Understanding and Uniting Against a Wiley and Formidable Enemy

1. Understanding and Uniting Against a Wiley and Formidable Enemy Bed Bugs 101

2. What are bed bugs?

3. Are they just the same as lice and such? • No. They are classified as true bugs • Not to be confused with scabies, body lice, pubic lice, head lice, which all feed on human blood & cause itching.

4. Description • Six short legs • Two beady eyes • No wings • Round shaped body, males have slightly pointy behinds • Tan to deep chestnut, red. • Adult about the size of an apple seed • Babies are MUCH smaller

6. Life style and Life Cycle • Nocturnal-enjoy the night life • Sneaky, furtive • Clever at hiding • Accidental but intrepid travelers • Small (early) infestations are hard to detect • Food preference: mammalian blood, human • Family life: large families 1-5 eggs laid each day- 500 per mother’s lifetime. • 5 Instars life stages to reach sexual maturity, about 20 days • Usual life span is 10 months

7. Life cycle

8. Bed Bug Egg (very close up)

9. EGGS • The eggs are deposited into cracks and crevices or on rough surfaces and secured with transparent adhesive. The average female will produce about 300 eggs in her lifetime, but may produce as many as 500 plus.

10. This is worth repeating…. The eggs are deposited singly or in small groups (not “nests”) • into cracks and crevices • or on rough surfaces (walls, floors, furniture) • secured with transparent adhesive

11. Sticky eggs • This is a problem that a vacuum cleaner or broom will not effectively address

12. Baby’s First Instar

13. Sure, it’s cute but don’t be fooled • The tiny, very hard to see babies pack as much evidence in their bite as an adult does! • Each of the 5 instars (phase of growth) must feed at least once to grow to the next phase of development.

15. Male, Female and cluster of babies

16. Special Powers • Shape shifting: can be super flat & evade pesticide application by getting in tiny cracks • Medical know-how: use anesthesia and blood thinners when feeding • Special equipment: Night vision, heat sensors, and CO detectors • Survival Techniques: Can live for a year without feeding! • Aroma: large infestations said to smell of coriander. Dogs can detect minute essences or bed bugs.

17. More special powers… • Evasive, clever at hiding quickly • Brisk walker • “Smart”-knows how to avoid pesticides • Developing resistance to some pesticides • Adept at hitch-hiking!!! (clothes, shoes, bags, suitcases)

18. It is a formidable foe

19. Habitat • The mattress-especially seams • The bed stead • The bed side furniture • Cracks in walls, floors, behind baseboards, switch covers • TVs, radios, clocks, computers, CD players, DVD players. • Books, papers, magazines. • Clothes • Clutter

20. A favorite spot to hide

21. Finding a good place to eat.

22. Appear longer, redder and fatter after a meal

23. Feeding Habits • Takes 2-10 minutes to feed (anesthesia) • Feeds every 5-10 days • Many bites on a person indicate many bugs are present • Must feed 5 times to become an adult • Can live a year without feeding

24. BITES • Bite of the bed-bug is normally painless • Bites look slightly different on each person • About 80% of the population develop an allergic type reaction to the bite. • Bite is different from other biting insects -no red spot at the bite points, and there may be general swelling that extends beyond the area of the bite.

26. Some look like welts

27. Appearance of bites

28. Bites

29. Treatment • May apply topical hydrocortisone and antibiotic • Benadryl may reduce allergic reaction and promote sleep • Try to not scratch • Monitor for secondary infection (staph from scratching)

30. Do they carry and spread dreaded diseases? • No. • No documented spread • Have found presence of Hepatitis B virus, but no apparent ability to transmit the virus. (Like how mosquitoes cannot spread hepatitis or HIV)

31. Very Real Psychological Effects • Agitation • Jumpiness • Insomnia • Depression • Shame • Anger • Frustration • Fear of going broke

32. Detection • Complaint of bites-rule out other causes • See evidence on sheets, bedding, mattress-reddish brown fecal and vomit spots • See “casts” and eggs • Smell of coriander • See bugs crawling • Suspected bug captured, positive ID made

33. What’s this I hear about a bed bug sniffing dog?

34. It is true $8,000- $10,000 for the certified pup Trainer must verify the dog’s skills daily. Detection only

35. Steps to reduction or eradication • Education of occupants • Physical removal- vacuum to bring down the population, use scrub brush to remove eggs • Cut down on clutter • Remove suspected furniture? • Contain bugs-seal in mattress covers • Launder and protect clothes and personal belongings- keep in bags or sealed bins • On-going excellent home hygiene • Remove and bag the vac bag!!

36. Treatment • Integrated Pest Management • Cleaning • Containing • Preventing • Pesticides • Heat and steam application (washer, dryer, steamer) • Isolation of personsal property.

37. Heat treatment • Expensive ($20,000.00 ) heating units bring room to 130 F, bugs die at 113. Good for killing bugs in clutter. Hard to use in cement brick structures. • Fire District 1 prohibited use South of Denny • Locally applied steam with a GOOD, commercial steamer is effective

38. Pesticides • Residual applications-sprays and dusts to surfaces commonly used by bed bugs • Diatomaceous earth • Crack and crevice application • Foggers drive them deeper into walls, DO NOT use foggers • Bait traps do not work (YOU are the bait!)

39. CHALLENGES & BARRIERS-agency • Lack of knowledge • Inconsistent approach • Denial of complexity of the problem, • Overwhelmed by complexity-confusing • Extremely expensive to treat • Difficult to find knowledgeable, experienced, ethical trustworthy PCO • Poor communication with client • Abuse of land lord tenant laws • Secrecy, fear, shame

40. Barriers –agency continued • Extremely expensive to treat • Matt replacement (about $100 each) • Mattress/box spring encasements ($100+) • Bags, crates, etc. • Extra vacuums, steamers • Staff time devoted to cleaning and communicating • Laundry • Janitorial • Dump • Pest Control ($400. per unit initial visit)

41. CHALLENGES & BARRIERS-clients • Client cooperation is essential • Client ability/inability to participate in treatment varies • Physically difficult work, many steps • Transient, ever changing population. • Clutter and hoarding behavior

42. CHALLENGES & BARRIERS-client • Bringing in used items • Visitors bringing bugs unwittingly • Storing stuff for friends. • Not recognizing the problem • Secrecy and shame- for both agencies and clients • Cost

43. CHALLENGES & BARRIERS-system • New problem, not yet wide spread outside low income/shelter communities-not great public outcry • Lack of knowledge • Not labeled in a way that any agency will take responsibility • Lack of awareness about magnitude of the problem staff time, abatement costs, suffering • No means of surveillance –registry or hotline • Intimidated by cost and potential demand

44. Policy changes • Intake should include questions and info re bed bugs • Contract with occupants about cleanliness and clutter • Ask clients to report suspected infestation • Encourage report of bites • Policy about used furniture, mattresses • Laundry policy • Policy about storage of personal items,

45. Staff Education • Staff must be aware of bed bug problem and be trained in bed bug detection. • What can agencies do to protect staff form infesting their own homes? • PPE, uniforms, storage containers for personal items • Special staffing for home hygiene assistance

46. Client education • Written materials • Presentation by staff, others • Video • Language considerations • Other communication issues (vision /hearing impairments, literacy, developmental issues) • Must be respectful, non-blaming/shaming

47. Relationships with clients • Be open and honest , empathic and un-dramatic about bed bugs in your building and in the community • Be aware of landlord tenant laws regarding infestations • Avoid and discourage any tendency to blame anyone for this increasingly common, naturally occurring pest • Partner with client/tenant in effort to control infestation . Spirit of helpfulness. • Encourage solutions focus

48. I do not want to acquire new “pets”… or pests • Watch where you sit-avoid high risk furniture • Take very little on home visits • Don’t set any of your items on the bed or floor. • Inspect self for bugs on exit. • Whisk broom • Vacuum car

49. Don’t take bed bugs home with you • Consider wearing a “uniform” for work. Some places use disposable coveralls! • Undress at home in garage or bathroom, take clothes (and shoes) to laundry in closed plastic bag, dry for 30 min on hot setting. • Take a nice shower. • Monitor your self and family, use white sheets for easier detection

50. What does the problem look like elsewhere? • North Carolina, New York have bed bug bills. • www.bedbugger.com • Chicago vs. The Bedbugs