"Don't let the bedbugs bite." You may be familiar with this phrase--exchanged at bedtime and referring to a presumably nonexistent pest. In reality, bedbugs have been rising in number since the mid-1990s and have recently become nearly a national epidemic. In the past, America has been able to control the number of bedbugs by using a pesticide that has been around since World War II. Since then, bedbugs have become resistant to this pesticide, and stories of infestations in New York retail stores, hotels, and homes have attracted national attention.
Bedbugs are small, brown insects that are sometimes visible to the naked eye. They originate in places of international travel and then spread across the country. Bed bugs don't actually live on people themselves--they usually reside in beds--but can also be carried in luggage, backpacks, clothing, and even items purchased at retail stores. They are nocturnal and therefore only feed at night while you are sleeping. During the day, they can hide in mattresses, furniture, or dark places around the room. Without the evidence of bites, it would be hard to know that bed bugs even exist. When they feed on your blood, a small, itchy, red swollen spot can be found on the skin. These bites can last for weeks, but some people do not have any reaction whatsoever. Bedbugs are difficult to discover and even more difficult to get rid of, but it can be done.
Because bedbugs can live up to several months without eating, they can be hard to kill. They do not live in any certain environment: clean or dirty, they are able to thrive. Often times, it is necessary to pay an exterminator a large fee to effectively eradicate the bugs. For simple prevention, a mattress protector is key. You can also vacuum on a regular basis, focusing especially on the area around the bed. It is unknown exactly how many people are affected by bedbugs, but the number of cases increases each year. They are a very real problem, and it never hurts to be prepared.
