Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are blood-feeding insects (Figures 1–3) that feed mainly on the blood of humans, but also suck blood from other animals, such as birds, bats, and rodents. Bed bugs usually feed at night when people are asleep because the hosts are unaware that they are being fed upon. As bed bugs feed (Figure 3), they inject a salivary secretion into the wound to prevent coagulation. This fluid often causes the skin to itch and become swollen. Scratching causes sores, which may become infected. Bed bugs are not known to transmit any human pathogens but can cause emotional distress to those affected, and are considered pests of significant public health importance by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Center for Disease Control.

When associated with humans, bed bugs generally infest dwellings such as houses, hotels, dormitories, and cruise ships, but have also been known to infest places such as subways, movie theaters, nursing homes, hospitals and planes. During the day, bed bugs hide in cracks and crevices and can be found in wall outlets, behind baseboards, wallpaper and pictures, between bed joints and slats, along the seams of mattresses, and in bed linens. The cryptic nature of bed bugs makes them difficult to detect and locate, making control a complex and laborious process that usually consists of an integrated approach that combines insecticides with other methods.

Bed bugs are transmitted from one place to another because they “hitchhike” on belongings such as clothes, suitcases, second-hand beds, furniture and bedding. Female bed bugs disperse more than any other stage, so it is likely that the bed bugs that “hitchhike” on people’s belongings are mostly females. Because female bed bugs can store male sperm for four to six weeks, it is also likely that they are pregnant. Therefore, a single, pregnant female that is transferred to a different location can begin a new infestation. Severe bed bug infestations tend to have a sweetish, foul odor that is caused by an oily liquid they emit.

Figure 1. 

Adult bed bug.

Credits:

Joe Smith, University of Florida

Figure 2. 

Bed bug adult, lateral view.

Credits:

Joe Smith, University of Florida

Figure 3. 

Feeding adult bed bug.

Credits:

Joe Smith, University of Florida

Blood-Sucking Conenose

The bloodsucking conenose (Figure 7), or “kissing bug,” primarily feeds at night on the blood of sleeping people or animals, such as raccoons and opossums that burrow in the vicinity. Most bites from conenose bugs are rarely felt. However, some can be quite painful. Infection can occur if the bite wounds are scratched. The blood-sucking conenose is a potential vector ofTrypanosoma cruzi,which causes Chagas disease in Latin American countries.

Figure 7. 

Blood-sucking conenose.

The bloodsucking conenose is a brown, winged bug, 3/4 inch long, with the edges of its abdomen alternating in light and dark colors. They have a slender, straight beak with piercing-sucking mouthparts. The antennae are inserted on the side of the head between the eyes and the end of the beak.

The bloodsucking conenose enters into a home by crawling through cracks in the foundation, torn window screens, or other structural inadequacies; many times they enter by simply clinging to a domestic pet or to the clothing of an unaware person. Once indoors, they are found in bedding, cracks in the floors and walls, or under furniture.

1.

This document is ENY-227 (IG083), one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First published: April 1993. Revised: November 2008. Please visit the EDIS Website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

P. G. Koehler, professor, extension entomologist and R. M. Pereira, associate research scientist, Entomology and Nematology Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.