ARE BED BUGS IN JONESBORO, AR?

Stories about bed bugs seem to be everyplace lately.   I can’t seem to pick up a newspaper or listen to the news without seeing or hearing about another bed bug story.  There was even a recent Bed Bug Summit in Illinois, the event was completely sold out.   One article I read said that “a survey of pest managers by the University of Sydney Department of Medical Entomology shows the bed bug infestations have increased 5000 percent since 2000″.   Another article was about how many department stores are having a problem, due to clothes being imported from other countries.  The article recommended drying any new clothing items before bringing them into your home.  Cheez!

At one point bed bugs were mostly eradicated after World War II from most developed nations with the use of DDT. But this pesticide has since been banned because it’s so toxic to the environment.

With their recent increase, there seems to be many different thoughts on how to get rid of them; ranging from freezing them to roasting them.  The best suggestion seems to be to contact a licensed exterminator; as they are the experts.   Also, it’s important to remember that even though they can bite and cause red welts; experts say they don’t carry any type of disease.  Like this makes me feel better.  Just the thought of sleeping with bugs, who only come out at night, and bite and suck your blood, gives me the heebie jeebies.

From everything I've read, it's best to avoid them getting into your home.  Bed bugs don't care if they live in a runned down shack deep in the woods, or a luxurious multi-million estate.  Once in your home, it's a nightmare (no pun intended) and turns into a real war zone.   Here’s a couple of tips to help avoid them:

• Be vigilant when acquiring used furnishings, especially beds and couches.
• Curbside items should be avoided, and secondhand articles should be examined closely before being brought into the home, and perhaps laundered or placed in a dryer.
• It may be prudent upon returning home from a trip (before unpacking) to place all clothing in disposable plastic bags and directly into the washer and/or dryer.
• Check out your hotel bed for signs of bed bugs and place your luggage in bathroom with light on.

There is even a website, called Bed Bug Registry, where you can search by state (type in abbreviation, inex: AR)  and will show you the names of places that have been reported to have bed bugs.  Be sure to check out their resources page for information on how to check a hotel room for signs of bed bugs.  (includes pics)

Hope this helps to keep all of us bed bug "free"!  I'm itching just writing about it.

Sheila