Bed Bug Causes
Bed bugs are becoming common again and turning up in some surprising places. Infestations in posh hotels, nice homes, cruise ships, nursing homes, hospitals and apartments have all been reported recently in most of the world, with the hardest hit areas in the U.S. and Canada, plus Europe, Australia and Africa. The question is, where do they come from?
History of Bed Bugs
Here in the U.S., bed bugs have been with us since the Mayflower dropped anchor. Early settlers brought them on ships along with their luggage. Written reports from colonists in the 18th century detail severe problems with bed bug infestations in America and Canada, but the Native American villages did not suffer the same fate.
The bed bug problem persisted until the late 1940s, and there were few Americans who had never been bitten. Bed bugs were most commonly found in lower-income housing, where people lived in crowded conditions, and cleanliness was not a primary concern.
Conquering the Beast
In the early 1950s, bed bugs were all but eradicated with the introduction of DDT, which was sprayed or dusted around the bed to control bed bugs for at least a year. After a few years, the bugs developed a DDT resistance, but other pest control chemicals had hit the market, most significantly malathion. By the mid 1950s, bed bugs had gone from the third most pesky pest in the U.S. to an occasional infestation in a homeless shelter, youth hostel or prison. For 50 years, infestation of private homes was rare.
Back With a Vengeance
It's not hard to figure out why bed bugs are making such a strong resurgence. The most effective deterrents to bed bugs have been off the market since the 1970s, often through bans. (The U.S. banned DDT in 1972 for environmental reasons.) Insecticides that are safer for us are not as effective against the persistent little pests.
Common Bed Bug Causes
Part of the problem is that people don't have the experience to recognize bed bug infestations when they see them, so they don't deal with it at home.
Today, people are traveling more, with bugs hitching rides in suitcases and folds of clothing. Low-rent lodgings have problems, but uptown hotels are hardly immune.
Secondhand merchandise has become chic. Bed bugs can hide anywhere, so buying used clothing or furniture can be a gamble.
Pest control has changed. Professional pest control companies are using more environmentally friendly methods of dealing with pest problems. Instead of spraying chemicals, they are using bait insecticides, which are bug-specific. A substance that attracts roaches, spiders or ants would not affect bed bugs, and there is no specific treatment for bed bugs.
There's also been a change in the behavior of bed bugs. They are becoming more active, moving around more between rooms and through walls in buildings from apartment to apartment, and even coming out in the daytime. They are also turning up everywhere instead of dwelling primarily in beds, as they once did.
Vigilance Vital
It may not be as simple to wipe out bed bugs this time around, but education is key. Learn the signs, and deal with infestations early. Watch for rash-like bites and tiny brown spots on the sheets. Preventive measures include sanitizing everything after returning from a trip or upon bringing used items into your home. And if you do get bed bugs, do what you can not to spread them.
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