Bed Bug Information

The following are bed bug reports and potential reports, listed by date, along with Metro's follow-up actions.

Reported Dates:

2026

Monday, July 13

Metro Transit fare-counting staff discovered a suspected bed bug in a collection of fare payments. The unknown insect was secured on a piece of tape for identification. After inspection, it was later determined to be some kind of beetle, not a bed bug. No further action was taken.

Thursday, July 2

Metro driver found what appeared to be a bed bug on the desk in the Ingersoll driver's lounge. They taped it to the desk and reported it immediately. Maintenance Management was contacted and inspected the bug. Manager agreed the bug looked like a bed bug. The lounge was signed notifying employees of the bed bug and to minimize or avoid using the room until treatment could be made. The lounge was not closed due to outside temps and available break areas with air conditioning. Metro's normal pest control contractor and back-up were unavailable to immediately treat the space. A bed bug K9 inspection service was called in and was able to respond immediately. The K9 searched the lounge, training rooms, first floor admin and all of second floor. There were no alerts from the inspection K9. The bug found may have been a “bat bug" which looks very similar to a bed bug, a microscope and trained person is required to confirm the difference.

Monday, June 22

Metro driver reported having bug bites on them after using the quiet room at Ingersoll on Saturday, 6/20. Direction was given to close and sign the room. Pest control contractor was contacted on Mon 6/22 and treated the room. With no bugs seen or a positive identification, we are treating the room out of an abundance of caution.

Tuesday, February 17

A passenger reported a potential bed bug on bus 2350 to the driver while the bus was on the road on the night of 2/16. Maintenance quarantined the bus for inspection. The bus was inspected on the morning of 2/17, and no bugs were found, nor was there any evidence of bed bugs. The bus was returned to service.

Thursday, February 12

Operator reports possible bug bite after using the recliner in the Ingersoll quiet room. The last time they used the room was 2/8. The room was closed, and a bed bug-sniffing dog was scheduled for late in the week of 2/16 to check that space and other finished spaces in the Ingersoll building.

Wednesday, January 21

A passenger reported a potential bed bug on bus 2313 while the bus was on the road. The bug was not captured. The bus was pulled from service at the next relief point, returned to the building, and inspected immediately. No evidence of bed bugs was found. The bus was returned to service.

2025

Tuesday, November 25

There was a reported potential bed bug on bus 125 while on the hoist in the shop. The bug was captured and supplied to management. Upon inspection, this was not a bed bug. The bus was returned to service.

Thursday, November 13

A bed bug was found in the Ingersoll quiet room overnight, 11/12. The bug was supplied to the shop office, and identification was confirmed. Our control contractor was contacted first thing in the morning (11/13). The room was treated around 3:00 p.m. and was reopened around 7:00 p.m. on 11/13.

Wednesday, October 22

A bed bug was reported on bus 104 while parked overnight. A bug was captured on tape and confirmed, and the bus was closed and quarantined. Our pest control contractor was contacted first thing in the morning (10/22). The bus was treated around 3:00 p.m. and returned to service around 7:00 p.m. The rear 106 shack was inspected with no positive identification. The rear 106 shack was treated out of an abundance of caution. 106 Shack was okay to re-open around 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 9

A bed bug was suspected on bus 2007 during night detail cleaning on Wednesday, October 8. A shop supervisor confirmed it was a bed bug, and the bus was then closed off and quarantined. Thursday, October 9, our pest control contractor treated the bus at 2:30 p.m., and it was returned to service at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, September 17

A passenger reported through customer feedback a potential bed bug near the front right exit door on bus 2351. The bus was returned to Hanson Road and thoroughly inspected. No evidence of bed bugs was found, and the bus was then returned to service.

Wednesday, August 20

A driver reported seeing a small bug on bus 2309, the driver was able to provide a picture of the bug. Hanson dispatch had the bus brought back to Hanson garage and isolated. Photo was compared to known photos of bed bugs and determined to be a small beetle. The bus was returned to service.

Thursday, July 3 - Tuesday, August 19

No activity reported

Wednesday, July 2

A driver reported seeing “very tiny insects” moving around in the quiet room at 3901 Hanson Rd. Room was immediately inspected. Based on bug provided and inspection, the room remains open.

Monday, June 9 - Wednesday, June 11

A shop supervisor reported bug bite-looking marks appeared after working in the shop office, but no bugs were seen. Metro scheduled K9 to inspect on Wednesday June 11.
On Wednesday June 11, K9 inspected the shop office and out of an abundance of caution all remaining offices as well as the training and break rooms. No alerts from K9.

Thursday, June 5

A driver reported a bug walked across their lap. Bus was removed from service and quarantined for inspection. No bugs were found. Bus was returned to service.

Thursday, April 24

During driver training, a trainee reported they had been bitten by a bug while sitting on a bus. They reported this occurred a couple days prior on Tuesday, April 22. The bus was inspected by a Metro supervisor upon its return to the garage. There were no bugs found. The bus was returned to service.

Tuesday, December 10 - Monday, April 21, 2025

No activity reported

2024

Monday, December 9, 2024

A shop supervisor identified a bed bug on Hanson Rd. shop office. Pest control was called, and the space was scheduled for treatment that afternoon. Out of an abundance of caution, the training room was also treated.

Sunday, November 10 - Sunday, December 8

No activity reported

Sunday, November 3 - Saturday, November 9

No activity reported

Sunday, October 27 - Saturday, November 2

No activity reported

Monday, October 21 - Saturday, October 26

No activity reported

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 of 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 the 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

The pest control contractor treated the bus on September 22. Bus returned to service at 3:00 pm.

Sunday, September 22

A bus cleaner found and captured a bug on 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's office, and the mechanic's 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 could not 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 over to the shop supervisor. The bus has been parked, and the 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.
The bus from Tuesday, August 27, was treated and returned to service.

Tuesday, August 27

The driver reported a bug on their bus and supplied a photo. The photo was difficult to confirm whether or not it was a bed bug. The bus was pulled from service and scheduled for treatment.

Monday, August 26

No activity reported.

Sunday, August 25

The driver reported bugs on his bus. The 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 the 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 no physical bugs found, only the scent alert from the canine. Pest control has been contacted for treatment.
We will continue to use this canine inspection vendor to inspect our facilities and will conduct regular inspections of buses to ensure there are no widespread issues. Metro staff completely understands the public's concern.