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Leung AKC, Lam JM, Barankin B, Leong KF, Hon KL. Bed Bug Infestation: An Updated Review. Curr Pediatr Rev 2024; 20:137-149. [PMID: 37038684 DOI: 10.2174/1573396320666230406084801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade, there has been a global resurgence of bed bug infestations, especially in developed countries. Proper awareness and identification of bed bug infestations are essential to guide treatment and eradication. The purpose of this article is to familiarize physicians with bed bug bites so that they can effectively diagnose, treat, and address questions about bed bug bites and infestations. Bed bug bites are often painless. Typical reactions include pruritic, erythematous maculopapules occurring in clusters or in a linear or curvilinear distribution in exposed areas of the body. A small red punctum may be visualized at the center of the bite mark. Lesions that appear three in a row and papules on the upper eyelid associated with erythema and edema are highly suggestive of bites from bed bugs. Exaggerated local reactions such as vesicles, urticarial wheals, urticarial perilesional plaques, diffuse urticaria, bullae, and nodules may occur in previously sensitized individuals. Reactions to bed bug bites are self-limited. As such, treatment is mainly symptomatic. Topical pramoxine and oral antihistamines can be used to alleviate pruritus. Topical corticosteroids can be used for significant eruptions to control inflammation and pruritus, and to hasten resolution of the lesions. Integrated pest management, an approach for the eradication of bed bugs, includes monitoring devices (active monitors include the use of heat or carbon dioxide attractants and passive monitors include the use of sticky pads for trapping), and judicious use of nonchemical and chemical treatments known to be effective. Nonchemical interventions include keeping affected areas clean and free of clutter, vacuuming, washing linens with hot water, caulking wall holes and cracks where bugs can hide, proper disposal of highly infested items, and placement of bed bug traps/interceptors at the base of beds and furniture. Chemical interventions involve the use of insecticides such as synthetic pyrethroids, silicates, insect growth disruptors, carbamates, organophosphates, neonicotinoids, diethyl-meta-toluamide, chlorfenapyr, fipronil and plant essential oils. Insecticides should be used with caution to prevent over-exposure and toxicity (in particular, cardiovascular and neurologic toxicity), especially if there are young children around. It is important to note that multiple mechanisms of insecticide resistance exist and as such, chemical treatment should only be undertaken by trained professionals who understand the current literature on resistance. Both nonchemical and chemical technologies should be combined for optimal results. Bed bug infestations may cause diverse dermal reactions, stigmatization, poor self-esteem, emotional stress, anxiety, significant adverse effect on quality of life, and substantial socioeconomic burden to society. As such, their rapid detection and eradication are of paramount importance. Consultation with a professional exterminator is recommended to fully eradicate an infestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander K C Leung
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Calgary, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joseph M Lam
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Dermatology and Skin Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Kin Fon Leong
- Pediatric Institute, Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kam Lun Hon
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong, China
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Ramos RS, Cooper R, Dasgupta T, Pashley NE, Wang C. Comparative Efficacy of Superheated Dry Steam Application and Insecticide Spray Against Common Bed Bugs Under Simulated Field Conditions. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 116:12-18. [PMID: 35607829 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toac070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., is a difficult urban pest to control. A simulated field study was conducted to compare the efficacy of steam application and an insecticide mixture spray (0.05% acetamiprid and 0.06% bifenthrin mixture) against C. lectularius. Three types of furniture (desk chair, upholstered armchair, and wooden table) were treated in the laboratory. The efficacy of the treatments was evaluated by visual inspection and placement of interceptor traps under the legs of the furniture. One hundred mixed stages of an insecticide-resistant population of C. lectularius were released onto each furniture item. After a 10-day acclimation period, each furniture item received steam treatment, insecticide spray, or no treatment. The second application of treatment was conducted 14 d later. Bed bug counts from interceptors and visual inspections were recorded at 13 d and 28 d after the initial treatment. At 28 d, the mean (± SE) live bed bug count in the steam, spray, and control group was 1 ± 0, 2 ± 1, and 83 ± 10, respectively. Both treatment methods were highly effective in controlling bed bugs on furniture. The mean bed bug count from interceptors in the steam, spray, and control groups were 0.3 ± 0.2, 11 ± 7, and 47 ± 9, respectively. There was no significant difference in the efficacy between steam and spray treatments based on either visual inspection or bed bug counts from interceptors. However, based on interceptor counts, the steam treatment caused faster bed bug population reduction than insecticide sprays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Soares Ramos
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 96 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Richard Cooper
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 96 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Tirthankar Dasgupta
- Department of Statistics, Rutgers University, 110 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Nicole E Pashley
- Department of Statistics, Rutgers University, 110 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Changlu Wang
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 96 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
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Kong D, Han D, Zhai R, Wang C, Zhang J, Xia Y, Nian X, Liu C, He Y, Wang D. A Case Study on Tropical Bed Bug, Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Infestation and Management in Dormitories. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 116:5-11. [PMID: 35511752 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toac055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Numerous bed bug research papers have been published in the past 20 yr as a result of bed bug (Cimex spp.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) resurgence in the world. Yet, few of them focused on the management of the tropical bed bug, C. hemipterus (F.). Here, we describe a case of tropical bed bug infestation in two dormitory buildings and effectiveness of a tropical bed bug treatment program. The study site consisted of 125 dormitories in two buildings. An initial building-wide monitoring with ClimbUp interceptors revealed 25 infestations. The spatial distribution of bed bug infested rooms showed a significant aggregated distribution pattern with same infestation status for neighboring units sharing walls. All infested rooms were monitored every 2 wk and treated using a combination of steam and diatomaceous earth (DE) dust application if bed bugs were still found. For the 25 initially identified infested rooms, after 14 wk treatment, 44% of them no longer had bed bugs, and the mean number of bed bugs captured per room decreased by 94.1%. A combination of steam and DE dust treatment is an effective strategy for suppressing tropical bed bug infestations in dormitory environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delong Kong
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Dongliang Han
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ruyue Zhai
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Changlu Wang
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Jingsheng Zhang
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yanwei Xia
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiaoge Nian
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Chaofeng Liu
- Department of Statistics, Purdue University, 250 N. University St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Yurong He
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Desen Wang
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510642, China
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Yu JJ, Ranabhat S, Wang C. Insecticide Resistance of Cimex lectularius L. Populations and the Performance of Selected Neonicotinoid-Pyrethroid Mixture Sprays and an Inorganic Dust. INSECTS 2023; 14:133. [PMID: 36835701 PMCID: PMC9966739 DOI: 10.3390/insects14020133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Insecticide resistance is one of the factors contributing to the resurgence of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. This study aimed to profile the resistance levels of field-collected C. lectularius populations to two neonicotinoids and one pyrethroid insecticide and the performance of selected insecticide sprays and an inorganic dust. The susceptibility of 13 field-collected C. lectularius populations from the United States to acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and deltamethrin was assessed by topical application using a discriminating dose (10 × LD90 of the respective chemical against a laboratory strain). The RR50 based on KT50 values for acetamiprid and imidacloprid ranged from 1.0-4.7 except for the Linden 2019 population which had RR50 of ≥ 76.9. Seven populations had RR50 values of > 160 for deltamethrin. The performance of three insecticide mixture sprays and an inorganic dust were evaluated against three C. lectularius field populations. The performance ratio of Transport GHP (acetamiprid + bifenthrin), Temprid SC (imidacloprid + β-cyfluthrin), and Tandem (thiamethoxam + λ-cyhalothrin) based on LC90 were 900-2017, 55-129, and 100-196, respectively. Five minute exposure to CimeXa (92.1% amorphous silica) caused > 95% mortality to all populations at 72 h post-treatment.
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Ko AE. Urban Entomology Highlights From 2020-Monitoring and Control of Urban Pests. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:2012-2015. [PMID: 34342356 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pest management professionals aim to answer two primary questions for their customers: 1) 'Where/What is the pest?' and 2) 'How do I kill it?'. These two questions drive at the core of any pest management program. 2020 was an exciting year for entomology research, with much work being done on novel technologies and methods for detecting and controlling pests. The objectives of the current publication were to discuss papers published in 2020 that addressed the key pest management objectives of 1) monitoring and 2) controlling pest populations.
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