Bed bugs have experienced a resurgence during the last decade that essentially is unrivaled by the growth of any pest in the pest control industry. But while many people have never come into contact with the pest – as far as they know – bed bugs literally are everywhere.
Think of the different facets of a community that can be affected by bed bugs and there likely are numerous examples of infestations that can be cited. In the hotel sector, these businesses are not only tracked on numerous travel websites but The Bed Bug Registry was formed specifically for the purpose of reporting bed bug incidents.
Colleges and universities have incidents splashed across the “front pages” of social media networks on a weekly basis, causing fear among students and concern at the parental level. Regardless, bed bugs have intruded into almost every corner of the country’s higher learning institutions – as evidenced by the 996,000 results that come up in a Google search for college bed bug incidents.
Senior living centers, public housing, halfway houses and even prisons are being inundated with bed bug incidents – proving that bed bugs are everywhere. According to the ‘Bugs Without Borders’ survey, conducted by the National Pest Management Association and the University of Kentucky, not only are they everywhere but most people are either coming into contact with them or know someone who has had a bed bug-related experience. The survey found the following:
• 99.6 percent of U.S. based professional pest management companies have encountered a bed bug infestation in the past year, slightly higher than the 99 percent that reported the same in 2011.
• As in previous years, survey respondents continue to treat for bed bugs in a variety of places outside private residences, such as college dorms, hotels, nursing homes, offices, schools and daycare centers, hospitals, public transportation and others. The majority of bed bug infestations occur in residential settings, such as apartments/condominiums and single-family homes, with 98 percent and 96 percent of respondents treating these dwellings respectively.
• Although not a seasonal pest, prime bed bug time appears to be during the summer months with nearly half (49 percent) of respondents saying infestations occur most often then and least often in the winter.
• Bed bugs continue to be the most difficult pest to treat, according to 76 percent of survey respondents, more so than cockroaches, ants and termites.
• Clutter contributes to the problem as approximately two-thirds of respondents point to homeowner clutter as the biggest customer-oriented challenge in treating bed bugs, while 58 percent say customers not following advice and 16 percent point to re-infestation.
