ONCE NEARLY ERADICATED, BEDBUGS RETURNING

This story came as a complete surprise to me:

Once thought virtually eradicated in the United States, the bedbug is back.

"An insect is living beside you while you sleep, it withdraws three times its body weight in your blood; it's a psychological concern," said Frank Meek, national pest control technical manager for Orkin.

Kansas State University entomologist Ludek Zurek said that by the end of 2002, the little bloodsuckers had been reported in at least 28 states.

The bugs are flat, wingless, smaller than a ladybug and can hide in bedding, mattresses, and crevices in walls and floors. Fortunately, they're not known to carry disease.

International travel is considered to be part of the cause of resurgence with people bringing the bugs home from foreign countries. Although management is not talking about it, the greatest percentage of new infestations is in hotels and motels. Mike Lawton, a staff entomologist with Western Exterminator Company in Irvine, CA, said:

"They've (bedbugs) had an incredible impact on high-end hotels," he said. "You've got to keep it hush-hush. If the word 'bedbug' gets out, it scares a lot of people away."

Sheesh! Just in the past year or so, we've had SARS and monkey pox and, now, this. What's next?

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