The Truth about Bed Bugs

1. The Truth about Bed Bugs • Presentation by Doreen Blades, President of US Eco Corporation MA Library System Workshop

2. Topics to be covered • What are bed bugs? • What do they look like? • Where are they likely to hide? • Why have they come back in such magnitude? • Possible solutions • Question and Answers MA Library System Workshop

3. Google search: Bed Bugs in news • About 648,000 results (0.23 seconds)  • ABCNews • Nytimes.com • Early show CBS • WSJ.com • dailyfinance.com • Msnbc • Fox 25 News Bed Bug Epidemic • Bed Bugs Make Coast-To-Coast Comeback | NBC 4i • Aug 19, 2010 ... Cities are reporting infestations and it's not just a bed problem. Bed bugs are being found in offices, restaurants and movie theaters. ... MA Library System Workshop

4. Bed Bugs in the news • http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/28/15518401-bedbug-cure-may-be-worse-than-the-bite-health-officials-warn?lite • http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-library-Don-t-worry-about-bedbugs-4147452.php • http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/sep/3/bedbugs-an-increasing-concern-at-dnc-hotels • http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Judge+orders+fumigation+after+found+Newfoundland+court/7731526/story.html • http://www.forbes.com/sites/katiebell/2012/12/17/traveler-tips-for-avoiding-bed-bugs/ MA Library System Workshop

5. What do they look like? MA Library System Workshop

6. Bed Bugs what are they? • Common Bed Bugs or Cimexlectulariushave been around for centuries and have been referred to in literature since Aristotle. Many of you remember the lyrics “Sleep tight don’t let the bed bugs bite” • Bed bugs are small brownish flattened insects without wings and “suction cup” feet. They do not build nests like ants, or other insects, but like to travel by scurrying across floors, in heating ducts and electrical outlets, natural hitchhikers. • They feed on warm blooded animals, but prefer humans as we do not have much hair/fur. MA Library System Workshop

7. Life stages of Bed bugs Illustration by: Scott Charlesworth, Purdue University, based in part on Usinger, R. L. 1966, Monograph of the Cimicidae MA Library System Workshop

8. The adult female bed bug will lay from 1 to 2 eggs a day if the temperature is between 70° and 80° more or less depending on the temperature. The eggs hatch quickly in 1 to 2 weeks. • Bed bugs can live for up to a year without a meal. • Bed bugs are active at night when people are sleeping and hide out close to their next meal during the day. MA Library System Workshop

9. What happens after the bite! • As of today it appears bed bugs do not transmit diseases. Further studies are being conducted. Per Journal of American Medical Association • Common problems are itchy bites and sometimes they become infected from scratching. Not all people will react to the bed bug bite. MA Library System Workshop

10. Why are they back • Many more people are traveling to far off locations where they were never eradicated. Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe • Immigration has increased • Pesticides such as DDT are no longer being used. • They are becoming resistant to current Pesticides' being used. • People have not had to look for them in the recent past allowing them to multiply and spread MA Library System Workshop

11. Where are we seeing the problems • Everywhere!! • High end hotels, dorms, apartments, theaters, Retail shops, furniture stores, schools, daycare, buses, trains…. MA Library System Workshop

12. How they travel: by laying eggs or hitch hiking on items such as: MA Library System Workshop

13. How to prevent them and get rid of them • If you suspect an infestation act quickly! • Inspect books that are returned. Bed bugs are hitchhikers they like to hide in the spine of a book. • Do a bed bug check when staying in a hotel or motel. Look behind the headboard, look on the mattress specifically the seams and box spring for tell tale signs (feces, eggs, bugs) • Be diligent when traveling. Keep the luggage off the floor or bed. Stay away from the drapes in the hotel room. • Wash clothes in hot water or put in dryer for 20 minutes when returning from a trip. • Clean the luggage after a trip carry a plastic bag for your luggage. • Use mattress and box spring encasements MA Library System Workshop

14. Pictures of bed bug infestations Carpet infestation Mattress infestation MA Library System Workshop

15. Bed bug prevention ideas:Put the stuffed animals or other items in the dryer for 20 to 30 minutes at high heat. MA Library System Workshop

16. Inspect the returned books; if bugs are found, place them in tightly closed plastic bag and throw out or treat with heat. MA Library System Workshop

17. Place back packs in plastic containers away from carpets and walls. Wash or treat storage containers and do visual checks. MA Library System Workshop

18. Other options • Bed bug traps and/or detectors • Bed bug sniffing dogs (must be continually trained) • Pesticides • Pesticide Free treatments • Heat treatment for building only use a qualified exterminator with experience MA Library System Workshop

19. Resources • http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bedbugs/DS00663 • http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef636.asp • http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/publications/bb_guidelines/files/bb_guidelines_bbID.pdf • www.epa.gov/bedbugs • http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/faqs.html MA Library System Workshop

20. Resources continued • Accurate Termite & Pest Control, inc, Nancy Cox, Owner http://www.accuratepest.biz/ • http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/environmental/sanitation/bedbugs-faq.pdf • http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publichealth/insects/bedbug.html • http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=183643 • wwww.bedbugregistry.com MA Library System Workshop

21. Questions? • Thank you • Doreen Blades • US Eco Products, Corporation • doreen@usecoproducts.com • http://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenblades MA Library System Workshop