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“. SLEEP TIGHT , DON’T LET THE BED BUGS BITE ”. Dean Geller- Technical Supervisor Integrated Pest Management Group Manitoba Housing. OUTLINE. The Epidemic Bed Bug Phobia Bed Bug Identification Life Cycle Bed Bug Feeding Habits & Behaviour Habitat
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“ SLEEP TIGHT , DON’T LET THE BED BUGS BITE” Dean Geller- Technical Supervisor Integrated Pest Management Group Manitoba Housing
OUTLINE • The Epidemic • Bed Bug Phobia • Bed Bug Identification • Life Cycle • Bed Bug Feeding Habits & Behaviour • Habitat • How Do You Know if You Have a Bed Bug Infestation • Remediation and Control • Protecting Yourself From an Infestation • Questions
Why are bed bug numbers increasing? • The increase in numbers may be due to changes in modern pest control practices. • This includes the use of insect-specific baits and gels, which do not work for bed bug control. • The prohibition of previously successful pesticides. • Pesticide resistant bed bugs • More people are traveling which increases the chance of bringing the insect back in their luggage • Use of second hand furniture or clothing • Increased urbanization • Poverty
True or False? • Bed bugs do not spread disease - TRUE • Bed bug are caused by poor sanitation or filthy conditions -FALSE • Unlike lice and fleas, bed bugs do not live on people or animals - TRUE • Bed bugs can’t jump or fly, so you can’t suddenly be infested with they just by being in a room that has them - TRUE • Bed bugs are restricted to the poor. FALSE, anyone can get them
IDENTIFICATION WHAT ARE BED BUGS? • Bed bugs are small wingless insects that feed solely on the blood of warm-blooded animals. • Bed bugs look a lot like wood ticks • Humans are the primary host. • Bed bugs will feed on rodents or birds when a human blood meal is not available. • There are other similar types of bugs – Bat bugs
IDENTIFICATION Bed Bugs – Size – Shape – Colour There are seven stages to the life of a bed bug: • Eggs are 1.5 mm in length and are white in colour • Hatchlings or 1st Instar nymph are clear in colour before feeding and are 1.5 mm in length (size of a poppy seed) • Adults are brown to red in colour, oval in shape and flat when viewed from the side. (thickness of one credit card before feeding and 3 credit cards after feeding) • Adults are approximately 5.5 mm in length (size of an apple seed)
BED BUG LIFE CYCLE • 7 Stages for a bed bug • Egg – 1 mm (impervious to insecticide while inside) • First stage larvae – 1.5 mm • Second stage larvae – 2.0 mm • Third Stage larvae – 2.5 mm • Fourth stage larvae – 3.0 mm • Fifth stage larvae – 4.5 mm • Adult Stage – 5.5 mm (size of an apple seed, able to procreate) • With each stage there is a required blood meal and then a moulting
BED BUG LIFE CYCLE • Life Cycle • Females lay ~200 eggs • Eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks • Nymphs start to feed immediately • Nymph stage is 14-30 days • Entire life cycle is 4-9 weeks(in a perfect world!) • Adults may survive up to 18 months or more without feeding
Bed Bugs – CimexLectularius • Bed bugs have an unusual mating behaviour that is known as traumatic insemination. The male bug penetrates the females body with a modified copulatory organ called a paramere • Females lay 200 to 500 eggs in life cycle • These eggs are laid over multiple days and multiple places • Eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks
Bed Bug Feeding Habits • Bed bugs are most active at night, but are opportunists who will feed if necessary during the day depending on the sedentary habits of the host. • They are attracted to heat (body warmth) and Co2, i.e. Breathing • The feed mainly on human blood and feed for 3 to 10 minutes • Their bite is painless and may result in a small red itchy bump. • Unlike fleas or lice, bed bugs do not live on people, but only visit them to feed. • After feeding, bed bugs generally crawl to a hiding place to digest their meal and molt to the next life cycle stage. • Bed bugs that develop solely on human hosts are usually moved from one location to the next on infested furniture, bedding and/or transfer by humans • The may migrate in multi-unit buildings to other suites along heating/plumbing/electrical conduits or pipes.
HABITAT • Bed bugs do not live on people although they sometimes unintentionally hitchhike. • They hide in cracks & crevasses where they won’t be disturbed. • Bed bug like to be close to their blood source, but they will travel when necessary.
Bed Bug Inspection • During the day, bed bugs tend to hide close to where they feed; for example, where people sleep. • Bedbugs are attracted by heat(body) and Co2(breathing) • Bedbugs do not have nests, but they do tend to gather and hide in routine places. • If bedbugs are present, there will be dark spotting and staining on your sheets, mattress, pillow, carpets and clothing.
Bed Bug Inspection • Pull drawers out of dressers and check the inside. Check under lamps on nightstands • Check cracks and crevices along baseboards and walls. • Check torn or loose wallpaper, decorative borders, and behind paintings and pictures. • Check the seams of your mattress and/or boxspring • Conceivably check any crack the width of a credit card
Preparation Guidelines • It is very important that tenants follow the preparation guidelines provided by their landlord or hired pest control contractor. • Proper preparation is key to reducing to eradicating bed bugs. • Provides access to all areas for treatment • Removes harbourage locations • Reduces physical activity at location
How can bed bug problems be prevented? • The best way to prevent bed bug problems is to keep them out of your home in the first place. • Do not bring infested items into your home. Closely check or inspect your luggage or the and clothing, • Check the luggage and clothing of your guests, especially after travel to other countries • Be wary of second hand furniture and clothing and inspect them very carefully before bringing them into your home. • Remove or destroy wild animal roosts and bird nests in or on your house. • The best way to prevent bed bug problems is to keep them out of your home in the first place. • Do not bring infested items into your home. Closely check or inspect your luggage or the and clothing, • Check the luggage and clothing of your guests, especially after travel to other countries • Be wary of second hand furniture and clothing and inspect them very carefully before bringing them into your home. • Remove or destroy wild animal roosts and bird nests in or on your house.
Visiting and don’t know if there are Bed Bugs? Observe Certain Personal Precautions • Do not sit on upholstered furniture if you think the location has a bed bug concern. Stay to hard chairs • Do not place your purse, jacket, bag, etc on the furniture or even set it down on the floor • Ensure that the room is brightly lit • Do not wear loose clothing with cuffs. • In badly infested homes or suites wear a tyvex suit with tyvex foot wear. • Upon return to home, have a clean change of clothes available to change into, place your soiled clothing directly into a sealed plastic bag before entering your home. Run clothes wash and dry asap using hot water and a medium to medium-hot dry cycle.
Bed Bug Resources and Websites • Province of Manitoba Bed Bug Website – www.manitoba.ca/bedbugs , ph. 1-855-3MB-BUGS(1-855-362-2847) or email: bedbugs@gov.mb.ca • www.bedbugger.com (US website) • Province of Ontario site – www.bedbugsinfo.ca • Google Dr. Michael F Potter of the University of Kentucky or Dr. Lou Sorkin, Entomologist from American Museum of Natural History • www.bedbugcentral.com (US website)
QUESTIONS Who will you be sleeping with tonight? Dean Geller Technical Supervisor IPMG-Manitoba Housing