“Bedbugs biting more these days” |
| Bedbugs biting more these days Posted: 08 Oct 2010 10:53 AM PDT Pratt, Kan. — The children's rhyme, "sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite" hasn't carried much threat since they were nearly eliminated by improvement of hygiene and the widespread use of the pesticide DDT in the 1940s and 1950s. More than 60 years later, the little bloodsuckers have returned. "I've not heard of any issues in Pratt, but that does not mean there will not be bedbugs," said Alan Abbey, a service manager for Terminix in Wichita. Anyone who has done any traveling lately is at risk for bringing bedbugs home. Guests who have traveled might also bring them into the home. Abbey mentioned New York, Cincinnati, Detroit and Denver as cities where there have been large infestations. "Cleanliness is not an issue," he said. "We find them in the nicest hotels and the nicest homes." Bedbugs are small, oval, wingless flattened insects about one-fifth of an inch long that feed at night, usually when people are asleep. They can consume up to six times their weight in blood and a single feeding may take anywhere from three to 10 minutes, although the person may not realize they have been bitten until later. Many people have no reaction to the bites, but some have an allergic response such as itching, blistering or hives, which can become infected by scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases, according to a Kansas State University bulletin published in September. In recent years, reports of infestations are becoming more frequent in homes, hotels, dormitories and other locations. Although there is no specific explanation for the resurgence of the pest, increased international travel and pesticides with reduced residual activity have probably contributed. Bedbugs are not a do-it-yourself eradication project, Abbey said. His company and others have been called in after homeowners have failed to exterminate the pests. Heat, in the form of steam, and freezing seem to be effective. The treatment is more labor intensive and therefore more expensive than treatment for spiders, for example, but Abbey declined to give a price range. "It depends on the situation we walk into," he said. Some homeowners and exterminators have turned to more hazardous chemicals that can harm the central nervous system, irritate the skin and eyes or even cause cancer, the Associated Press reported earlier in the fall. About 25 states are pleading with the Environmental Protection Agency to approve a chemical which the agency considers a possible carcinogen. An agency spokesperson has pledged to find new, potent chemicals to kill bedbugs. Abbey recommends a thorough inspection of hotel mattresses, box springs and headboards. The adults are big enough to see, while the eggs are so tiny they can be found in heads of screws holding beds together. He has also found bugs hiding in dresser drawers adjacent to beds, in drapes and trim boards. Neatness counts — don't throw any clothing on the floor and keep suitcases on a luggage rack. The KSU publication recommends that second-hand furniture be thoroughly inspected and that clothing be laundered and dried immediately. Bedding and other materials can be treated by heating in most tumble dryers on the hot cycle to a consistent temperature of at least 104 degrees for at minimum of 30 minutes, washing at 104 degrees or freezing at zero degrees for at least two hours. Do not take clothing suspected to be infested to public laundries or dry cleaners, because this presents the risk of infesting nearby garments. It is best to discard older mattresses and box springs that have holes or tears, which make it easier for bedbugs to hide. Mattresses, box springs, carpeting and furniture can be thoroughly vacuumed or steam cleaned to remove nymphs and adults, but may not remove eggs or bugs that have crawled deep inside. It may be necessary to repeat the procedure several times. Seal potential hiding places such as cracks and crevices in walls and remove loose wallpaper or other materials that may provide shelter. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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