BED BUGS ON THE RISE IN THE GREATER NEW YORK AREA

By Ken Unger, Suburban Pest Control

Bed bugs are back with a vengeance. These little pests, that were almost brought to near extinction 20 years ago in the United States with use of the pesticide DDT, are now reaching epidemic proportions.

In the early part of the century bed bugs were commonly found in crowded rooming houses with a high turnover rate and poor sanitation. Today they can be found just about anywhere from a private home to a five star hotel.

At this point in time the problem seems to double every year. It's not uncommon to receive three to four calls a day in reference to problems with bed bugs. This is a remarkable increase in comparison to just four years ago when we didn't receive any calls. Why, all of a sudden, are we facing a bed bug crisis in the United States?

The amount of people traveling and moving around today is at record levels. Sleeping in an infested hotel bed can transfer bed bugs and the pests can find their way into your luggage for a free trip home with you! Purchasing refurbished or new mattresses, taking used furniture from the street or just by having a neighbor who has an infestation can bring these pests into your home. Bed bugs travel through wall voids fairly easily and can infest a multi-dwelling building in a matter of months if not properly addressed.

How do you identify if you have a problem with bed bugs? Bed bugs usually come out at night to feed and are not seen during the daytime. A problem can be identified by the actual bites in the form of irritable welts on the body. This reaction can happen immediately or take several months to develop. Fecal smears that look like black dots along the seams of the mattresses, nightstands and bed frames and blood spots on the pillowcases and sheets are also a sign of infestation.

Bed bugs should only be treated by a professional. Preparation for elimination of bed bugs includes: washing all clothing and bedding in hot water; emptying all dressers and closets and vacuuming all carpets in bedroom and living areas (after completion vacuum bag must be thrown out in a sealed garbage bag). Treatment includes a thorough inspection and treatment using residual sprays on the mattresses, bed frames, dressers, night stands, etc. and applying a residual dust to the wall voids within the bedroom. Prices for bed bug treatment and removal range between $300-$400 for a one bedroom apartment.