Do you have Bed Bugs?
Front cover: Do you have Bed Bugs? A help guide for the identification of BED BUG infestations. Stephen L. Doggett
Back cover: Bed bugs are on the increase globally, but how do you know if you have an infestation? More importantly, how can you recognize their signs in order to avoid them in the first place? This guide will help you to identify bed bugs and teach you where they can be found. An essential guide for pest controllers, accommodation providers, travellers – in fact anyone who wishes to stay bed bug free.
Stephen Doggett is a world authority on bed bugs and their control, and is the principal author of A Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug Infestations in Australia.
For all your pest control needs contact:
Dedication page: Dedicated to my Mel, who introduced me to bed bugs and with it, a new world…
Copyright © Stephen L. Doggett, 2013
First published 2013 by Stephen L. Doggett
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a database and retrieval system or transmitted in any form or any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the owner of copyright and publisher above.
Original photographs by Stephen L. Doggett
Printed by Dobson’s Printing
Design by David Fleming
Do you have Bed Bugs? A help guide for the identification of Bed Bug infestations.
Doggett, Stephen L.
ISBN 978-0-646-90660-7
Footers: Do You Have Bed Bugs?
Know Thy Enemy!
Know The Signs
Where to Find Bed Bugs
Contents Page:
Contents
Introduction1
Know Thy Enemy!2
Life Cycle5
Adults5
The Egg7
Juveniles9
Exuviae11
Know The Signs 12
Spotting15
Infestations17
Blood Spots and Bites19
Bite Reactions21
Where to Find Bed Bugs22
Mattresses 25
Bed Frames, Bed Heads, Pillows 27
Wooden Bed Slats 29
Furniture 31
Walls and Pictures 33
Carpet, Curtains and Electrical 35
Other Items 37
Other Locations 39
If You Suspect That You
Have Bed Bugs 40
Do’s and Don’ts41
Glossary 42
More Information 43
About the Author 44
Acknowledgements45
Page 1:
Introduction
W
ho would believe that an almost forgotten pest would come back to haunt modern society as bed bugs have. Currently we are in the middle of a true global resurgence involving both the tropical (Cimex hemipterus) and the common (Cimex lectularius) species.
Bed bugs are blood sucking insects and their bites result in irritating skin lesions that can itch for days to weeks, while for some folk, the presence of bed bugs may lead to mental scarring. However, the group most impacted are those who provide beds for others. Bed bugs are hard to eradicate; they are difficult to find and can not be easily killed by insecticides. This means that control is very laborious and expensive. In hotels and apartment complexes, bed bugs rapidly spread from one room to another. Along with the threat of litigation from irate bitten guests, this means that bed bugs pose a huge economic burden to hotels, and society in general.
As bed bugs are so challenging and costly to eradicate, they are a pest best avoided.
Unfortunately these days, wherever you sleep, sit or work, you could be exposed
to the insect. The secret to minimizing
bed bug impacts is early detection and prompt action. To do this you need to know how to recognize the insect.
This guide will help you to identify bed bugs, to recognize their signs, and teach you where the insect can be found. This is an essential help guide for pest controllers, accommodation providers, health officials, travellers, in fact anyone who may have to eradicate bed bugs, or wish to avoid them in the first place. This document is not about control, there are many great resources in this area and a list of references are included to assist you in eliminating yourself of these unwanted guests.
Stephen Doggett, September 2013
Remember: Detect early and act quickly!
Page 2: Know Thy Enemy!Proper identification of the insect is essential for confirming a bed bug infestation.
Page 3:Adult female common bed bug, approx 5-6mm in length. Actual size.
Page 4: Life cycle of Cimex lectularius
The Common Bed Bug
Egg
First instar nymph
Second instar nymph
Third instar nymph
Fourth instar nymph
Fifth instar nymph
Adult male
Adult female
Page 5:
Life Cycle
The life cycle of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius (left), takes around two months to complete at 22 degrees Celsius. There are five nymphal instars (stages), with the youngest (i.e. first instar) being cream in colour and around 1.5mm in length before a blood meal. As the bed bug grows, it sheds its skin and these can usually be seen in an infestation (see pg 10).
Through successive moults the insect becomes darker and larger in size until
the adult stage.
Bed bugs do not have wings and thus cannot fly. They move by walking (they do not jump) and can be carried to new sites in a variety of items.
Adult Bed Bugs are around 5-6mm before a blood meal, extending to
about 7mm when fully engorged (as below). One female may lay 200 eggs
or more throughout her life. An adult male is slightly smaller than the female and can be distinguished by the pointed end; females are more rounded.
Page 6: Day 0
Day 6
Day 10
Page 7:
The Egg
The egg is 1mm in length, off white and with an upturned end. This is capped off by a cover, known as the operculum, from which the nymph emerges. The appearance of the egg can give an indication of its age and whether or not it is viable (i.e. the unhatched nymph is still alive).
To the left is the same bed bug egg photographed over ten days. Top, the egg is freshly laid and opaque in appearance. Note how the egg is glued in place.
Middle, the egg is now six days old.
The red spot is the eye of the developing nymph. Bottom, freshly hatched post ten days laying, the egg is translucent and the operculum is hanging off to the right. Eggs that are collapsed and not rounded indicate that the nymph is dead, or has emerged.
Typically eggs are laid in groups in cracks and hollows. In the image below, eggs were laid along the depression formed by the stitching on a mattress.
Page 9:
Juveniles
Top left, newly hatched first instar bed bugs. These often aggregate nearby to the eggs. The young nymphs can be identified by the distinctive rounded yellow patch towards the end, topped by a dark inverted ‘C’ marking. At this stage, bed bugs are very small (1.5mm) and can hide in very narrow cracks and crevices, thus being very difficult to find.
Bottom left, all nymphal stages and both sexes of adults bite and suck blood for nutrition, or in the case of the female, to gain protein for egg development. Here are nymphs in various stages of engorgement, from no blood, to two with a partial blood meal, to one with a full load.
To grow, nymphs must shed their old skin. Below is a freshly emerged fifth instar, next to its exuvia (shed skin). Freshly emerged, bed bugs are pale but soon this nymph will darken to its typical rich red-brown colour.
Page 11:
Exuviae
As mentioned on the previous page, nymphs must shed their skins in order to grow. Left page. In the top image are each of the different nymphal skins (exuviae), from the first instar on the left, to the
fifth instar on the right. The scale is a
ruler marked in 1mm increments. Inset is a fifth instar exuviae viewed side on.
Once an adult, bed bugs no longer moult.
Below left, in a typical infestation a range of exuviae can be seen. These are very light and can be easily blown about or moved by static electricity. Young nymphs can hide inside the larger exuviae, and dislodging these can spread an infestation.
Very Flat! Below, an adult bed bug viewed side on.
Bed bugs are flat, enabling them to hide in various narrow spaces.
This makes detection and control difficult.
Page 12: Know The Signs
Knowing the signs of the insect is the first step towards early bed bug detection.
Page 13:
In a typical infestation, there will be a range of bed bug stages, cast skins, eggs and bed bug spotting.
Page 15:
Spotting
Spotting is the faecal traces (i.e. the ‘poo’) of bed bugs. It is most evident as a series of small black dots, 0.5-1mm in diameter, and consists of digested blood. Usually the spotting is grouped as the insects are ‘gregarious’, meaning that they tend to sit together in their harbourages (resting locations).
In the top image on the left, a very small amount of spotting is present. This is on the ensemble base (also called ‘box spring’), along the edge of the base cover. More spotting is evident in the middle image, which is of mattress piping (beading); a favoured bed bug haunt. Bottom left, extensive spotting just
above where the carpet meets the wall. This was behind a bed leg.
Contrary to popular opinion, bed bug spotting is not always black as seen in
the image below. It can be off white to cream, through various shades of grey
to almost black. However, the black spotting is most obvious.
Page 17:
Infestations
Left page. Top left, minor bed bug spotting on the wooden slats of a bed. This suggests
a low-level infestation.
Top right, much heavier spotting on bed slats, indicating a moderate infestation.
Bottom, very heavy spotting with several bed bugs and eggs on a wall, showing a major infestation.
Below, an extreme infestation. So much faeces has been deposited that the bed appears to be almost painted black, in the lower left of the image. Plus, there are huge numbers of bed bugs of various stages, eggs and cast skins. No guessing that there is a major bed bug problem here!
Page 19:
Blood Spots and Bites
Blood spots on the sheets (as per left) may be an indication that bed bugs are present, and an inspection should be undertaken. The spotting can be the result of the bugs releasing excess serum during feeding, but may also be due to the insect defecating digested blood (and will appear darker). Bed bugs are quite delicate when fully blood engorged and if the sleeping victim turns over, bugs can be squashed leaving a blood mark. The bed bug on the bottom left was found squashed under a bed slat.
The presence of bites can also be an indication that bed bugs may be present. However, not everyone reacts and bite reactions vary between people. In the image below, bed bugs were deliberately placed on the author’s arm, with a first instar on the left, through the various instars to the right, to a male and finally an adult female far right. This was the reaction two days after the bugs were placed on the arm, and the larger the bug, the more dramatic the reaction.
Page 21:
Bite Reactions
There are two fairly distinctive features
of bed bug bites. The first is the development of ‘wheals’ (as per left),
which is a bite reaction of up to 6cm across, with a deeper pink centre. These can take several days to form. However as noted, some people have no reaction at all. The other feature is that the bites often appear in a line. Typically they tend to appear along the limb, rather than across it, down the torso rather than transversely and along the top of the shoulder.
When feeding, bed bugs tend to remain in contact with the sheets, and the lines of bite are thought to be the result of a number of bed bugs feeding over a wide area. A line of bites is evident in the image to the left (courtesy Dr Nigel Hill, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) and below (courtesy Rachael Rose).
Bed bug bites tend to be restricted by clothing, but most commonly occur on
the arms, legs and torso. In contrast,
flea bites tend to be mainly on the legs.
Page 22: Where to Find Bed Bugs
If bed bugs are suspected, a thorough inspection of all potential hiding areas is essential.
Page 23:
Bed bugs in a metal spring removed from a bed frame.
Page 25:
Mattresses
As the name ‘bed bug’ implies, the insect is most commonly found on beds (where a readily available blood source usually awaits). Bed bugs tend to be found on the mattresses and the ensemble base (box spring), but especially in darker areas close to the wall. The insect tends to harbour (hide) along seams, piping, under labels, corner protectors, under the base fabric of the ensemble base and in the base itself. They are less likely to be found on open flat areas.
Left page. Top left, numerous bed bugs along the edge of the material base of an ensemble. This base fabric needs to be removed for treatment, as per top right, which reveals extensive spotting. Bottom left, bed bugs under a label. Bottom right, bed bugs under a corner protector; these should be removed to reduce harbourages. Figure below (and pg 13), bed bugs and spotting along mattress beading.
Page 27:
Bed Frames, Bed Heads, Pillows
Bed bugs will readily harbour in bed frames, especially if constructed of wood, where they will hide in cracks, joins and knots. While metal framed beds provide fewer locations for bed bugs to hide in, they are not immune from the insect.
Bed ornaments such as cushions, pillows, and soft toys, can also become infested.
Left page. Top left, spotting next to a
join, this at the point where the metal frame meets the bed leg. Top right (and
pg 23), metal springs are a favoured bed bug haunt, and extensive spotting can be seen around the front edge. Bottom left, this bed head has been removed from the wall and extensive activity can be seen, particularly along the sides of the fibreboard which provides numerous harbourages. Bottom right, a wicker bed head is ideal for bed bugs, which can be seen in the cross braces. Below, spotting
on a cushion, no matter how old bed bugs are, no one would ever consider them
‘best friends’!
Page 29:
Wooden Bed Slats
Any wooden material provides numerous cracks and crevices for bed bugs to hide in. Being part of the sleeping area means
that wooden slats are especially notorious for harbouring bed bugs.
Left page. Top left, wooden slats on a metal bed frame showing spotting, particularly around the bolt hole on the top most slat. Top right, where slats join a deep crevice is formed, which bed bugs readily invade (see also pg 16).Bottom left, cracks and knot holes provide plenty of potential bed bug harbourages. In this image, the knot is no longer present, thereby providing a deep and protected area for bed bugs to lay their eggs in. Bottom right, if the slats are joined by
fabric strips, then bed bugs will hide
under the strip, especially close to the staples. Below, this is a slat from the top left image. The number of bed bugs are usually not obvious from above and only becomes evident once the slats are removed from the frame.
Page 31:
Furniture
In a room with bed bugs, any item of furniture can become infested, although those closer to the bed tend to contain more insects.
Left page. Top left, the underneath of a bedside table with a heavy infestation along the unsealed chipboard. Top right, bed bugs in a screw hole at the back of a bedside cupboard. Bottom left, the only bed bugs found in this chest of drawers were on the underneath of the very lowest drawer. This was from beside a bed in a hospital ward.
Bottom right, an infested lounge in a common room. In complexes with shared facilities, chairs and lounges in common areas can be invaded by bed bugs and act as a source by which the insect is spread to other rooms. In lounges, bed bugs can be found in a variety of locations, underneath the arms, along cushion seams (as per this image), behind buttons, etc. Below, heavily infested wicker cane furniture; numerous eggs, extensive spotting and bed bugs
can be seen.
Page 33:
Walls and Pictures
In a typical bed bug infestation, various cracks and crevices in walls can provide a home to bed bugs. Bed bugs favour areas low down such as along skirtings and wall joints. Certain types of constructions tend to make control much more difficult, such as open brickwork, unpainted walls and false decorative walls.
Left page. Top left, bed bug spotting and eggs inside a wall plug. Top right, a bed bug in open brick work; all the bricks and mortar joints will require treatment to eradicate the infestation. Bottom left, bed bug spotting around a curtain rail. When removed this was full of bed bugs of different stages. Bottom right, loose wallpaper and paint can provide locations where bed bugs can hide, here a section of paint has been removed to reveal the activity. Below, even in small infestations pictures and other wall hangings can hold bed bugs. Here are massive numbers on the back of a canvas print.