Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite

Recently, I had a conversation with someone about an entire building that had to be fumigated because of an infestation of bedbugs.  (Not here, in California, so relax)

As I researched the bedbug phenomenon, I learned the following disturbing facts.

The bed bugs have been celebrating a comeback since about 1995 for unknown reasons. 

Reasons for the comeback;

Increased foreign travel, resistance to pesticides, second-hand clothes and furnishings changing hands among other things, hitchhiking on other animals.

What do they eat? 

Blood.  Specifically warm-blooded creatures. (Guess where we fit in on the menu?)

Where do they live?

Bed bugs?  Guess where.  Predominantly beds, but cloths and clothing material can harbor them.

How do you find them?

Look at ALL sections of your mattress.  Look at your clothing and luggage. Look for small spots and/or groups of the pests, congregating together.

You can actually smell them.  The smell is said to resemble coriander, cilantro, almonds or overripe raspberries.

How do I know if I have been a victim of the bedbug?

Look for swelling, rash or small blisters on your skin, usually in the same area.

Heat is not the bedbug’s friend.

If you have clothing or bedding that you believe in infested, place them in the clothes dryer and tumble them on the “high” setting.

Here in Vegas, you can place items outside in the summer heat and get the same results.

Now what do you do?

Contact a professional exterminator. Some exterminators employ a four-legged detector.  Some dogs are trained to sniff out the pests.

Some research has shown that bedbugs are highly resistant to pesticides, sometime as much as 264 times that lab bedbugs. (link) (Sounds like a great horror movie, huh,  Wes Kraven? ) So a professional is a must if you are going to have him spray a toxin in your home.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness.  Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum all around.  Rooms and mattresses.

Heat is not the bedbug’s friend.  If you have clothing or bedding that you believe in infested, place them in the clothes dryer and tumble them on the “high” setting.

Here in Vegas, you can place items outside in the summer heat and get the same results.

There are several natural remedies available.  Their efficacy is debatable, but at least one of them could be fun. 

The leaves and seeds of the “cannabis” plant is one such remedy.

Really?

Probably should keep some nachos in the bedroom after implementing such a remedy.