HOUSEHOLD AND STRUCTURAL INSECTS Ability of Bed Bug-Detecting Canines to Locate Live Bed Bugs and Viable Bed Bug Eggs

The bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., like other bed bug species, is difÞcult to visually locate because it is cryptic. Detector dogs are useful for locating bed bugs because they use olfaction rather than vision. Dogs were trained to detect the bed bug (as few as one adult male or female) and viable bed bug eggs (Þve, collected5Ð6dafter feeding)byusingamodiÞed foodandverbal reward system.Their efÞcacy was tested with bed bugs and viable bed bug eggs placed in vented polyvinyl chloride containers. Dogs were able to discriminate bed bugs from Camponotus floridanus Buckley, Blattella germanica (L.), and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), with a 97.5% positive indication rate (correct indication of bed bugswhen present) and 0% false positives (incorrect indication of bed bugs when not present). Dogs also were able to discriminate live bedbugs and viable bedbug eggs fromdeadbedbugs, cast skins, and feces,with a 95% positive indication rate and a 3% false positive rate on bed bug feces. In a controlled experiment in hotel rooms, dogswere 98%accurate in locating live bedbugs.Apseudoscent prepared frompentane extraction of bed bugs was recognized by trained dogs as bed bug scent (100% indication). The pseudoscent could be used to facilitate detector dog training and quality assurance programs. If trained properly, dogs can be used effectively to locate live bed bugs and viable bed bug eggs.