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Expect to Inspect for Bed Bugs
21 Aug, 2008 By: Mark Sheperdigian Direct To You: Bed Bug Business
It has been said that you cannot hit what you cannot see — and for bed bugs, that goes double. The single most crucial operation in bed bug treatments is the inspection. At about 3/8 in. and flat as a flake, an adult bed bug can be difficult to find. Add to that the nymphs that are smaller than 1/16 in. and eggs even smaller that are a pale white, and you have a real inspection problem. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if the bed bugs lined up for inspection, but they seem to be as intent on hiding in cracks and crevices as cockroaches.
The most likely place to find bed bugs is near their food, and keep in mind that their food is humans at rest. Even if you don’t read the studies, you can probably gather that bed frames and mattresses are prime harborage for bed bugs. The other common areas are relatively easy to guess as well: couches, upholstered furniture, etc.
You should also be alert to other areas where people sit quietly such as the video game console where children will sit for hours (and I do mean hours!) without changing positions and paying no attention to the bed bugs feeding quietly on their legs. The heavier the infestation, the more widespread the infestation will get.
It is also important to remember that suitcases, duffle bags and other luggage that travels may be the route of entry that brought the bed bugs in the first place. We found a neat little infestation in a guitar case in the closet of a teenage boy. It told an ominous story. You may be tempted to inspect every item in the room, but this is seldom practical; remember that bed bugs respond strongly to scents and pheromones associated with other bed bugs.
While the hunt is always on for live bed bugs, droppings and blood spots are easier to see. The crack- and crevice-oriented bed bugs are good at sliding into tight spots out of sight. When you see the dark droppings, slow down and intensify your search. Some areas should draw your eye, such as knotholes, screw slots and countersunk nails, screws and staples. Be especially alert for eggs. It is common for a female to be hidden in a knothole or similar indentation, but her eggs are laid carefully around the edge of her hiding spot.
Because we rely so heavily on our sense of sight, it is imperative that your flashlight illuminates everything you need to see. If the light is too bright, it washes everything out and you cannot focus properly. If you have not yet found a light-emitting diode (LED) flashlight that suits you, it’s time to find one. There are almost too many options out there to make an easy choice, but here are a few tips.
1. Get a light with a single high output lamp; there are lights with many small LEDs put together, but in my opinion they do not perform as well as the large single lamps.
2. A light with a Luxeon® lamp of at least 1 watt or greater is plenty of light for bed bug work.
3. A 3-watt lamp is almost too much light.
4. The energy-efficient LEDs seem to run forever on a set of batteries or you can get rechargeables. Choose a light that runs on inexpensive batteries; many of the best offerings run on CR123 Lithium batteries that cost from $1.25 to $7 each. There are plenty of excellent choices that run on AA or AAA batteries.
With flashlight in hand, inspect in a systematic pattern to cover the inspection area. Be alert for color, shape and movement. A consistent inspection pattern can minimize the chances of missing evidence.
Learn to keep your light low to the surface; if you only shine your light straight down on an egg or a first-instar nymph, you may go right over them without ever seeing them. If your light shines across them, they show up much better. An object 1mm high will cast a shadow several millimeters long if your light is low.
Also, take your time without stressing yourself; the more inspection you do, the more proficient you will become. Note in the examples below that the light held high (left) shows the fecal spot well, but barely shows the eggs. The light held lower (right) causes the eggs to stand out.
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