Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite
Ever since we were little we’ve all heard our parents or grandparents use the phrase “don’t let the bed bugs bite!” Little did we know how very true that expression could become. Lisa Hartman wrote an article for New England Real Estate Journal discussing just how problematic these little pests have become. At one time bed bugs were thought to be eradicated throughout the entire United States but today it’s quite the opposite. The most common bed bug found in the US is Cimex lectularius and this particular bug is so problematic due to the fact that it hides so well, spreads easily, reproduces quickly and on top of that is quite difficult to treat. Because bed bugs reproduce so quickly it is vital to take action immediately.
A quote from the article says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Because bed bugs are more commonly found in hotels and apartment buildings it is extremely beneficial and crucial to assign employees to do regular inspections for bed bugs and also inform current residents about on-going situations. Bed bugs can disperse throughout an entire building so if bed bugs are found in one place, they more than likely will be in another. In her article Hartman suggests that having a written plan in place by way of developing protocols for existing residents and for moving in new residents will go a long way towards reducing infestations. She also suggests that it is a wise decisions for owners to take action in not only removing bed bugs but also coming up with ways to prevent them because if they don’t the cost can be substantially higher. In the end, it is the owner’s responsibility as they are being left to get rid of furniture and clothing to more serious matters like paying for pest control and medical stress claims for the bed bugs.
The phrase “don’t let the bed bugs bite” is not just something cute to tell our children but in fact it is becoming more and more serious. For more information on bed bugs be sure to take a look at bed bugs FAQ. And as always, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them below.
Full article can be found here: nerej.com/26822
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I feel like crawling out of my own skin. I haven’t slept since I realized that I was “food” for invisible insects 3 days ago. Sooooo itchy and the kicker is – I can’t see these bugs yet because they are so small so it kinda feels like I’m losing my mind. Psychosomatic? I don’t think so, the red, itchy bumps are proof so far.
Last month (about 20 days ago), my boyfriend and I took a ‘staycation’ at a local, well know motel chain for some quiet time. Since the motel was my idea I feel really bad about bringing this scourge home, but he isn’t affected by these bugs, I’m the one getting chewed on. Being that there is an epidemic of bed bugs lately and they are so hard to detect when they’re babies, I don’t feel right about blaming the motel chain for this problem. I know that I got the bed bugs from the motel room though and although this fact sucks, there isn’t much I can do except try to get rid of them and never stay in ANY hotel/motels if I can help it. Wait, I have to scratch my shoulder…………Okay, done for the moment……
Does anyone have any information regarding whether I need to get some kind of body lice shampoo? My skin feels like things are on me and my scalp feels ‘creepy crawly’ too. This may be my imagination but I don’t want to take any chances. Do they stay in your hair when they’re babies and hard to see? I feel if I do get the lice shampoo it may help me psychologically to not feel itchy for no apparent reason. If they do stay on a person then obviously there is a reason to feel crawly but I’m hoping desperately that they don’t. Eeeewwww, eeewww, eeeewwww!!!
I’ve read that the banning of DDT and other insecticides has a lot to do with this countries recent infestation of bed bugs. Hmm, Cancer or bugs? How about neither? If this bed bug plague goes on without us addressing it ASAP and diligently, well, I hate to think of what we’ll be dealing with in the near future.
My skin and psyche can’t deal. Somebody do something fast! I gotta go scratch stuff now. Any advice or answers to my weird questions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
Robin