Bed Bugs

Integrated Pest Management In and Around the Home

Bed bugs are blood-sucking insects in identical to the adults except for their
the family Cimicidae. Both nymphs and smaller size, thinner outer skeleton (cu-
adults feed on humans mostly at night, ticle), and lighter, yellowish-white color.
a time when it is difficult to detect their
stealthy habits. Bed bugs are readily distinguished from

Cimex lectularius is a cosmopolitan, or

another common blood-sucking species,
conenose bugs (see Pest Notes: Cone- I
actual size
widely distributed, species, most fre- nose Bugs listed in References), by their
quently found in the northern temper- smaller size, more rounded shape, and
ate climates of North America, Europe, lack of wings as adults. Conenose, or
and Central Asia. It occurs more spo- kissing, bugs may be up to 3/4 inch long.
radically in southern temperate regions.
In tropical regions, C. hemipterus is the Female bed bugs lay 200 to 500 tiny,
dominant species, but this species does white eggs in batches of 10 to 50 on Figure 1. Adult bed bug.
not occur in California. The most com- rough surfaces such as wood or paper.
mon species found in California is C. Glue-like material covers the eggs,
lectularius. which hatch in about 10 days. After 550 days. A bed bug can take six times
hatching occurs, the eggshells fre- its weight in blood, and feeding can
The growth and development of C. quently remain stuck in place. take 3 to 10 minutes. Adults live about
lectularius is optimal when it feeds on 10 months, and there can be up to 3 to 4
humans; however this insect also feeds There are five progressively larger generations of bed bugs per year.
on other species of mammals and birds nymphal stages, each requiring a single
found near the home including chick- blood meal before molting to the next DAMAGE
ens, mice, rats, and rabbits. stage. The entire life cycle (Fig. 2) from Bed bugs feed on humans, usually at
egg to adult requires anywhere from night when they are asleep. They feed
Until recently, bed bug infestations 5 weeks to 4 months, depending on by piercing the skin with their elongated
were thought to be associated primarily temperature and availability of food mouthparts, which consist of two stylets
with crowded and dilapidated housing. (blood). When temperatures are in the that normally fold under their body when
However, such infestations have un- range of 70° to 82°F, development oc- at rest but fully extend during blood-meal
dergone a resurgence and can be found curs most rapidly. feeding. One stylet has a groove that
even in the finest hotel and living ac- carries saliva into the wound, while the
commodations. The reasons for the Nymphs and adults generally feed at other has a groove through which body
resurgence are not totally understood night and hide in crevices during the fluids from the host are taken in.
but appear to involve increased human day. Common hiding places include
travel, ease of movement of infested seams in mattresses and box springs, A single feeding may take up to 10
luggage and items, and changes in the cracks in bed frames, under loose minutes, and feels like a pin prick, but
pesticides available to control this pest. wallpaper, behind picture frames, and because feeding usually occurs at night
inside furniture and upholstery. Oc- when people are asleep they are not
IDENTIFICATION AND LIFE casionally people pick up bed bugs in aware they have been bitten until after-
CYCLE theaters or on buses and trains. They wards. However, saliva injected during
Adult bed bugs (Fig. 1) are oval, wing- also can bring them into their home on the feeding can later produce large
less, about 1/5 inch long, and rusty red clothing, bedding, luggage, or firewood. swellings on the skin that itch and may
or mahogany. Their bodies are flat- become irritated and infected when
tened, they have well-developed anten- Bed bugs can go without feeding for scratched. Swelling may not develop
nae, their compound eyes are small, 80 to 140 days. Older stages of nymphs until a day or more after feeding, and
and the area behind the head (the can survive longer without feeding some people do not show symptoms.
prothorax) expands forward on either than younger ones, and adults have Bed bugs currently are not considered
side of the head. The immatures appear survived without food for as long as to be disease carriers.

PEST NOTES
University of California
Publication 7454

Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program

Agriculture and Natural Resources May 2009
May 2009 Bed Bugs

Distinguishing bed bug bites from the

bites of other arthropods such as mosqui-
toes, fleas, and spiders is difficult. People Egg
often confuse itching bed bug welts for
mosquito bites. The only way you really
can confirm bed bugs are the cause is to
First Stage Nymph
find the bugs in your bed or bedroom.
Often people are bitten when traveling,
making diagnosis even more difficult.
Adult
In addition to the direct injury to hu- Females lay up
to 5 eggs per day,
mans, bed bugs have stink glands that continuously.
leave odors. They also leave unsightly
fecal spots on bed sheets and around Second Stage Nymph
their hiding places. These spots are
darkish red in color, roughly round,
and can be very small.

MANAGEMENT
Managing a bed bug infestation is a
difficult task that requires removal or
treatment of all infested material and
follow-up monitoring to ensure the in- Fifth Stage Nymph
Third Stage Nymph
festation has been eliminated and does
not return. Management will require
employing several nonchemical methods
such as vacuuming, washing bedding at
a high temperature, using steam or heat Fourth Stage Nymph
treatment, and sealing up hiding places.
Figure 2. Bed bug life cycle. There are 5 nymphal stages, each requiring a blood
Insecticides may be required to eliminate meal before molting to the next stage.
serious infestations; however few active
ingredients are federally registered for Remember, these nocturnal insects are Recent research has shown searching
bed bugs for over-the-counter use. At the small. Although you can see adults with dogs can be an effective method
professional control level, there are more and aggregations of nymphs with the for finding bed bug infestations. Under
registered products; however, resistance unaided eye, seeing the eggs requires a laboratory and simulated-field condi-
among bed bug populations is common, hand-magnifying lens. It may be easier tions, using dogs to search for bed bugs
and low-level infestations are difficult to detect dark spots of dried bed bug was 97% effective. Other recent research
to detect. There has been some success excrement or the insects’ light-colored indicates using small, double-cupped
combining chemical and nonchemical shed skins. A foul, rotting, bloody- monitors that are easily installed on the
products with increased sanitation and meat smell might be present in heavily leg ends of beds trapped six times more
habitat modification. infested areas. bed bugs than were found from human
visual searches alone. This trap, Inter-
Monitoring and Detection. You can In addition to the bed area, the remain- ceptor, is commercially available.
detect a bed bug infestation by search- ing 15% of infestations usually are in
ing for the pests or their fecal spots, egg upholstered furniture other than beds, A new university study indicates an air-
cases, and shed skins (exuviae). Cur- in bedroom cabinets, along baseboards, borne aggregation pheromone, a behavior-
rent research reports more than 85% of under wallpaper, and in carpets, wall modifying chemical, might help control
bed bugs are found in or near the bed, hangings and similar hiding spots. Bed infestation levels. With this new research,
so inspections for infestations should bugs prefer fabric or wood surfaces to hopefully traps attractive to bed bugs
focus on the mattress, bed frame, and metal or plastic. For heavy infestations, soon will be commercially available.
headboard areas. Lift the mattress and adjoining rooms, filing areas, and clut-
inspect all seams and surfaces as well ter can be out-of-way shelters. It takes Prevention. People usually bring bed
as the box springs. You may need to patience and perseverance to find low- bugs into their homes, in luggage or on
dismantle the bed. Use a flashlight to level infestations of such a persistent, clothes, after visiting an infested dwell-
aid the inspection process. nagging problem. ing or hotel. If you travel frequently,

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May 2009 Bed Bugs

watch for signs of bed bugs in your steam cleaners can also be used to applicators only. Professionals also
hotel room by checking under sheets clean mattresses and furniture. have the equipment and expertise that
and inspecting mattresses, especially allow a more effective application of
if you have been bitten. If you suspect Commercial heating services are avail- insecticides than residents could do
bed bugs, check your luggage before able to treat entire rooms in homes for themselves. In addition, professionals
leaving and wash all your clothes as bed bug infestations. The current label have the training to detect and isolate
soon as you get home. use for commercial heating services is infestations, which often allows for
140°F for two hours or 130°F for three more effective control.
You also can bring bed bugs into your hours, which will kill most bed bugs and
home on bedding or furniture. If you eggs. In California, providers of heat Insecticides may be applied as liquids
purchase second-hand furniture, espe- services must be licensed and bonded directly to cracks, crevices, bed frames,
cially beds or mattresses, thoroughly by the Structural Pest Control Board baseboards, or similar sites, or they
inspect the item before bringing it into when treating for wood destroying pests. may be applied as dusts in cracks and
your home. If you remove infested mat- Chilling to a temperature of 32°F or crevices. Pesticides generally are not
tresses or furniture from your home, do lower and maintaining this temperature applied to mattresses or bedding be-
not leave it on the curb or porch. Take it for several days also will kill bed bugs. cause of risk to people.
immediately to the dump.
For suspected infestations in clothing Liquid insecticide formulations include:
Managers of hotels, furnished apart- or bedding, a home laundry drier is
ments, dormitories, homeless shelters, very good at killing bed bugs; only 10 • Products containing the botanical
and other facilities that house transient to 15 minutes exposure is needed. insecticide pyrethrin, which gives
populations need to train staff to recog- quick knockdown but little long-
nize signs of bed bug activity and take Mattress encasements specifically term control;
action as soon as they find an infestation. designed to keep out bed bugs are
One proactive step a manager can take is commercially available. Encasements • Various synthetic pyrethroid prod-
to regularly replace beds, mattress, and are particularly useful for hotels or ucts (cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, delta-
bedding materials. Frequent laundering other facilities with many beds; how- methrin, and permethrin); and
of bedding and placing items that could ever, their effectiveness at excluding
be infested in walk-in freezers during bed bugs has not been thoroughly
• Newer types of products includ-
tenant change and turnover can help researched. In many cases, the best
ing the pyrrole insecticide chlor-
prevent the spread of bed bugs. approach may be to throw out the mat-
fenapyr (Phantom) and the insect
tress, clean the area thoroughly, and
growth regulator hydroprene
It is much easier to control a popula- install a new mattress—with or with-
(Gentrol), which cause sterility in
tion when the infestation is small. Keep out an encasement.
adults.
clutter down, so it is easier to inspect
and bed bugs have fewer hiding places. Other management practices include
There is growing interest in the last two
Also, seal up cracks, crevices, and holes sealing up hiding places such as cracks
products, because some bed bug popu-
in bedding or furniture and other po- and crevices in walls and around win-
tential hiding sites. dows and doors where bed bugs can lations have developed resistance to
hide. As a temporary measure, you can pyrethroid insecticides and no longer
Nonchemical Management. In addi- exclude bed bugs from clean beds by can be effectively controlled by them.
tion to preventing the introduction of coating bed legs with petroleum jelly or However, both newer products take up
bed bugs, a number of other nonchemi- placing them inside glass jars or metal to several days to be effective.
cal control methods can help manage cans, which are too slippery for bed
this pest. These methods are directed at bugs to climb. Insecticides applied as dusts cling to
killing or removing bugs or restricting the pest’s cuticle, wearing away the
access to beds or bedding materials. Insecticides. Insecticides alone won’t insect’s protective wax covering or
control bed bug infestations. Their use poisoning the insect when it grooms
You can remove bed bugs and eggs must be combined with a program of itself. Several dust products used in
with the suction wand of a strong vacu- removing and cleaning infested beds, bed bug management include boric
um; however, you must target the vacu- bedding, and other harborage sites acid, diatomaceous earth, fumed silica,
um on the seams of mattresses and box then following up with a regular detec- and formulations of pyrethroids. These
springs, along perimeters of carpets, tion program to ensure treatment was materials can provide long-term con-
under baseboards, and in other areas effective. trol as part of an integrated program
where bed bugs live. A single vacuum- if they are placed in out of-the-way
ing rarely gets all bugs and eggs and, The most effective bed bug pesticides places—such as under baseboards or in
therefore, should be repeated. Portable are available to commercial pesticide wall voids—that don’t get wet.

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May 2009 Bed Bugs

Do-It-Yourself Treatments. Although bed bug: a factor in the pest’s sudden Int. J. Dermatol. 43:430-433.
over-the-counter pesticide products that resurgence? J. Med. Entomol. 44 (2):175-178.
have “bed bug control” written on the Wang, C., M., A. El-Nour, and G. W.
label can be found on store shelves, they Siljander, E., R. Gries, G. Khaskin, and Bennett. 2007. Controlling bed bugs in
generally are not recommended. Perfor- G. Gries. Identification of the airborne apartments–a case study. Pest Control
mance of these products under actual pheromone of the common bed bug, Ci- Technol. 35(11): 64, 66, 68, 70.
field conditions is not known. If you mex lectularius. J. Chem. Ecol. 34:708-718.
need to use a pesticide, you are better off Wilen, C., D. L. Haver, M. L. Flint, P.
hiring a licensed, professional pesticide Ter Poorten, M. C., and N. S. Prose. M. Geisel, and C. L. Unruh. 2006. Pest
applicator with experience in treating 2005. The return of the common bed Notes: Hiring A Pest Control Company.
bed bugs (see Pest Notes: Hiring A Pest bug. Pediatr. Dermatol. 22:183-187. Oakland: Univ. Calif. Agric. Nat. Res.
Control Company listed in the References). Publ. 74125. Also available online at
Thomas, I., G. G. Kihiczak, and R. A. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/
Residents do have an important role Schwartz. 2004. Bed bug bites: a review. PESTNOTES/pn74125.html v
to play when their homes are infested
with bed bugs. Once professional
treatment has occurred, you should AUTHORS: V. R. Lewis, Dept. of University of California scientists and other
continue to monitor for bed bugs daily. Environmental Science, Policy, and qualified professionals have anonymously peer
reviewed this publication for technical accuracy. The
Also, keep down clutter and vacuum Management, UC Berkeley; L. Greenberg,
ANR Associate Editor for Urban Pest Management
Dept. of Entomology, UC Riverside; and J.
previously infested areas regularly. managed this review process.
H. Klotz, Dept. of Entomology, UC Riverside. To simplify information, trade names of products
have been used. No endorsement of named products
REFERENCES TECHNICAL EDITOR: M. L. Flint is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products
that are not mentioned.
Ebeling, W. 1975. Urban Entomology. Oak- This material is partially based upon work
EDITOR: M. L. Fayard
land: Univ. Calif. Agric. Sci. pp. 463–475. supported by the Extension Service, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, under special project Section 3(d),
ILLUSTRATIONS: Fig. 1: S. A. Klotz; Integrated Pest Management.
Getty, M. M., R. L. Taylor, and V. R. and Fig. 2: W. Suckow adapted from S.
Lewis. 2008. Hot house. Pest Control Charlesworth, Purdue University. Produced by UC Statewide
Technol. 36 (2): 97-100. Integrated Pest Management Program
University of California, Davis, CA 95616
This and other Pest Notes are available at
Greenberg, L., and J. H. Klotz. May 1998.
www.ipm.ucdavis.edu.
Pest Notes: Conenose Bugs. Oakland:
Univ. Calif. Agric. Nat. Res. Publ. 7455. For more information, contact the University of
Also available online at http://www. California Cooperative Extension office in your
county. See your telephone directory for addresses
ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/ and phone numbers, or visit http://ucanr.org/ce.cfm.
University of California
Agriculture and Natural Resources Program
pn7455.html
WARNING ON THE USE OF CHEMICALS
Moore, D. J., and D. M. Miller. 2006. Lab- Pesticides are poisonous. Always read and carefully follow all precautions and safety recommendations
oratory evaluations of insecticide product given on the container label. Store all chemicals in the original, labeled containers in a locked cabinet or shed,
efficacy for control of Cimex lectularius. J. away from food or feeds, and out of the reach of children, unauthorized persons, pets, and livestock.
Pesticides applied in your home and landscape can move and contaminate creeks, rivers, and oceans.
Econ. Entomol. 99 (6): 2080-2086. Confine chemicals to the property being treated. Avoid drift onto neighboring properties, especially gardens
containing fruits or vegetables ready to be picked.
Do not place containers containing pesticide in the trash or pour pesticides down the sink or toilet. Either use
Moore, D. J., and D. M. Miller. 2008. the pesticide according to the label, or take unwanted pesticides to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Field evaluation of insecticide treat- site. Contact your county agricultural commissioner for additional information on safe container disposal and
ment regimens for control of the com- for the location of the Household Hazardous Waste Collection site nearest you. Dispose of empty containers
by following label directions. Never reuse or burn the containers or dispose of them in such a manner that
mon bed bug, Cimex lectularius (L.). Pest they may contaminate water supplies or natural waterways.
Manag. Sci. 65:332-338.
NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Pfiester, M., P. G. Koehler, and R. M. The University of California prohibits discrimination or harassment of any person on the basis of race,
color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth and medical conditions
Pereira. 2008. Ability of bed bug-detect- related to pregnancy or childbirth), physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or
ing canines to locate live bed bugs and genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the
viable bed bug eggs. J. Econ. Entomol. uniformed services (as defined by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of
1994: service in the uniformed services includes membership, application for membership, performance of
101 (4):1389-1396. service, application for service, or obligation for service in the uniformed services) in any of its programs
or activities.
Potter, M. F. 2008. Bed Bugs. University University policy also prohibits reprisal or retaliation against any person in any of its programs or activities
for making a complaint of discrimination or sexual harassment or for using or participating in the investigation
of Kentucky ENTFACT-636. or resolution process of any such complaint.
University policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable State and Federal laws.
Inquiries regarding the University’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action/
Romero, A., M. F. Potter, D. A. Potter, and Equal Opportunity Director, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1111 Franklin Street,
K. F. Haynes. Insecticide resistance in the 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607, (510) 987-0096.

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