Where are all these bed bugs coming from?
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‘Where are all the bed bugs coming from?’ is the pest control equivalent to ‘Why me?’ The truth is, the question is as simple to answer as it is complicated to explain. Bed bugs come from everywhere, and by any means possible, but they don’t really seem to originate from anywhere specifically. This bug is causing a global epidemic, but this hasn’t stirred major concern, because they don’t transmit disease… yet. Once the issue evolves to that stage, then watch out!
How did they get in my home? We (my girlfriend and I) are unfortunate enough to share an apartment building, and specifically a floor of that building, with somebody who brought them home with them. There is no blame to be placed here, no fault to find with the occupant, as this can literally happen to anybody. The bed bug can hitch a ride with anybody, and can travel by any number of routes and means.
Airlines – Think of an airplane as a flying test tube. For hours at a time, travelers are trapped in this tube with other passengers, and there is no place to go and no place to hide. Ever wonder why you tend to ‘come down with something’ after a flight? That’s right, the re-circulated air probably delivered some bad germs your way. By the same token, any bed bugs that are currently hitching a ride with any of the passengers may find their way onto your clothing, personage, or even your luggage.
Other modes of transport – Think of any form of mass transit, and you have yourself a recipe for bed bug disaster; buses, car pooling, cruise ships, shuttles, taxi-cabs, subways, etc. The list goes on and on. In fact, if you share any mode of transportation with anybody else, than you may be sharing their bed bugs as well.
Public places – If you go to church, visit the library, spend any time in the hospital, pick up your kids from school, attend classes at the local college or university, attend a sporting event, or eat in a restaurant (not to mention countless other social situations), then you run the risk of bringing this pest back to your home.
So what are we to do? Stop going out? Stop being social? Well, that’s just silly! Actually, there isn’t much you can do to avoid the possibility of a breach, so just live your life, but keep cognizant of the risks. If you wake up with weird or unexplained bites, welts, redness, then you should take note and do a little investigating. Identifying the problem early makes handling an infestation infinitely easier.
The author of this article is dedicating his later years to teaching others about ways of getting rid of bed bugs. Like I said, I had them, I got rid of them, and now I will help educate others about the risks and dangers associated with this bug… anything I can do to help. I own and operate a website dealing with this issue, as well as dealing with other pests too… Like this article about how to get rid of sugar ants in house and home forever. Good luck, and happy hunting…!