Bed Bugs!
By worldwise1
@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
July 26, 2009 10:24am CST
A lead story on the local news last night about a large downtown apartment building prompted me to post this discussion. It seems that they have had a problem with bed bugs for a couple of years now, and as a last resort the building's owners have decided to move all of the tenants out in order to gas the premises and finally get rid of the bed bugs. Until a couple of years ago bed bugs were something of a myth to me. Sure, I remember hearing folks talk about them when I was growing up, but I don't remember ever hearing of any specific cases where there was an actual infestation. So, when I began hearing about more and more of them locally I sat up and took notice. I did some research on bed bugs because I wondered why they would make such a strong comeback after being practically nonexistant for so long. What I learned is that they thrive in areas that are densely populated; they are visible to the naked eye; they are very difficult to eradicate. Since I heard of the comeback of bed bugs the incidence of infestations have grown by leaps and bounds(even a couple of family members have had a problem with them). I'm even hearing that they can sometimes be found in brand new furniture. This is very scary. How is the situation in the area where you live? I understand that the problem is nationwide.
1 person likes this
8 responses
@celticeagle (165954)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Jul 09
Oh my gosh! No, bed bugs aren't a myth. I have never heard of any infestation of bed bugs in this area. I live in the northwest united states. Years ago when I was in the carnival and we were in Louisianna I saw my first. My traveling companion and I had rented a room with a kitchenette at a place called the Kikkapoo Motel. We thought we had it made and were so excited about have this place with the kitchenette. We didn't get in that night until early morning probably about 2 or 3a. We walked up to the door, turned the key in the lock, opened the door and turned on the main light next to the door. Much to our horror as soon as the light switched on something[alot of somethings] scurried in all directions. BUGS!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
27 Jul 09
Bed bugs? Or roaches? Insects are everywhere and so very hard to get rid of.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
28 Jul 09
I have had some experience with roaches, celticeagle, and I can assure you that they can get into anything!I've even heard of them getting into unopened food such as bread and cereal. Bedbugs are an oddity to me though because I've never seen any, but with the recent proliferation I live in fear since I live in a housing complex. I am actually afraid of buying any new furniture items.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (165954)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Jul 09
Bed bugs. Roaches are under things usually and hidden. Bed bugs are usually in the bed or furniture. Ugh! And the heat doesn't help.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 09
We don't get bed bugs in my homeland because it is a cold country. Only in the summer does it get warm to hot. I am very keen on traveling. I have only come across evidence of bed bugs once and that was in Malaysia. I had sickness and a high fever. All the other hostelers woke up covered in bites from bed bugs. I saw a notice on the wall of my room in Sumatra warning "Do not sleep here. These beds have bed bugs and flees. Check out now". I didn't wait to experience that and we to stay in a different room. I have heard that backpacker hostels in Sydney in Australia have to regularly treat the mattresses to get rid of bed bugs. They can be carried in on sleeping bags I imagine. The bites are red and in neat lines close together.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
28 Jul 09
It was very smart of you to seek other lodging, maximax8! It isn't overly hot where I live - maybe for a couple of months during the year, but maybe the bedbugs don't know that.
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
27 Jul 09
I have not heard of any local infestations, although I have heard about motels etc. having them and people thinking that this is a very outdated type of problem to have. The bugs will survive, all of them, long after we wipe ourselves out. Hard to get rid of insects.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
28 Jul 09
I have heard that about roaches, GG, so I assume it iapplies to all types of bugs. I'm just confused about how they have managed to make such a comeback.
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
27 Jul 09
I have heard of it being a problem on the news,but I personally don't know of any cases here. I try to keep our room clean and keep the mattress vaccummed quite often as I have heard that will help keep them away. Does anyone else know of any home remedies to help to keep them away?
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Jul 09
I happen to live in an area where there are a lot of bedbug infestations...thankfully it hasn't hit my building...uh, yet.
In every hardware store near me are big signs about products to eliminate these pesky critters. Yes, bedbugs can appear even in new furniture since unfortunately the trucks that may ship new furniture to a person may be infested itself, so naturally they can infest the furniture being shipped. My one friend out in California has been infested with these nasties three times! Each time she had to totally fumigate her apartment and throw out her beds
In every hardware store near me are big signs about products to eliminate these pesky critters. Yes, bedbugs can appear even in new furniture since unfortunately the trucks that may ship new furniture to a person may be infested itself, so naturally they can infest the furniture being shipped. My one friend out in California has been infested with these nasties three times! Each time she had to totally fumigate her apartment and throw out her beds1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
28 Jul 09
It gets scarier by the minute, pyewacket!
I live in fear that my building will be next. I'm even leery of using the laundry facilities anymore.
I live in fear that my building will be next. I'm even leery of using the laundry facilities anymore.
@simplyforgiven (26)
•
27 Jul 09
Don't worry about bed bugs....worry about dust mites. You know those "sleepies" you get in your eyes after you have been sleeping...that is from dust mites that live in every couch, mattress, and pillow you have. Dust mite feces is what causes a lot of allergies
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Now that's about as much as I can stand, simplyforgiven. Maybe that's why my allergies are so bad.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
27 Jul 09
I have heard about cases on the news, but no one I know has had a problem with them yet. It is pretty scary.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Yes, it is scary, Thoroughrob. It seems that a lot of the bad things are coming back into existence these days.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
30 Jul 09
Oh my gosh. they can be found in new furniture too?? That is gross LOL. I am constantly washing my bed covers. I like to make sure the bed is as clean as possible. I buy new pillows ever so often too.
