A Short History Lesson On Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are currently one of the world’s most annoying insects. The very sight of them can be nauseating. Their bites can leave you scratching for days. Their intrusion can even leave you in search of a new home. Terrorizing homes as early as the 18th century, bed bugs seemed to be a staple of American life. But then they nearly went extinct, at least in the United States, during the 1960’s because of the pesticide DDT.

DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane) was introduced to the world in 1939 as the “miracle pesticide,” and was extremely effective in killing bed bugs as well as many other insects. However, DDT caused many environmental problems, which led to its eventual ban in the United States.

After nearly 40 years of irrelevance, those nasty pests began to make a comeback. Beginning in the late 1990’s, more and more cases of bed bug infestations began to emerge. Jeff Eisenberg, the President and Founder of Pest Away Exterminating, Inc., who has over 20 years of experience in the pest control industry, asserts several reasons for the bed bugs recent resurgence:

● Increased traveling
The turn of the century made traveling extremely popular, which in many cases led to people bringing home bed bugs from various countries and continents.

● Increase in immigration
People immigrating from other countries also sometimes bring bed bugs back to the United States. In the case of illegal immigrants, many bed bug infestations go unreported, for fear of eviction.

● Increased purchasing of used goods
Online shopping has made buying used goods extremely easy. Thrift stores and flea markets have also found their niche. Even used furniture has seen an increase in popularity. All these used goods bear a chance of getting bed bugs.

● Lack of education and awareness of bed bugs
With bed bugs being all but extinct in the United States for almost 40 years, many people only know of bed bugs through the expression “Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.” Many people still cannot accurately identify a bed bug and its characteristics, which leads to many misconceptions about bed bugs. This ignorance leaves people vulnerable to infestation.

● Increase of bed bug resistance and lack of a “miracle spray”
Bed bugs, along with many other insects, develop resistances to insecticides, which they then pass on to their offspring. There is no longer a “miracle spray” that can effectively exterminate all bed bugs like DDT once did.

Although bed bugs are making a comeback, there are still many ways to protect yourself from infestation. For more information, be sure to check out the Bed Bug Survival Guide by Jeff Eisenberg. Or visit us at www.pestawayinc.com.