Journal of Medical Entomology: only 10% of Britons can identify bed bugs

nobugsonme — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:49:10 +0000

The University of Sheffield has conducted a study as to whether British people can identify bed bugs, the Sheffield Telegraph reports. Researchers showed bed bugs to 350 people, and found that teenagers (under 15) were unable to identify bed bugs. The findings were published in the Journal of Medical Entomology.

Overall, only 10% of people could identify bed bugs.

However, 20% of those over 60 could do so.

Dr Klaus Reinhardt, an entomologist at the University who led the study, said:

“Older people were expected to know what a bedbug looked like because of their war and pre-war time exposure to these nocturnal sleep-robbers.

“However it is also important that younger generations, in particular those that work in the travel and leisure industry, are educated in the appearance of bedbugs and their nymphs, eggs and traces. The ability to single out a lonely creature crawling over a hotel bed as a bedbug may make all the difference.”

Yes it may.

Booklice vs. bed bug nymphs

nobugsonme — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:44:19 +0000

This is a booklouse, photo sent in by LtDan. Several bedbuggers have mistaken them for bed bug nymphs. Notice the shape of the body is elongated, with three clear segments. There’s a pronounced head.

Compare this photo from L. Sorkin and R. Mercurio of a bed bug nymph:

Both are light colored but the bed bug nymph has a less elongated body. It doesn’t look like it has a neck, whereas the booklouse does. The bed bug nymph is clear but will become red when it has fed. Thanks to reader DJR for sharing this book louse photo.

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Journal of Medical Entomology: only 10% of Britons can identify bed bugs

Booklice vs. bed bug nymphs