Bed Bug Information

The following are bed bug reports by date and Metro's follow-up action.

Sunday, October 20

• A customer reported a possible bed bug on bus #125. The bug was described as a reddish-brown bug in the rear of the bus. The bus was pulled from service and inspected. There were a couple small beetles found in the rear of the bus. The bus was returned to service later in the day.  
• A driver reported a possible bed bug on bus 2005. A supervisor checked it out and determined it was not a bed bug. 

Sunday, October 13 - Saturday, October 19

• No activity reported

Sunday, October 13 - Saturday, October 19

• No activity reported

Sunday, October 6 - Saturday, October 12

• No activity reported

Saturday, October 5

• No activity reported

Friday, October 4

• No activity reported

Thursday, October 3

• No activity reported

Wednesday, October 2

• No activity reported

Tuesday, October 1

• No activity reported

Monday, September 30

• No activity reported

Sunday, September 29

• No activity reported

Saturday, September 28

• No activity reported

Friday, September 27

• No activity reported

Thursday, September 26

• No activity reported

Wednesday, September 25

• There was a scheduled routine follow-up inspection on the finished areas of the building. The inspection covered all break rooms, locker rooms, training rooms, conference rooms, office and cubicle areas and quiet room. There were zero positive alerts
• A passenger reported a possible bed bug on a bus 123 through Metro customer service. The description of the bed was not fully in-line with a bed bug but out of an abundance of caution Metro pulled the bus from the road and inspected it. There was no evidence of a bed bug found, the bus was returned to service.
• A driver reported a possible bed bug on a separate bus (143). The bus was pulled from the road. The driver was able to capture the bug for inspection, and the bug was found to be a small beetle. The bus was returned to service. 

Tuesday, September 24

• No activity reported

Monday, September 23

• Pest control contractor treated bus from September 22. Bus returned to service at 3:00 pm.

Sunday, September 22

• A bus cleaner found and captured a bug on a bus 2209. It was positively ID'd as a bed bug. The bus was quarantined and signed. 

Saturday, September 21

• No activity reported

Friday, September 20

• No activity reported

Thursday, September 19

• No activity reported

Wednesday, September 18

• No activity reported

Tuesday, September 17

• No activity reported

Monday, September 16

• No activity reported

Sunday, September 15

• No activity reported

Saturday, September 14

• No activity reported

Friday, September 13

• No activity reported

Thursday, September 12

• No activity reported

Wednesday, September 11

• A bug was reported on a bus. The bus was quarantined, sealed and signed. The bug was captured and provided for identification. Though this bug looked similar to a bed bug, the pest control company confirmed that this was not a bed bug, but a stink bug nymph.  

Tuesday, September 10

• No activity reported

Monday, September 9

• No activity reported

Sunday, September 8

• No activity reported.

Saturday, September 7

• No activity reported.

Friday, September 6

• No activity reported.

Thursday, September 5

• No activity reported.

Wednesday, September 4

• Canine inspection did a thorough inspection of the front office, driver’s lounge/training areas, and upstairs area. The previously alerted and treated spots were cleared. 
• There were additional positive alerts by the canine today. The additional positive alerts were in the front office cubicle area, 2nd floor quiet room, manager office, and mechanic men's locker room. There were no physical bed bugs found, only canine alerts. All of these areas were treated and signed this afternoon.

Tuesday, September 3

• An employee reported being bitten by a bug in the front office cubicle area. The bug was provided, but it was destroyed preventing confirmation of being a bed bug. The canine inspection service is scheduled for late morning on Wednesday, September 4 to inspect this area and reinspect the previous areas from August 14. 

Monday, September 2

• During morning departure, a driver reported seeing a bed bug on the rear aisle mirror. The bug was not able to be captured. The shop supervisor thoroughly inspected the bus and was unable to find a bed bug. 

Sunday, September 1

• No activity reported.

Saturday, August 31

• This morning a mechanic reported finding a bed bug in a bus that was on a hoist. The bug was captured in a container and turned into the shop supervisor. The bus has been parked and doors were sealed. The pest control company is scheduled to treat the bus on Tuesday, September 3. 

Friday, August 30

• No activity reported.

Thursday, August 29

• A driver reported seeing a bed bug on a bus. The bug was kept for identification. The bus was pulled from service, sealed and pest control was called for treatment. Treatment is scheduled for the morning of August 30. The bug appears to be a bed bug, but the pest control person will confirm when they arrive to treat the bus. 

Wednesday, August 28

• Late night, a mechanic reported seeing a bed bug in the men’s mechanic locker room shower. A supervisor inspected the shower and located a small flying insect. No treatment was conducted.
• A mechanic reported finding a bug on them while in the building. They captured it and reported it to the shop office. Upon inspection it was determined that it was not a bed bug. 
• Bus from Tuesday, August 27 was treated and returned to service.

Tuesday, August 27

• Driver reported a bug on their bus, and supplied a photo. Photo was difficult to confirm whether or not it was a bed bug. Bus was pulled from service and scheduled for treatment.

Monday, August 26

• No activity reported.

Sunday, August 25

• Driver reported bugs on his bus. Bus was pulled from service and thoroughly inspected. No bed bugs were confirmed.

Saturday, August 24

• No activity reported.

Friday, August 23

• No activity reported.

Thursday, August 22

• No activity reported.

Wednesday, August 21

• No activity reported.

Tuesday, August 20

• An employee reported a bed bug at home. No reports at facility or on buses.

Monday, August 19

• A Metro mechanic reported a bed bug on a while on a hoist. The mechanic was able to capture the bug and it was confirmed to be a bed bug. The bus doors were sealed, and the pest control company was contacted. The bus is scheduled to be treated on Tuesday, August 20. 

Sunday, August 18

• A driver reported a possible bed bug on a bus. The driver supplied a photo which showed a beetle. The bus was still inspected and no bed bugs were found. 

Saturday, August 17

• A mechanic called in and reported bug bites on their body. The bus they were working on was identified and inspected. No bugs were found. 

Friday, August 16

• No activity reported.

Thursday, August 15

• A mechanic reported bites on their arm this morning. All buses this mechanic had contact with on Wednesday, August 14 were visually inspected. Many of these buses were on the road and were swapped out for inspection. No bugs were found. 
• Metro's pest control company, Plunkett's Pest Control, treated the dispatch area where a canine provided a positive scent alert on Wednesday.  

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

On Tuesday, August 13, there was discussion and speculation of bed bugs at Metro.

Metro’s continued policy has been to take all reports seriously and to immediately quarantine and treat the bus or room.

Prior to yesterday, the last reported sighting from a customer was two weeks ago on Thursday, August 1 on a bus.

Metro is emphasizing to employees that any suspicion of bed bugs should be reported immediately to their supervisor, who in turn will follow up with our safety and facility managers.

From Wednesday, July 10 through Tuesday, August 13, there were 5 reported bed bug sightings and an additional 2 reported on August 13.

These have all been immediately responded to using our internal bed bug procedures, which are posted around Metro facilities.

Signs are placed on quarantined buses so that employees are aware of the issue, and they are sealed. 

Moving forward, Metro will do regular communications with employees on our bed bug protocol and any potential activity.

When addressing this issue last year, Metro spoke with three different pest control companies and two other transit systems, and all have recommended that we treat individual areas when a bed bug is discovered.

Metro has been following this recommendation.

A first reaction is to treat the whole fleet. However, that is not how we’ve been guided by experts to address the issue.

The pest control companies have said the products used don’t last long in terms of prevention, and an individual could carry one on the bus a couple of days later. It would then be necessary to treat again.

On Wednesday, August 14, we brought in a canine inspection team. There was a positive alert in our dispatch area. There were not any physical bugs found, only the scent alert from the canine. 

Pest control has been contacted for treatment.

We will continue use this canine inspection vendor to inspect our facilities and will perform regular inspections of buses to ensure there isn’t a widespread issue.

Metro staff completely understands the public’s concern.

If someone is believes they’ve seen a bed bug on a bus, we encourage them to let us know by calling (608) 266-4466 or emailing mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com.

Read more on bed bugs at Dane County Public Health website