author(s)
Mamatha GS, Jaya N Lakkundi, Sunitha CR, Yuvaraja TY, Jayashri V and Myreddy Nikhil

abstract
An investigation was carried out to study the incidence of bed bug infestation in a poultry farm situated in Kunigal taluk of Tumkur district in Karnataka state. The poultry farm consisted of 25,000 parent broiler birds aged around 66 weeks. The farm had a history of presence of bed bugs in cracks and crevices of the poultry sheds. The birds were showing scratching on the body in less than 25.0 percent of the flock with decreased body weight. The collected bed bugs were identified as Cimex hemipterus based on the standard morphological characters. Based on laboratory confirmation, the owner was advised to clear the parents stock immediately. The bed bugs present in the cracks and crevices were destroyed by burning with the flame. The use of permethrin spray to the entire poultry sheds, floors, walls and bird cages aimed in control of bed bugs infestation very effectively.