spread an infestation.
Very Flat! Below, an adult bed bug viewed side on.
Bed bugs are flat, enabling them to hide in various narrow spaces.
This makes detection and control difficult.
Page 12: Know The Signs
Knowing the signs of the insect is the first step towards early bed bug detection.
Page 13:
In a typical infestation, there will be a range of bed bug stages, cast skins, eggs and
bed bug spotting.
Page 15:
Spotting
Spotting is the faecal traces (i.e. the ‘poo’) of bed bugs. It is most evident as a series of small black dots, 0.5-1mm in
diameter, and consists of digested blood. Usually the spotting is grouped as the insects are ‘gregarious’, meaning that
they tend to sit together in their harbourages (resting locations).
In the top image on the left, a very small amount of spotting is present. This is on the ensemble base (also called
‘box spring’), along the edge of the base cover. More spotting is evident in the middle image, which is of mattress
piping (beading); a favoured bed bug haunt. Bottom left, extensive spotting just
above where the carpet meets the wall. This was behind a bed leg.
Contrary to popular opinion, bed bug spotting is not always black as seen in
the image below. It can be off white to cream, through various shades of grey
to almost black. However, the black spotting is most obvious.
Page 17:
Infestations
Left page. Top left, minor bed bug spotting on the wooden slats of a bed. This suggests
a low-level infestation.
Top right, much heavier spotting on bed slats, indicating a moderate infestation.
Bottom, very heavy spotting with several bed bugs and eggs on a wall, showing a major infestation.
Below, an extreme infestation. So much faeces has been deposited that the bed appears to be almost painted black,
in the lower left of the image. Plus, there are huge numbers of bed bugs of various stages, eggs and cast skins. No
guessing that there is a major bed bug problem here!
Page 19:
Blood Spots and Bites
Blood spots on the sheets (as per left) may be an indication that bed bugs are present, and an inspection should be
undertaken. The spotting can be the result of the bugs releasing excess serum during feeding, but may also be due
to the insect defecating digested blood (and will appear darker). Bed bugs are quite delicate when fully blood
engorged and if the sleeping victim turns over, bugs can be squashed leaving a blood mark. The bed bug on the
bottom left was found squashed under a bed slat.
The presence of bites can also be an indication that bed bugs may be present. However, not everyone reacts and
bite reactions vary between people. In the image below, bed bugs were deliberately placed on the author’s arm,
with a first instar on the left, through the various instars to the right, to a male and finally an adult female far right.
This was the reaction two days after the bugs were placed on the arm, and the larger the bug, the more dramatic
the reaction.
Page 21:
Bite Reactions
There are two fairly distinctive features
of bed bug bites. The first is the development of ‘wheals’ (as per left),
which is a bite reaction of up to 6cm across, with a deeper pink centre. These can take several days to form.
However as noted, some people have no reaction at all. The other feature is that the bites often appear in a line.
Typically they tend to appear along the limb, rather than across it, down the torso rather than transversely and
along the top of the shoulder.
When feeding, bed bugs tend to remain in contact with the sheets, and the lines of bite are thought to be the result
of a number of bed bugs feeding over a wide area. A line of bites is evident in the image to the left (courtesy Dr
Nigel Hill, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) and below (courtesy Rachael Rose).
Bed bug bites tend to be restricted by clothing, but most commonly occur on
the arms, legs and torso. In contrast,
flea bites tend to be mainly on the legs.
Page 22: Where to Find Bed Bugs
If bed bugs are suspected, a thorough inspection of all potential hiding areas is
essential.
Page 23:
Bed bugs in a metal spring removed from a bed frame.
Page 25:
Mattresses
As the name ‘bed bug’ implies, the insect is most commonly found on beds (where a readily available blood source
usually awaits). Bed bugs tend to be found on the mattresses and the ensemble base (box spring), but especially in darker
areas close to the wall. The insect tends to harbour (hide) along seams, piping, under labels, corner protectors, under the
base fabric of the ensemble base and in the base itself. They are less likely to be found on open flat areas.
Left page. Top left, numerous bed bugs along the edge of the material base of an ensemble. This base fabric needs
to be removed for treatment, as per top right, which reveals extensive spotting. Bottom left, bed bugs under a label.
Bottom right, bed bugs under a corner protector; these should be removed to reduce harbourages. Figure below
(and pg 13), bed bugs and spotting along mattress beading.
Page 27:
Bed Frames, Bed Heads, Pillows
Bed bugs will readily harbour in bed frames, especially if constructed of wood, where they will hide in cracks,
joins and knots. While metal framed beds provide fewer locations for bed bugs to hide in, they are not immune
from the insect.
Bed ornaments such as cushions, pillows, and soft toys, can also become infested.
Left page. Top left, spotting next to a
join, this at the point where the metal frame meets the bed leg. Top right (and
pg 23), metal springs are a favoured bed bug haunt, and extensive spotting can be seen around the front edge.
Bottom left, this bed head has been removed from the wall and extensive activity can be seen, particularly along
the sides of the fibreboard which provides numerous harbourages. Bottom right, a wicker bed head is ideal for bed
bugs, which can be seen in the cross braces. Below, spotting
on a cushion, no matter how old bed bugs are, no one would ever consider them
‘best friends’!
Page 29:
Wooden Bed Slats
Any wooden material provides numerous cracks and crevices for bed bugs to hide in. Being part of the sleeping
area means
that wooden slats are especially notorious for harbouring bed bugs.
Left page. Top left, wooden slats on a metal bed frame showing spotting, particularly around the bolt hole on the
top most slat. Top right, where slats join a deep crevice is formed, which bed bugs readily invade (see also pg 16).
Bottom left, cracks and knot holes provide plenty of potential bed bug harbourages. In this image, the knot is no
longer present, thereby providing a deep and protected area for bed bugs to lay their eggs in. Bottom right, if the
slats are joined by
fabric strips, then bed bugs will hide
under the strip, especially close to the staples. Below, this is a slat from the top left image. The number of bed
bugs are usually not obvious from above and only becomes evident once the slats are removed from the frame.
Page 31:
Furniture
In a room with bed bugs, any item of furniture can become infested, although those closer to the bed tend to
contain more insects.
Left page. Top left, the underneath of a bedside table with a heavy infestation along the unsealed chipboard. Top
right, bed bugs in a screw hole at the back of a bedside cupboard. Bottom left, the only bed bugs found in this chest
of drawers were on the underneath of the very lowest drawer. This was from beside a bed in a hospital ward.
Bottom right, an infested lounge in a common room. In complexes with shared facilities, chairs and lounges in
common areas can be invaded by bed bugs and act as a source by which the insect is spread to other rooms. In
lounges, bed bugs can be found in a variety of locations, underneath the arms, along cushion seams (as per this
image), behind buttons, etc. Below, heavily infested wicker cane furniture; numerous eggs, extensive spotting and
bed bugs
can be seen.
Page 33:
Walls and Pictures
In a typical bed bug infestation, various cracks and crevices in walls can provide a home to bed bugs. Bed bugs
favour areas low down such as along skirtings and wall joints. Certain types of constructions tend to make control
much more difficult, such as open brickwork, unpainted walls and false decorative walls.
Left page. Top left, bed bug spotting and eggs inside a wall plug. Top right, a bed bug in open brick work; all
the bricks and mortar joints will require treatment to eradicate the infestation. Bottom left, bed bug spotting around
a curtain rail. When removed this was full of bed bugs of different stages. Bottom right, loose wallpaper and paint
can provide locations where bed bugs can hide, here a section of paint has been removed to reveal the activity.
Below, even in small infestations pictures and other wall hangings can hold bed bugs. Here are massive numbers
on the back of a canvas print.
Page 35:
Carpet, Curtains and Electrical
Curtains, especially if near to the bed, can hold bed bugs in the pleats. Various electrical fittings, such as power points,
light switches and telephone sockets, can
act as a harbourage for bed bugs. As these tend to penetrate the walls, electrical outlets can be a means by which the
insect can spread to other rooms. In even minor infestations, bed bugs tend to rest along carpet edges and underneath
straight edges (also known as ‘tack-down’ strips).
It is usual that the carpet has to be lifted
for treatment (see also pg 14).
Left page. Top left, bed bug spotting in the pleats of a curtain. Top right, bed bugs and spotting next to a power
point. Bottom left, carpet lifted in the room corner revealing bed bugs and spotting. Bottom right, this is the straight
edge from the previous image removed and turned over, showing a large number of eggs and spotting. Below, a
massive infestation in a telephone socket.
Page 37:
Other Items
Literally, any (every!) item can become invaded by bed bugs in an infestation and these images represent just a
small sample.
Left page. Top left, a pair of sneakers with cast skins and eggs. Top right, a slipper with eggs and various bed bug
stages. This resident took bed bugs with them wherever they went! Bottom left, a heavily infested fabric compact disc
rack. Many bed bugs and eggs can easily be seen. Bottom right, a Bible with a nymphal bed bug partially hidden to
the lower left; is nothing sacred?
Below, infested luggage, with the vinyl edge held back to reveal bed bug spotting and cast skins. Many people store
bags underneath the beds, which is ill-advised as bed bugs picked up while travelling can quickly transfer to the bed
to start a new infestation. In the example below, is this evidence of how the infestation was brought into the home, or
an infestation waiting to be carried elsewhere?
Page 39:
Other Locations
Unfortunately, bed bugs are not confined just to the areas where people sleep. As mentioned on previous pages,
lounges and chairs in common areas can become infested, along with just about anywhere people sit, lie or travel.
This includes; campervans, caravans, hospitals, doctors’ waiting rooms, cinemas, offices, shops, public transport
(trains, planes, buses, trams), even massage tables! Now many people call bed bugs, the ‘exposure pest’ as you
can be exposed to the insect
wherever you may be.
Left page. Top two images, this is an infested hospital chair, the fabric is peeled back in the right image to show
the bed bugs. Bottom two images are from different cinema complexes, left is an arm rest. Bottom right, side
paneling from a cinema chair is removed to reveal a large bed bug infestation. Below, a close up of this chair
showing the extent of activity.
Page 40:
If You Suspect That You Have Bed Bugs:
Do Not Panic!
It may not be a bed bug! Many people find similar looking things and often believe they have an infestation.
Cockroach nymphs (bottom left, next to a bed bug), squashed beetles (bottom right), various insects, and even
plant seeds, have all been mistaken as bed bugs! If in doubt, have your ‘bed bug’ checked by your pest controller
or an Entomologist (someone who studies insects).
Page 41:
Do's and Don'ts
Do
Contact your pest controller immediately.
Keep the insects and show the pest controller; they may not be bed bugs.
Follow the instructions of the
pest controller.
For hotels, allow all rooms adjoining
the infestation to be inspected.
Allow the entire home to be inspected,
not just the bedroom, as bed bugs are
often in other areas.
Look for pest controllers with experience
in bed bug control.
Limit access to infested rooms.
Inspect beds for bed bugs when travelling.
Don’t
Do not attempt to control yourself,
this can spread the infestation.
Do not use flammable liquids
or insecticides.
Do not use insecticide ‘bombs’,
these do not work.
Do not select the cheapest quote for pest control, this is an indication of inexperience and failures will cost you
more in the long term.
Do not take belongings out of the room without bagging prior to treatment.
Do not throw out infested belongings;
they usually can be treated.
Do not assume that only the bed will be infested, bed bugs will be elsewhere.
Page 42:
Glossary
Bed Bugs
Blood sucking insects that are most commonly found in beds and tend to
bite people when they are asleep.
Cimex hemipterus
The tropical bed bug, normally
found within the 30 degree latitudes.
Cimex lectularius
The common bed bug, normally
found in more temperate regions.
Exuviae
The skin that the nymph sheds when
it moults from one stage to the next.
Gregarious
The grouping behaviour of bed bugs.
Harbourage
The hiding area of bed bugs.
Typically they tend to occur in groups.
Infestation
When one or more bed bug is present.
Instar or Nymph
This refers to the various juvenile stages.
There are five nymphal instars.
Moult
The process of a nymph shedding
its skin (exuviae) for growth.
Operculum
The cap on the egg which covers the opening through which the first instar nymph emerges.
Spotting
The faeces of bed bugs, which is most obvious as small black spots, and is
often grouped.
Wheal
A large round skin reaction
(up to 6cm) that may occur several
days after a bed bug bite.
Page 43:
More InformationControl
Bed Bug Foundation. 2013.
European Code of Practice,
Bed Bug Management, 2nd Edition.
Bed Bug Foundation, London,
United Kingdom.
Available from: www.bedbugfoundation.org
Doggett S.L. 2013.
A Code of Practice for the Control
of Bed Bug Infestations in Australia,
4th Edition.
Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia.
Available from: www.bedbug.org.au
Doggett S.L. 2011.
A Bed Bug Management
Policy & Procedural Guide for Accommodation Providers.
Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia.
Available from: www.bedbug.org.au
NPMA. 2011.
Bed Bugs Best Management Practices. National Pest Management Association, Fairfax, USA.
Available from: www.npmapestworld.org
Pinto L.J., Cooper R., Kraft S.K. 2007.
Bed bug handbook. The complete
guide to bed bugs and their control.
Pinto & Associates, Mechanicsville, MD.
Health Implications
Doggett S.L., Dwyer D., Peñaz P.,
Russell R.C. 2012.
Bed Bugs: Clinical Relevance
and Control Options.
Clinical Microbiological Reviews,
25(1): 164-192.
Page 44:
About the Author
Stephen L. Doggett is a Medical Entomologist based in Sydney, Australia, and is a world authority on bed bugs
and their control. He is the principal author of A Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug Infestations in
Australia, the first industry standard developed to combat the global rise in bed bugs. He is also the author of A
Bed Bug Management Policy & Procedural Guide for Accommodation Providers, produced to help reduce the
risk of bed bugs for those who have the responsibility of providing beds for others.
Stephen has authored around 90 articles and given over 100 talks relating to bed bugs. He is a regular speaker at
both Australian and international conferences.
He is widely consulted by those in the pest management industry, accommodation providers, health workers, as
well as the media. Stephen is also an internationally awarded insect photographer and captured most of the images
in this help guide.
Many of his articles are freely available from www.bedbug.org.au.
Page 45:
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the following colleagues
who provided valuable feedback on this
bed bug help guide:
Paul Ashton, Anticimex, Denmark
David Lilly, University of Sydney/Ecolab, Australia
Greg Mills, Allpest, Australia
Dr Richard Naylor, Bed Bug Foundation, UK
Dr Chris Orton, University of NSW, Australia
Jeff White, Bed Bug Central, USA
Page 46:
Unless otherwise stated, the images and photographs in this help guide are copyright to Stephen L. Doggett.
Most photographs were taken with various Canon digital SLRs. The close up images of the bed bugs were
taken with the MPE65, perhaps the world’s best macro lens. The eggs were photographed through a technique known as ‘focus stacking’.