Bed bugs—part 1 by Glenn Bissell, Owner of Alpine Pest Management
T
he resurgence of bed bugs as a pest problem in the US began in the 1990s in the northeastern corner of the US. Bed bugs became a significant pest management issue in some of the largest East Coast cities at about that time.
Bed bugs have arrived in Central Oregon in hospitality businesses and some residences in recent years. We have been involved in bed bug problems in homes and rental units for the last five years. This year, we have inspected and treated rental properties and residences. A few hotels in the area have also recently experienced bed bug problems. Bed bugs are human parasites. They feed almost exclusively on humans and travel from place to place by human transportation -- either on human bodies or human belongings such as luggage, clothing, bedding etc. They have been found on many types of public transportation including airlines, trains and busses. Bed bugs have been associated with humans throughout history. Some scientists speculate that the human bed bug evolved from the bat bug during the stone age of the caveman -- when bats roosted on the ceilings of caves and humans lived below them. Other scientists believe it started much later in time. There are records of bed bugs feeding on Egyptians, Greeks and Romans a few thousand years ago. Bed bugs spread from the Middle East and the Mediterranean area up into Central Europe in the 11th century, into England by the 16th century and into the Scandinavian countries by the 19th century. Bed bugs were first introduced into the Americas by the colonists. Severe bed bug infestations were documented in the English colonies in the 18th century. By the 20th century, it was a rare American who hadn’t either been bitten by or at least seen a bed bug. (From: Bed Bug Handbook, L. J. Pinto, R. Cooper and S. K. Kraft; 2007). I was introduced to bed bugs in college by my medical entomology professor in the early 1970s. At that time, my professor said that bed bugs weren’t currently a problem, but we would probably see them become a problem again in 30 to 40 years. His prediction was right on. No one is sure why the developed countries, including the US, were spared from bed bug problems throughout the mid 20th century. It has been speculated that it may have been because of DDT and the organophosphate pesticides that were used beginning in the 1940s, right after WW II and continuing through the late 1980s. All DDT use in the US was cancelled by the EPA in 1973 and the organophosphate insecticides were phased out beginning in the 1990s. One of the reasons why bed bugs are now a problem may be that many bed bug strains are resistant to our largest current arsenal of pesticides called synthetic pyrethroids.
I will continue this article in the next issue of LoVE and will cover the lifecycle, prevention, detection, and treatment methods for bed bugs. Please call the Alpine Pest Management office at 541-389-4942, contact me at glenn@alpinepest.com or visit our website at www.alpinepest.com for more information.
LITTLE ANGELS Preschool & Childcare “Where a Lifetime of Learning Begins” Now accepting ages 6 weeks - 5 years Monday - Friday 7:30 to 5:30 Conveniently located in SE Bend off Reed Market & 15th Street
A BC
(541) 318-7351 Mention this ad and we will waive the $75 Registration Fee!!!
The Environmentally Conscious, Scientific Solution specializing in non-pesticide control methods
................. Say Goodbye! ................. Prompt Service & Free 15 minute Phone Consultation Schedule at www.alpinepest.com or call
541.389.4942
Mice, Paper Wasps, Raccoons, Skunks, Spiders, Termites, Yellowjackets, & More.
Ants, Bats, Beetles, Birds, Bushy Tail Wood Rats/Pack Rats, Flies, Millipedes
For the little things that bug you!
November 2012 17