Bed bugs Also known as…. chinches, chinch bugs, or red coats Small (3/16” long) broadly oval, flat, reddish-brown color Piercing-sucking mouthparts This presentation deals with controlling bed bugs. Key points for the presentation: Reactions to bed bug bites can be itchy-resulting in secondary infections in those who can’t control scratching (elderly and children). Evidence of bed bugs are bites, blood spots, cast skins, dead bed bugs, and eggs, but ONLY live bed bugs can confirm an infestation. Pesticides should not be applied until a live bed bug is found-If the problem persists without any insects, consult a psychologist. Bed bugs feed only on blood, usually at night. Bed bugs hide near their food source in ANY crack or crevice that a credit card edge could fit in. Their hiding areas must be inspected frequently. Laundering in heat (30 minutes in a hot dryer), freezing for 2 weeks, and the treatment of a professional pest management company can kill bed bugs although eggs may withstand even these measures. Encasing mattresses and box springs in zippered encasements will contain bed bugs, but they must be left on and in tact for a year. If residents report bed bugs and use laundering to kill them, the laundry room should be inspected. Residents should be educated about bed bugs and understand not to bring items from the curb into their unit because they may have bed bugs. Staff should never set belongings on couches, recliners, or beds of residents. If a unit has bed bugs, all adjacent units should be inspected and possibly treated. Bed bug treatments should always include a follow up 3 weeks later-after eggs have hatched. Educating residents about how they can avoid bringing bed bugs into their units will prevent an infestation that will be very costly for both the residents and the PHA. 1

What is a bed bug? A blood-sucking insect Most active at night Usually feed at night Unfed They suck blood, but have not been found to transmit disease. Although they are usually active at night, bed bugs will feed during the day if hungry. Fed

Can be confused with… Ticks Cockroach nymphs Bat bugs Carpet beetles Other kinds of bug bites Carpet Beetle Tick Mosquito Bites The only way to confirm bed bugs is to find live bed bugs, collect a few, and have a professional identify them. The insect photos are of a cockroach nymph, a tick, and a bat bug. Cockroach Nymph Bat Bug

Bed bugs are health hazards Bed bugs do not transmit disease, but… Scratching bites causes secondary infection Bed bugs cannot be confirmed by the bites alone. Need to find actual bed bugs. Many with bed bugs cannot sleep and suffer the negative effects of this. Bed bugs are very expensive to battle for both residents and the PHA. Bed bugs cannot be identified by its bite 4

Bed bug behavior Cannot fly, jump, or burrow into skin… THEY CRAWL. Hide in cracks and crevices, often in groups. Hitchhike on/in Bags/backpacks/luggage Furniture Wires Conduit/utility pipes Bed bugs will wedge into any crack that a credit card edge can fit in. Most of the time, they are hiding in cracks and crevices near where they last fed. Usually where there is one, there will be more, but they are not dependant on each other so “loners” can occur. Hiding spots can be in the furniture where people sleep (sofas, recliners, mattresses, box springs, and bed frames) the furniture next to the bed, lamps, alarm clocks, picture frames on the walls, baseboards, the edges of the carpets, electric outlets and draperies. They can get into units and staff homes by hitchhiking on bags, used furniture (especially stuff that was picked up from trash), or crawling into new units through walls. Bed bugs will always be found crawling, never flying jumping or burrowing. 5

Signs of bed bugs Bites Blood spots Shed skins Dead bed bugs Live bed bugs Use a flashlight to look for bed bug evidence. They are small and very good at hiding, so a flashlight will be needed to see them. Keep looking until you either find a live bed bug or feel satisfied that there are no bed bugs. If bed bugs are found, put a few on tape or in a baggie for identification. 6

How do bed bugs spread? Through walls along wires and pipes On anything coming from an infested unit (furniture, backpacks, laundry…) What’s on the other side of the wall? Prevention is the take-home from this slide Since bed bugs are so reliant on humans they have become very good at staying close to them. In public housing, one infestation can quickly spread throughout the development. The spread usually occurs when: -residents in adjacent units do not inspect regularly, -management does not have the professional inspect and treat adjacent units, -infested items are moved through the building without being wrapped in plastic, -infested items intended for the trash are picked up and brought home, -staff visits multiple units per day with bags or equipment -residents visit each other carrying backpacks, -or bed bugs are brought to the laundry room on bedding and people bring them home from this location. 7

Why an increase in bed bugs now? Increased international travel/tourism Increased immigration and population mobility Misidentification of the problem

Why an increase in bed bugs now? Shifting emphasis on using baits and traps for cockroach control?? A change in the insecticides used indoors??

Bed Bugs in America: A Pest Management Industry Survey (2005) Jeffrey Hahn, University of Minnesota Laurel Hansen, Spokane Falls CC Craig Hollingsworth, University of Mass. Brad Kard, Oklahoma State University Michael Waldvogel, North Carolina State University Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, Cornell University Prevention is the take-home from this slide Since bed bugs are so reliant on humans they have become very good at staying close to them. In public housing, one infestation can quickly spread throughout the development. The spread usually occurs when: -residents in adjacent units do not inspect regularly, -management does not have the professional inspect and treat adjacent units, -infested items are moved through the building without being wrapped in plastic, -infested items intended for the trash are picked up and brought home, -staff visits multiple units per day with bags or equipment -residents visit each other carrying backpacks, -or bed bugs are brought to the laundry room on bedding and people bring them home from this location. 10

“What is the oddest location where bed bugs have been found?” Make-up drawer Kitchen, bathroom In the shower head In a car Radios and stereo speakers Around a fireplace Telephone Children’s toys On the person In luggage Sofa or couch On a pool table In a microwave oven In an old man’s ears Bed Bugs in America: A Pest Management Industry Survey, 2005

Where are bed bugs found inside dwellings? Mattresses

Bed Components

Headboards

Furniture

Furniture

Carpets, Padding, Baseboards

Got bed bugs? Now what? Report the problem Leave treatment to the professionals! Don’t spray or use “bug bombs” 19

Got bed bugs? Now what? Prevent carrying the bed bugs to other places Be careful when purchasing second-hand clothing & furniture

Got bed bugs? Now what? Prepare home for the PMP http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/pdf/bedbugs-preparing.pdf

Mattresses and furniture don’t have to be thrown out! Got bed bugs? Now what? Don’t throw the mattress out – cover it Traps live bed bugs inside. Prevents bed bugs from reaching mattress. Zip, seal, and check for rips. Leave it on for 1-1/2 years (don’t let it rip) Mattresses and furniture don’t have to be thrown out! Mattresses and furniture with bed bugs do not have to be thrown away! They can be treated. Movement of infested items throughout the development may spread bed bugs. If items are moved, make sure they are covered in plastic. Bed bugs can fit out tiny rips so the most important factor in getting a mattress cover is that is does not rip. Vinyl or plastic covers will not work. Covers with zippers are ideal. The box spring can also be encased. If no food is available within a few hundred feet or they are trapped, bed bugs will go dormant. They can live without feeding for over a year. Because of this, it is critical that the encasement stay on and intact for over one year. 22

What the PMP may do Pest Management Professional Inspect Take apart furniture Much of bed bug detection and control relies on the residents. It is not the job of the housekeeping staff to clean all the units, but if support services knows of residents that cannot inspect (poor eyesight, weak, or disabled), they should find a way to help the resident clean and inspect. Who is going to take apart and reassemble? PHA-specific

What the PMP may do May Use Heat Pesticides A vacuum

What the PMP may do Pest Management Professional Follows the label – especially when treating mattresses! Returns in three weeks to look for and treat hatched nymphs. # Visits % Resp. 1 6.1% 2 26.2% 3 36.4% 4 15.9% 5 6.5% 6 4.2%

Stop the spread Facilities, Maintenance, and Support Services Empty dumpsters weekly. Damage furniture left out for the trash so it can’t be reused.

Stop the spread Facilities, Maintenance, and Support Services Inspect the laundry room weekly. Help residents do preparation –– educate and provide physical or financial support. Be VERY cautious when working in units.

Protecting Yourself from Bed Bugs Look around! Photo credit: University of Minnesota Entomology Strip the bed completely to look for blood stains and bugs. Photo credit: Bug_Girl's Blog

Protecting Yourself from Bed Bugs Look around! Photo credit: Bug_Girl's Blog

Protecting Yourself from Bed Bugs Look around! Inspect spots where luggage may rest; this is also a potential infestation location. Photo credit: Bug_Girl's Blog

Protecting Yourself from Bed Bugs Look around! Inspect all furniture next to the bed, and include trim like this power bar and electrical outlet

Protecting Yourself from Bed Bugs Keep suitcases, computer bags, backpacks, coats, purses and other bags off beds, recliners and sofas.  ✓ Store luggage on the luggage rack, don’t keep bags on the floor, bed or other furniture. Don’t use the draws; keep your possessions in your bags.

Protecting Yourself from Bed Bugs Bed bug luggage liners Use Luggage Liners to help keep bed bugs out of your suitcase. Put things that you buy on the trip in sealable plastic bags.

Protecting Yourself from Bed Bugs Dissolvable Laundry Bags  Store items you have worn in dissolvable laundry bags, so they can quickly be placed in the wash when you get home.

Protecting Yourself from Bed Bugs Check suitcase and belongings carefully before bringing inside home Consider leaving suitcase in garage for a few days Use bed bug spray on suitcase

Protecting Yourself from Bed Bugs Place Clothes in Dryer Place your clothing in the dryer on high setting for 45 minutes

What the PMP may do

Questions? 38