Inspecting and monitoring for Bed Bugs. David West Alameda County Vector Control Services District 10/20/2015

What's it worth to you?

Why is my client so stressed? Violated most personal space the bedroom. Lack of ZZzzzz. Laundering clothes and living out of a bag. Failed costly treatment attempts. Uncooperative landlord. Moved from the bedroom to another room to avoid getting bites. Personal items, clothing, furniture thrown away. Lifestyle completely disrupted. Relatives no longer visit.

Purpose of an inspection. o Identify the pest. o Verify the complaint. ( Is it valid ?) o Determine the extent of the infestation. o Talk with the responsible party about findings and give recommendations. o Goal: Professional treatments.

Inspections can be Uncooperative tenants/ Landlord Personal Lifestyle Difficult sometimes.

What will your inspection challenge be

Useful Inspection Equipment o Disposable Gloves o Flashlight o Tweezers o Magnifying glass o Duct tape o Vials o Alcohol o Tyvek suit

Personal Protection when doing a bed bug inspection. 1.Tyvek suit 2.Protective booties 3.Disposable gloves

Visual Inspections (Most common form of Detection) Advantages Visual confirmation is proof of infestation. Humans can integrate facts and outline a course of action. Disadvantages  Labor intensive  Low level infestations are hard to detect  Often involves moving furniture and possessions

Inspections using Man’s best friend. Jack Russell Terriers Beagles Advantages: o Effective at large multi unit buildings. o Effective when visual inspections failed. o Effective when there is a low level infestation. o Can be 90% or more accuracy. o Disadvantages: o Expensive/ 2 dogs or more. o Short attention span. o Bad day.

Primary Bed Bug Harborage ~70% 5 feet Secondary Bed Bug Harborages ~23% “Other” Bed Bug Harborages ~7%

What should I be looking for? Signs of bed bugs – Dark staining from excrement (sheets & hiding places) – Shed skins – Reddish blood spots on mattress – Sweetish odor

Bed Bugs & Rusty Spots on Sheet.

Be thorough and detail oriented.

Another heavily infested area

Possible Secondary Harborages. Dressers Night stands Chairs Tables Carpet and baseboards

Smoke detectors Picture Frames Any Where!Ceilings Wall outlets

After A LOW INFESTATION INSPECTION Before

Monitoring Devices Pros Can be used to monitor when visual inspections are inconclusive Pre-complaint detection Used in cluttered rooms Track progress after treatment Cons  The most effective bait is a human host  Detect bed bugs over days or weeks  Low level infestations can be missed  Cost can be a factor

Passive and Active Monitors.

Climb-Up Interceptor (Passive) Effective on the legs of furniture where a person is sleeping. Head board should not touch wall. Bedding should not touch floor. Slippery talc inner coating traps bugs. Non poisonous. Should not be use around wet areas. Must be emptied weekly. Cost determined by the size. ($10 up to ($40)

Pack Tite Passive Station Design provides a ideal hiding place. Effective when bed is regularly slept in. Check 1x week in high risk situations. 1x month in general situations. Early detection Chemical & maintenance free. Cost ($19)

Bed Bug Alert (Active) Monitor Effective in vacant room. Simulates a host. Can be inspected in 24 hours. Recommended checking in 4-5 days. Cost ($24.95)

Night watch CO2 (Active Monitor) Effective in vacant rooms where bites were reported. Useful in cluttered rooms. Useful in treated rooms. Gives off heat and CO2. Cost (399.95)

Conclusion Early detection is always best. Professional inspections are always advised. Inspections sometimes can be challenging and time consuming. Two people are recommended for an inspection. Monitors may detect the presence of bed bugs before a complaint.