New York Bed Bugs

Brief History of Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs became virtually extinct thanks to the use of strong pesticides like DDT. In 1973, the EPA banned this particular pesticide because of the harmful effects it could have on humans and the environment.

The ban of DDT coupled with the use of less toxic (and as a result, less effective) chemicals have led to a rise in bed bugs in the last decade. Since 1995 bed bugs have been making a comeback steadily increasing as the years go by. In fact, a 2010 survey showed that 90 percent of U.S. pest control professionals claimed to have encountered bed bugs in 2010.

Perhaps many of these companies where based in New York. In 2010 New York City experienced a severe infestation of bed bugs in hotels, movie theaters, and homes. This infestation baffled New York residents and put bed bugs back in the lime light after year decades of being ignored.

What Are Bed Bugs?

 

According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Cimex lectularius Linneas, more commonly known as the bed bug, is parasite that feeds on the blood of humans, chickens, bats, and on occasion domesticated animals.

There are several different kinds of bed bugs, however the two that are most important to humans are the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) and the tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus).

 

Within the home bed bugs can be found in mattress creases, drawers, and holes and crevices in the wall. Bed bugs are generally more common in hotels due to the constant passing through of travelers. In fact, since New York is such a hub for international travelers, it can be assumed that many of the bed bugs were a result of travelers unknowingly transporting bed bugs in their suit cases.

What Are Some Physical Characteristics of Bed Bugs?

 

New York residents found themselves checking their mattresses, homes, and even movie theater seats for bed bugs. They were generally looking for any of the following characteristics:

-  Adult bed bugs have a an oval shaped body about the size of an apple seed. Their bodies are also flat and have a reddish-brown color.

-  Before feeding bed bugs are usually brown in color. After they have fed off of their host    they appear swollen and red.

-  After eating bed bugs will leave blood spots and dark fecal matter spots.

-  As they grow bed bugs shed their skin and leave brown skeletons behind.

Were The Bed Bugs in New York Dangerous?

Generally speaking, bed bugs have not been known to spread any kind of disease, allowing New York a sigh of relief. However, recent news reports suggest that a small number of bed bugs, being dubbed super bed bugs, actually carry a very harmful virus called MRSA. This virus has shown to be incredibly resilient against antibiotics and it’s spread in the body could lead to amputation or even death.

Fortunately for New York residents these weren’t the kinds of bed bugs invading their city.

How did New York residents react to the bed bugs?

The bed bugs in New York gave way for some mass hysteria. The New York Times, The New York Post, and other publications were coming out with articles that made it seem like New Yorkers were living  in a horror movie. Some of the most memorable headlines regarding bed bugs in New York included Subways’ Blood Bug Invasion, and Bed Bugs II: The City Strikes Back!

Eventually The New York Times addressed the issue of hysteria in an article entitled What Spreads Faster Than Bed Bugs? Stigma. U.N. officials, New York court prosecutors, tourists, and even teeny boppers shopping at their favorite stores all became petrified of being attacked by bed bugs.

Overseas publications like The Guardian even quoted New York residents comparing a bed bug invasion to terrorism.

Some the hysteria was within reason, the city had indeed been invaded as bed bugs were popping up all over New York. Bloomingdales, the United Nations, court houses, theaters, apartment complexes, Google headquarters, and even The Empire State Building had all been infested with bed bugs during this epidemic.

However, other than being a major public nuisance bed bugs did not pose any major threat to New York.

Bed Bugs in New York Hotels and Buildings

 

According to BedBugRegistry.com, a website where users can post bed bug any bed bug sighting in buildings across the country, New York sports the worst bed bug infestation with over 4,000 incidents.

Bed Bugs and New York Legislation

Bed bugs in New York have been giving way for local advisory boards and state legislation for quite some time.

Even before the 2010 invasion of bed bugs in New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg had established a 10 person bed bug advisory board. The board was meant to find adequate date on these otherwise little known bed bugs and come up with holistic techniques for ridding New York of a growing problem. The city’s efforts were somewhat fractured as bed bugs continued to invade New York.

In August 2010, The New York Assembly based a bed bug disclosure bill (A10356b) that requires all landlords to report any bed bug sightings within the next year to prospective tenants. Governor David Patterson showed no signs of hesitation signing it into law.

Although the law only applied to New York City, lawmakers are hoping to introduce a bill that would affect the entire state. Other states, such as Maine, have already enacted similar bed bug legislation.

Bed Bugs and Traveling to New York

If you find yourself traveling to New York keep some of the following precautions for bed bugs in mind, especially if you are staying in a hotel. When you check into the hotel examine the room for bed bugs by pulling back any covers and sheets and looking along the mattress seams. You should also inspect drawers, cots, and cribs. Finally, avoid putting your luggage on the floor at all costs.

Following the aforementioned precautions should keep you safe from bed bugs in New York hotels.

Bed bugs have made a come back in recent years, with the most recently publicized infestation being in New York City last year. Unfortunately, according to pest management professionals, and infestation in your home may not be so rare. In fact, pest control services have seen a significant rise in bed bug complaints since 1995.

Brief History of Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs became virtually extinct thanks to the use of strong pesticides like DDT. In 1973, the EPA banned this particular pesticide because of the harmful effects it could have on humans.

The ban of DDT coupled with the use of less toxic (and as a result, less effective) chemicals have led to a rise in bed bugs in the last decade.

In 2010 New York City experienced a severe infestation of bed bugs in hotels, movie theaters, and homes. This infestation quickly put bed bugs back in the limelight after decades of being ignored.

What Are Bed Bugs?

According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Cimex lectularius Linneas, more commonly known as the bed bug, is parasite that feeds on the blood of humans, chickens, bats, and on occasion domesticated animals.

There are several different kinds of bed bugs, however the two that are most important to humans are the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) and the tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus).

Bed bugs are also referred to as “red coats”, “chinches”, or “mahogany flats.”

What Are Some Physical Characteristics of Bed Bugs?

There are a few signs that will tell you whether or not bed bugs have penetrated into your home.

-  Adult bed bugs have a an oval shaped body about the size of an apple seed. Their bodies are also flat and have a reddish-brown color. Bed bugs also have greatly reduced wings that are more broad than they are long and have a somewhat rectangular appearance.

-  Before feeding bed bugs are usually brown in color. After they have fed off of their host    they appear swollen and red.

-  After eating bed bugs will leave blood spots and dark fecal matter spots.

-  As they grow bed bugs shed their skin and leave brown skeletons behind.

Can Bed Bugs Harm Humans?

Bed bugs are suspected carriers of leprosy, oriental sore, Q-fever, brucellosis. However, bed bugs have never been connected to the spread of disease among humans.

Bed bugs do however cause a significant nuisance and feed on your blood while you sleep. Many people confuse bed bug bites for mosquito bites and as result an infestation goes unnoticed. A sure fire way to verify if you have been bitten is to check your mattress for small blood stains.

How Do Bed Bugs Spread?

Bed bugs are actually very easy to pick up. Many victims carry these critters to their homes unknowingly after traveling and staying at hotels. Bed bugs can also be transported on clothing, bedding, and furniture.

What Is The Life Span of a Bed Bug?

Because of their confined living spaces reproduction among bed bugs can be difficult to achieve. However, female bed bugs can lay up to 200 eggs in her lifetime. This roughly equates to about 12 eggs per day. Within ten weeks the eggs will reach maturity and continue the process.

What Is The Perfect Habitat for Bed Bugs?

Human dwellings, bat caves, and bird nests are the prime locations for bed bug habitats. These habitats are especially suitable for bed bugs because they provide warmth, areas to hide, and hosts for feeding.

Within human households common areas of infestation include cracks and crevices in walls, furniture, behind wallpaper, behind wood panelling, and under carpeting. When looking for bed bugs make sure to check the side of furniture that touches the wall.

How Can I Find Bed Bugs in My Home?

Bed bugs may be a little hard to find if they hide. Fortunately, there are techniques you can use in order to find bed bugs in your home.

-  Inspect your mattress seams. Do this by pulling back the bed spread and sheets and running your fingers along the mattress seems while looking for darks spots.

-  Check along the bed frame and head board.

-  Inspect dresser drawers and pay particular attention to the side of the dresser that faces the wall.

How Do I Kill Bed Bugs?

First and foremost you should remove any sheets, covers, mattresses, furniture, or drawers that have been affected by a bed bug infestation. Once you have done this you can take one of the following actions:

-  Follow an integrated pest management approach (otherwise known as an IPM) that includes prevention, sanitation, and the use of some chemicals

-  Call the exterminators. Experienced companies know exactly where to look for bed bugs and have a series of legal techniques specifically targeted for killing bed bugs.

-  It is illegal to use insecticides in the extermination of a bed bug infestation. As a result you must discard of any infected items immediately and call a professional.

-  Vacuum the house in order to remove bed bugs and their eggs for mattresses, walls, carpets, and other surfaces. Make sure to pay particular attention to seems.

Contrary to popular belief, intense heat from steam does not necessarily kill bed bugs. Instead, the mattress absorbs moisture from the steam making it an adequate environment for the survival of bed bugs. Furthermore, while freezing temperatures can kill bed bugs, the temperatures would have to remain constant for two weeks.

How Do I Check My Hotel for Bed Bugs?

The first thing you need to do when you check into a hotel is check for bed bugs. You can do this by checking the mattress, sheets, backboards, drawers, and any roll out beds. Furthermore, make sure to never put your luggage on the floor.

How Do I Prevent Bed Bugs?

The best method in avoiding bed bug infestations is preventing them from happening in the first place. Before entering the house check any luggage, used clothes, used furniture, or moving boxes for possible bed bug infestations. Make sure to pay close attention to seams and crevices.