Online at
pprc.umsl.edu/bedbugs/
BED BUGS
 HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN A LIVE BED
BUG?
 HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED A
BED BUG INFESTATION?
 HOW MANY USE A CONTRACTOR FOR PEST
MANAGEMENT?
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A partnership of the Public Policy Research Center at the
University of Missouri-St. Louis and the St. Louis Lead
Prevention Coalition.
A 12-month project
Funded by a grant from the EPA
Special Thanks
to the following for their assistance,
their expertise, and permission to use
materials

Erik Foster, MS, Medical Entomologist, Michigan Department of Community
Health and the Michigan Bed Bug Working Group

Dini M. Miller, PhD., Dept of Entemology, Virginia Tech

Purdue University Cooperative Extension

Northern Kentucky Health Department

Philip J. Alexakos, MPH, REHS, Manchester Health Department
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
-Below ~55˚ Development stops
-Above ~99˚ Development stops
-Thrive at temps between ~68˚ F - 80˚ F
-Die at Temps > 113˚F or < 32 ˚F
Adults
 Temperature affects life-span
 At 98°, females live an average
of 32 days while males live an
average of 29 days
 At 50°, females live an average
of 425 days while males live an
average of 401 days
 Females can lay between 200
and 500 eggs in their lifetime
(Johnson 1942, Usinger 1966)
½ of the blood ingested is lost by
defecation within 5 hours.
Can be confused with…
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Ticks
Cockroach nymphs
Bat bugs
Carpet beetles
Other kinds of bug bites
Carpet Beetle
Tick
Mosquito
Bites
Cockroach
Nymph
Bat
Bug
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Cockroach
Bed bug
Site for pesticide
absorption
None here
Easily climbs smooth
surfaces.
Pads vs. No Pads
Can’t climb smooth
surfaces.
FOCUS ON INSPECTIONS
 INSPECTIONS ARE AS CHALLENGING AS
TREATMENTS
 PROPER INSPECTIONS REQUIRE TIME
 INSPECTIONS CAN BE PHYSICALLY
CHALLENGING
TWO TYPES OF
INSPECTIONS
 INITIAL INSPECTION
 POST TREATMENT INSPECTION
INITIAL INSPECTION
 SEARCHING FOR
ANY INDICATION OF
INFESTATION
 LIVE INSECTS
 CAST SKINS
 BLOOD SPOTS
POST TREATMENT
INSPECTION
 MORE DIFFICULT INSPECTION
 MUST LOOK FOR LIVE INSECTS AND EGGS
 MUST SEARCH FURTHER AWAY FROM BED
Where are bed bugs found inside dwellings?
Mattresses
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Bed Components
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Headboards
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Furniture
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Furniture
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Carpets,
Padding,
Baseboards
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Basic Inspection Tips
 Check for small stains on furniture and
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bedding
Look for shed skins, amber in color
Check crevices
Check screw and nail holes
Turn over furniture to check underside
Pull out drawers and inspect all sides
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Secondary Bed Bug
Harborages
“Other” Bed Bug
Harborages
~23%
~7%
Primary Bed Bug
Harborage
~70%
5 feet
Lessons Learned
 Waiting too long makes an infestation
impossible to completely eradicate
 Active surveillance continues
 Quick response to new sightings
 Must be a carefully coordinated effort
 Must have the support of the property owner and ALL
tenants
 Pick up of infested materials must be timely
 Education and ongoing assessments are a must
Lessons Learned
 Must identify barriers to success
 Languages and Literacy
 $$$
 New or “gently used” replacement items
 Laundry
 Relocation
 New Tenants
 Reducing the “stigma” of reporting
General Protection Tips:
Home Visitors
 Carry as few extra items with you as possible
 Do not bring bags or personal items inside
 Consider bringing a portable stool, and sit toward the
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middle of the room
If stool not possible, sit on hard chair
Do not sit on beds or plush furniture
Check clothing after visit and before entering car
Put belongings in clear plastic bags
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Protection Tips: Field
Workers
 Use separate clothes and shoes for field work
 Shake clothes outside before entering car
 Change clothes at work
 Seal field clothes in clear plastic bag for
laundering
 Inspect own living and work space regularly
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Protection Tips: In the
Office
 Limit personal belongings clients bring in
 Limit plush furniture
 Inspect office regularly
 Hire pest control at any sign of bed bugs
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Protection Tips: Maintenance
Workers
 Wear Tyvek suit or other coveralls
 Seal coveralls in plastic bag after use and
discard
 Dedicate a vacuum for pest control
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BUG DETECTING DOGS
 COULD BE THE FUTURE OF INSPECTIONS
 MUCH QUICKER
 SIGNIFICANTLY MORE ACCURATE
BED BUG DOGS
ADVANTAGES
 PROVEN TO BE 96% ACCURATE
 CAN INSPECT A ROOM IN A MATTER OF
MINUTES
 ARE A MARKETING MAGNET
BED BUG DOGS
LIMITATIONS
 CAN NOT SEARCH UP HIGH
 WORK BEST WHEN PAIRED WITH SAME
HANDLER
 NEED REINFORCEMENT TRAINING
ALMOST DAILY
6 polystyrene sheets
Equipment
for Heat
Treatment
2 heaters
2 box fans
1 oscillating fan
Extension cords
and power strip
Temperature Monitoring
Thermometers
Data Loggers
Room Setup
for Heat
Treatment
Vials of Bed Bugs
Room Setup
 Live bed bugs
Under pillows
on mattress
 Data loggers
 Thermometer sensors
 Placement
In cabinet
Under mattress
Placement of
Fans and
Heaters
Prepared Room
PANELS GOING TOGETHER
TOP GOING ON
HEAT CHAMBER
Heat Chamber
Under pillow
Room
Under mattress
Under pillow
Under mattress
141 F
Temperatures during a
2 hour 20 minute Treatment
Start
End
All bed bugs died
Equipment Costs
$312.89
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2 Space heaters
6 Polystyrene sheets
2 Box fans
1 Oscillating fan
2 Thermometers
2 Extension cords; power strip
Duct or packing tape
WHOLE ROOM HEAT
 THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT ARE
PERFORMING WHOLE ROOM HEAT
 TWO DIFFERENT ENERGY SOURCES
 PROPANE
 ELECTRICITY
WHOLE ROOM HEAT USING PROPANE
GAS
 WORKS GREAT IF ALL
ROOMS ARE GROUND
FLOOR
 NEED A READY
SOURCE OF PROPANE
 MAY TAKE UP TO 24
HOURS
WHOLE ROOM HEAT USING
ELECRICITY
 115 VOLT HEATERS
REQUIRE 6 15 AMP
CIRCUITS TO
OPERATE
 460 VOLT HEATERS
NEED A GENERATOR
 GETS RATHER
EXPENSIVE
MANUFACTURERS
 Temp Air –
http://www.temp-air.com/thermal/index.asp
 Pest-Heat (manufacture of heat generating
equipment)
 http://www.pestheat.com/index.html
 ThermaPureHeat –
http://www.thermapure.com/bedbugs.php
Now What…
 Bedbug Policy Task Force
 Policy Change
 Reducing risk factors
 Curbside bedding/furniture pick-up
 Addressing areas of concern
 Used furniture and clothing operations
 Increase funding to treat/support treatment
 Public Education
 Increase access to educational materials
 Reduce stigma
MISSOURI LEGISLATION
 Beg Bug Bills Last Session
 Senate Bill No. 846
 House Bill No. 1207
Key terms: negligence, implied
habitability