Bed Bugs are Biting in Hotels
In the 1970’s and 80’s bed bugs were pretty scarce because of pesticides and other older chemistry that was used to get rid of ants and cockroaches as well. The pesticides pretty much eliminated bed bugs all together, however they were still seen once in a great while. Today things are changing. Bed bugs are becoming more and more of a problem. We are constantly seeing it on the news all around the world, why is this?
In places like Mexico (a real hot bed for bed bugs!) and South America bed bugs have always been rampant. In fact they’ve probably developed a resistance to some of the compounds that we use today. So the little “hitchhiker” bugs come home with travelers thus spreading more and more.
John Bordsen (MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS) wrote a very interesting article for the Detroit Free Press. In his article he highlights where bed bugs first came from, something I’ve been interested in but haven’t been able to find a lot of information on. According to Bordsen human beg bugs or Cimex lectularius first became a problem when humans lived in caves, they are actually associated with bats (they both drink blood). According to research bed bugs came to America from Europe at the same time as the first settlers did.
Here’s some more shocking news: research says that you really can’t detect bed bugs until their population is around 200! In our FAQ we discuss the reproductive habits of a bed bug. In a room that is around 70 degrees and there are 40 bugs give it six months and there would be 5,905 bugs! So imagine not knowing until you have 200 bed bugs.
When it comes down to it the main cause of bed bugs is travel. Therefore no motel or hotel is worse than another, it all depends on if someone has been there who has bed bugs. This also means bed bugs can be found in homes, apartments, schools and businesses. So what can you do? First and foremost be cautious! Taking the time to look for bed bugs when you are on vacation or traveling can save you time, stress and money in the long run. When I say money I mean thousands of dollars! That’s how much people are spending these days to get rid of bed bugs and sometimes that doesn’t even work!
For more information on bed bugs check out our FAQ section and Checklist, both found at the top of the page. This will help ensure that you will stay bed bug free!
Full story found here:
http://www.freep.com/article/20081123/FEATURES07/811230360/1025/FEATURES
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Hello Very Upset Traveler,
I’m guessing they are trying to scare you. Have you checked to see if there are complaints about this hotel? I offer that service free on this site where I’ll research the name and address of the hotel and provide you with the information on line – see me Hotel Bedbugs section.
If there are cases of bed bug complaints from other visitors, then you can turn the tables on them real fast! It would show that they were aware of the problem and filed a frivolous lawsuit!
I’m not sure about finding anything that says you can’t detect bedbugs until they reach 200 – sounds like they have you distracted.
It only takes one (1) bedbug that hitched a ride from the previous occupant to jump onto the bed and depending on its size, could be easy to spot. If the previous occupant had one, I’m guessing there were more.
Visit my Hotel Bedbugs section and as for a review of bed bugs at that hotel – you can’t get in trouble for asking! I’ll research it and let you know.
We recently stayed in a European hotel and my daughter and husband who were sharing the double bed awoke with bite marks.
My daughter is a very fidgety sleeper so I moved to the pull out bed. My daughter had bite marks on her face and neck, my husband on his torso. There were no mosquitoes in the room. I emailed the hotel twice after we returned from our trip and they did not respond, so I left a poor hotel review online.
We have been slapped with a libel suit! Apparently they had a vector control person check the room several days after I emailed and he found nothing. Where can I find this scientific research that supports ‘research says that you really can’t detect bed bugs until their population is around 200′? We have to go to court.
My son just called and woke up this AM in a motel, the bed if full of little red bed bugs and blood where he rolled on them during the night.
What does he do for his body?