NCompass Live - June 23, 2021 http://nlc.nebraska.gov/NCompassLive/ Dr. Jody Green from the Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties will discuss bed bug biology and behavior. Lincoln City Library Staff, Jen Jackson and LeeAnn Sergeant, will discuss how LCL approaches the possibility of bed bugs in the library.

1. Jody Green, Extension Educator
Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties
jgreen17@unl.edu
Bed bug biology

2. Bed bugs are insects in the order Hemiptera
• ”True bug”
• Piercing-sucking mouthparts
• Feed on liquids
Beak

3. Bed bug adults are reddish-brown, oval-shaped, ¼”
long, flattened, wingless, piercing-sucking mouthparts
Photo:
J.
Green

4. The bat bug, another blood feeding ectoparasite
Bat bug
• Prefer bats
• Behavior differences
• Treatment differences
Human bed bug Eastern bat bug
Photos:
J.
Green

5. Bed bug identification can be challenging based on
sizes, shapes, age and feeding status of the insect
Photos:
J.
Green

6. Develop through incomplete
metamorphosis

7. Photos
and
Illustrations:
J.
Green
Mating is termed “traumatic insemination” because
male inseminates directly into female body cavity

8. Females lay eggs up to 50 days after mating, but
requires blood meal every 10 days to produce eggs
Egg
Clothing tag
Photos:
J.
Green

9. After blood meal, bed bugs molt and discard
old exoskeleton in harborage
Photos:
J.
Green

10. Feed on blood, so they excrete digested blood,
which stains fabrics and leaves dark spots
Photos:
J.
Green

11. Rate of growth and development depends on
environmental conditions and steady food source
• 3-4 generations per year
• 6-12 month life span
• 70°F - 90°F
• Optimal: 5-6 week life cycle
Photo:
J.
Green

12. Bed bugs locate host by sensing carbon dioxide and
heat, engorgement (3x body weight) takes 5-15 min
Photos
and
video
:
J.
Green

13. Adult bed bugs feed every 3-5 days and inject
compounds into skin to aid in blood feeding
Compounds injected
• Anesthetics
• Anticoagulant
• Vasodilatory
• Proteolytic enzymes
Goddard & deShazo 2009
Photos:
J.
Green

14. Bites result in an allergic reaction in some individuals,
studies show ~30% of population have no reaction
Photos:
J.
Green

15. After a bed bug feeds, it returns to the harborage
(close to the host) to rest and digest
Photos:
J.
Green

16. Introduction
An individual bed bug “dropped”
by a person who spends time in an
infested place.
Infestation
Where people sleep nearly every
night or regularly.
Photos:
J.
Green

17. Bed bugs hitchhike on many objects that we move
around including luggage, furniture, and books
Photos:
J.
Green