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In 2004 there were 537 reports on bed bugs in New York City. Last year NY officials noted nearly 12.800 cases.
"Bed bugs could become one of the biggest threats in US households", says Omprakash Mittapalli from the Ohio State University in Columbus.
"Tracker dogs, sprays, electrical traps etc. prove ineffective. Contaminated apartments mußt be almost gutted, inhabitants literally turn their lives inside out. Clothes, mattresses and curtains must be given to the cleaners. Pictures, books and decoration put into plastic bags. After 10 Months the bugs will have starved."
Posts: 1596
Joined: Dec. 24 2007
From: Siegburg, Alemania
RE: Good night, sleep tight, don't l... (in reply to Ruphus)
A guy on the NY subway get's bitten by fleas. He writes a flaming complaint to the City Transport Office, and receives a prompt reply "... we are infinitely sorry to hear that, and have immediately started a comprehensive anti-vermin program ... we would like to thank you for your help ..." The guy's quite pleased by the reaction until this slip of paper drops out of the envelope:
RE: Good night, sleep tight, don't l... (in reply to Ruphus)
hehe -
However, if the vermins are to be spreading as it seems ( I recall my sister in law because of one roach she´d seen engaging the exterminator for their Manhatten penthouse in the very early Eighties. What she´d be doing these days? Guess leaving NY altogether) ... There be a substantial problem for urban folks across the globe.
Even moderately tempered places like Germany that used to have around zero of roaches or moths are being invaded.
Posts: 3446
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
RE: Good night, sleep tight, don't l... (in reply to Ruphus)
I have read that the way to get rid of bedbugs is for the people to move our temporarily, seal up the place, and move in heating equipment to raise the temperature to some high level, maybe 120 F (49 C). This is supposed to kill off all the bugs.
Well, all but very few of them, I guess. I haven't seen any reports of infestations by heat-resistant bedbugs bred by this process, but the time will come.
RE: Good night, sleep tight, don't l... (in reply to Ruphus)
I read science admires their super fast genetical adaption.
Imagine the horror if they become common in the big cities, and how they could develope nearly indestructable as they will be transported back and forth all the time. They ride on people, furnitures, stuff, almost anything.
Already being found in changing cubicles and clothes of NY luxury boutiques. They infest regardless of hygiene.
Only good thing about them: They do not spread deseases. Which again scientists are amazed about. -
When sixteen I went together whith a friend of mine to Paris to discover Pigalle. In the cheap hotel of ours my friend would start beating himself as soon as lights were off. All covered with bites. Completely horrible for him. In the same time the bugs would stay away from me entirely whose bed was only 1 meter or so away from the battlefield.
My chum was a fat guy and me maybe too skinny for gourmet bugs. hehe
RE: Good night, sleep tight, don't l... (in reply to Ruphus)
quote:
When sixteen I went together whith a friend of mine to Paris to discover Pigalle. In the cheap hotel of ours my friend would start beating himself as soon as lights were off. All covered with bites. Completely horrible for him. In the same time the bugs would stay away from me entirely whose bed was only 1 meter or so away from the battlefield.
That's funny, I went night time hiking once with a girlfriend and she got chewed to pieces by Mosquitos and I had maybe one bite, I was the fat one in this instance.....
RE: Good night, sleep tight, don't l... (in reply to Leñador)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Lenador
That's funny, I went night time hiking once with a girlfriend and she got chewed to pieces by Mosquitos and I had maybe one bite, I was the fat one in this instance.....
That´s funny indeed. Scratch that about the fat and skinny.
Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston
RE: Good night, sleep tight, don't l... (in reply to Ruphus)
the bedbug problem will likely send landlords and hotel/motel owners to the poor house--they are so wide spread especially in places like boston (lots of students moving in and out). i have heard some landlords spending in the 5 figures to combat this problem. interestingly the problem was identified by mick jagger n the late 1970s. check out the lyrics to shattered from the some girls album.
richard, heat does seem to be the most effective combat measure. these bugs managed to survive ddt so today's chemicals are pretty tame in comparison.
RE: Good night, sleep tight, don't l... (in reply to Ruphus)
I recall a report that meant DDT was overly suspected for misinterpretation of its toxity.
Seeing the possible, horrible future scene with parasites like these, the use of DDT could eventually be revived.
DDT removed bed bugs pretty well actually. It is only assumption that yet exceptional exemplaries could have survived the treatment.
Let´s only hope that plagues like this may not become daily companion in any metropoles building. The more as for the vast of us there will be no way around urban environment.
Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston
RE: Good night, sleep tight, don't l... (in reply to Ruphus)
ruphus, ddt probably would be a good agent to use to kill bedbugs but it has a plethora of problems associated with it hence why most countries banned it. bedbugs appear to not spread any diseases whereas ddt has a history of toxicity so the cure may be worse than the disease. assuming someone has a jug of ddt laying around we need to do a cost/benefit analysis as to spraying. i believe ddt has a soil half life up to a couple of decades so if you are planning a vacation of a few years if not a decade or two and have that jug around then spray away.
heat seems to be the ticket to kill these buggers (pun intended) and there does not appear to be any adverse side-effects save you may have to re-paint your walls and ceiling.
RE: Good night, sleep tight, don't l... (in reply to Ruphus)
As mentioned above, there have been reports ( in reputated media which is why I am not as certain anymore about DDTs bad rep as I used to) according to which DDT damages and cancerogenic remains had been hyped.
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