Fleas, Lice,
Bedbug Biology
and Control
Objective
‫هدف‬
Relate the biology of fleas, lice, and bedbugs
to appropriate control measures
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Overview
‫مرور‬
Chacteristics
Life Cycle
Habits
Control Measures
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Characteristics of Fleas
Wings absent.
Piercing-sucking mouthparts -- are blood feeders.
Body compressed laterally, legs relatively long
and modified for jumping.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Characteristics of Fleas
Complete metamorphosis -- eggs laid on the host,
ground or in the nests of host.
The larvae feed on a wide variety of organic
materials, including feces of the adult flea and their
own cast skins.
Both adult male and female fleas feed on the blood of
the host.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Medical Importance
of Fleas
A few flea species are vectors of plague and endemic
or murine typhus.
Some burrow into the skin of man (Tunga penetrans).
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
IPM methods to control
fleas indoors:
(1) Cultural control: vacuum all rugs & floors several
times a week, clean air ducts periodically, wash pet
bedding in hot soapy water.
(2) Chemical control: treat pets with approved product
and follow up with continuous treatment such as “flea
pills” or flea collars as prescribed by your veterinarian -treat rooms with persistent flea problems with residual or
space insecticide or insect growth regulator sprays.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
IPM methods to control
fleas outdoors:
(1) Chemical control: Should only be attempted if there
is actual or threatened plague outbreak.
Kill the fleas first -- when surveillance shows fleas are
gone, then control the rodents.
(2) Mechanical control: Fence yards & other small
areas to keep out domestic & wild animals that might
shed fleas in the area.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Characteristics
of Lice
Small, flat, wingless insects that live as ectoparasites
only on mammals.
Piercing-sucking mouthparts -- blood feeders.
Eyes are small or absent.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Characteristics of Lice
Gradual metamorphosis -- The eggs (“nits”) are usually
attached to hairs or clothing of the host.
Lice spend their entire life on their host -- and don’t
survive long away from the host (are temperature
sensitive).
May be transferred from person to person by body
contact or shared clothing.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Types of Human Lice
Body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus):
Live on the clothing and feed on the host’s body, and
lay eggs in the seams of clothing or attached to hairs
of the body.
Spread from person to person through contact with
infested individuals or clothing.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Types of Human Lice
Head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis):
Live on the head and attaches its eggs to the hairs.
Spread from person to person by direct contact, and
sometimes on combs, hair brushes, stray hairs or hats.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Types of Human Lice
Pubic or crab louse (Phthirus pubis):
Lives in the pubic and perianal regions and other hairy
parts of the body (armpits, mustache, beard, and eye
lashes).
Spread by contact with infested humans or objects
used by them, such as blankets -- sexual transmission
is common.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Medical Importance of
Lice
The body louse is the vector of epidemic typhus and
relapsing fever; the head louse is a secondary vector.
The pubic louse is not a known vector.
Louse feeding causes skin irritation that may progress to
secondary medical problems, and their presence is
objectionable in terms of personal hygiene.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Lice control
Methods differ for the 3 species that infest
humans, based on each species’ habits.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Head Lice
(1) Cultural control: avoid contact with other people’s
headgear, combs, brushes, etc. -- shampoo hair often.
(2) Chemical control: treat with insecticidal shampoos,
lotions, creams, or dusts -- area insecticidal control is
useless.
(3) Mechanical control: remove nits & lice with a “nit
comb” or by hand -- often practiced in some countries,
but not particularly effective.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Body Lice
(1) Cultural control: avoid contact with infested people,
clothing, bedding; wash infested items in hot, soapy
water -- boiling, dry heating, dry cleaning are also
effective.
(2) Chemical control: treat infested items with
insecticides -- area insecticidal control is useless.
(3) Mechanical control: remove nits & lice from clothing
& bedding manually (not very effective).
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Pubic Lice
(1) Cultural control: avoid sexual & other body contact
with infested people & their clothing -- wash clothing &
bedding in hot water.
(2) Chemical control: treat with insecticidal shampoos,
lotions, creams, or dusts -- area insecticidal control is
useless.
(3) Mechanical control: removal of nits & lice from the
affected areas manually -- not particularly effective.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
All Lice
With all forms of louse control, education of people on
the most effective methods is particularly important.
It is equally important to educate people on what is not
effective.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Characteristics
of Bedbugs
Adult bed bugs are 4-5 mm long.
Flat, oval shaped, brown, wingless insects.
Piercing-sucking mouthparts -- blood feeders.
Eyes are small.
Gradual metamorphosis.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Biology of Bedbugs
Bed bugs are very successful hitchhikers, moving from an
infested site to furniture, bedding, baggage, boxes, and
clothing.
Although they typically feed on blood every five to ten
days, bed bugs can be quite resilient; they are capable of
surviving over a year without feeding.
When not feeding, bed bugs hide around the bed, in the
seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the
folds of curtains, in drawer joints, in electrical receptacles
and appliances, under loose wall paper and wall
hangings.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Biology of Bedbugs
When bed bugs bite, they inject an anesthetic and an
anticoagulant that prevents a person from feeling the
bite.
The bite marks are similar to that of a mosquito or a flea
- a slightly swollen and red area that may itch and be
irritating.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Medical Importance of
Bedbugs
Although bed bugs are not known to transmit disease,
they are a pest of significant public health importance.
Bed bugs cause a variety of negative physical health,
mental health and economic consequences.
Many people have mild to severe allergic reaction to
the bites, bites can also lead to secondary infections.
Bed bugs may also affect the mental health of people
living in infested homes. Reported effects include
anxiety, insomnia and systemic reactions.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Bedbug control
Integrated techniques are best.
Inspecting infested areas, plus surrounding living spaces
and eliminate bed bug habitats.
Wash and dry bedding and clothing at high
temperatures to kill bed bugs.
Cleaning all items within a bed bug infested living area.
Several classes of chemicals are registered for use
against bed bugs.
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Summary
Chacteristics
Life Cycle
Habits
Control Measures
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death
Questions
‫سواالت‬
Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death