Bedbug Cimex Lectularius
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The past several decades Missouri and Kansas, the United States, and most of North America were virtually free of bed bugs. Bed bugs have not been a public health threat in some time. With improved living standards and advancements in insecticides we have been able to keep bed bugs out of our homes and only in our nursery rhymes. "nite-nite don't let the bed bug's bite." Over the last few years news reports have been covering the re-introduction and dramatic resurgence of bed bugs in our community. Bed bugs are a real issue here and we need to understand that bed bugs don't |
discriminate, and will infest any human dwelling, from student apartments at college to the most luxurious five-star hotel. Bed bugs are difficult to control because they are so skilled at hiding, which allows them to travel in our belongings (clothing items, luggage, furniture, electronics, etc.) The presence of bed bugs in human dwellings is not caused by a lack of cleanliness.
Life cycle:
Bed bugs go through several immature stages after hatching from the egg and before molting a final time to an adult. A blood meal is required at each stage of its development. Once a bed bug reaches an adult and throughout their lifespan, they will feed every 3-7 days depending on temperature and other environmental factors. Adults may live for more than a year and can go for long periods ( up to a year) between blood meals. The female averages 3-5 eggs per day, up to about 12, producing over 500 eggs in her lifetime. The eggs are very durable and can remain viable for weeks under harsh conditions.
Bed bugs are remarkably resistant in almost every sense of the word, and are comfortable within all but the extremes of Missouri and Kansas climate. They can survive freezing temperatures (32 F) for days and tolerate much lower temperatures (5 F) for short periods. Their upper lethal temperature is 120 F causing death within minutes, but longer exposures to temperatures above 113 F are also lethal. They have a wide humidity tolerance range but tolerate dry climates better than humid, and have been known to survive without blood meals for up to a year.
They spend most of their time hiding in small inconspicuous crevices that are difficult to reach with normal vacuum cleaning and "bug bomb" applications. By hiding in clothing, luggage, bedding, and mattresses, bed bugs may be accidentally transported to new locations. Bed bugs often choose to hide in box springs because they are undisturbed and offer many crevices and close proximity to hosts.
Although they are slow moving and prefer to stay where people sleep, they will eventually move if their host leaves, or if their resting place becomes too crowded with other bed bugs. If humans are difficult to find, they will seek blood from other warm blooded animals in the vicinity (eg. dogs, rodents, chickens, etc.).
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Feeding:
Bed bugs locate humans using heat and carbon dioxide sensors, and recognize humans through olfactory (smell) receptors on their antennae and mouthpart. Bed bugs normally feed at night or early morning when we are at our deepest sleep. Most are unaware when being fed upon. The saliva of the bed bug contains desensitizing agents that prevent the host from feeling its mouthparts penetrate the skin. The bite sites are usually small, |
pinprick-sized lesions that may or may not become inflamed. Reaction to bed bug bites varies from person to person. Most people show no raction the first time they are bitten. Others may have signs, like the image here, where the biten area may develop into welts that itch.
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Treatment Options:
Controlling bed bugs requires a significant investment of time and resources.
Bed bugs can be eliminated with a coordinated effort that includes cooperation of the resident and pest management professional (PMP), or the resident, landlord/property manager, and PMP. There is no single tool or activity that, used alone, will eliminate bed bugs, including pesticides. Multiple techniques are always |
required because bed bugs are small, good at hiding, and can survive long periods of time without feeding.Despite the challenges, the technology of bed bug control is getting better and elimination of a bed bug infestation is achievable. The components of a sound treatment plan include:
1. Education
2. Reporting and Record Keeping
3. Pre-treatment
4. Treatment (both non-chemical and pesticides)
5. Post-treatment Assessment
At this time companies cannot guarantee 100% bed bug control because re-infestation from an outside source is possible.
