Bedbugs!?

December 1, 2005 == MEDIA ADVISORY

Bedbugs in the New York Times?

The paper whose motto is "all the news that's fit to print" saw fit to print a
major story this week on the tiny creatures.

"Bedbugs are back and spreading through New York City like a swarm of locusts
on a lush field of wheat," said the Times.

The paper noted that in New York bedbugs have recently been found in hospital
maternity wards, private schools and even a plastic surgeon's waiting room.

The Times story blamed a variety of culprits, including increased immigration
from the developing world, the advent of cheap international travel and the
recent banning of powerful pesticides. Other culprits include the recycled
mattress industry and "those thrifty New Yorkers who revel in the discovery of
a free sofa on the sidewalk."

So, is Grand Rapids next in line for a bedbug infestation? What about college
campuses where students have been known to haul a free couch to their dorm room
now and then?

Calvin biology professor Curt Blankespoor says Grand Rapids is no different
than New York City.

"It could happen anywhere," he says.

So what can GR do to avoid the pesky insects.

"Definitely avoid mattresses with labels like FREE," Blankespoor says with a
chuckle.

Blankespoor notes that bedbugs are more commonly found in animal cages
(rabbits, guinea pigs, birds) than in bedrooms and that while they are
extremely annoying, there is no evidence that they carry or spread any
diseases.

He says too that the critters, which belong to the group of insect called
hemipterans (or the true bugs) along with the giant waterbug, cicadas, and
aphids, have a very distinctive odor.

"It's sweet and musty, like the smell of fresh red raspberries," he says.

In addition to the smell Blankespoor says blood on sheets and several welts on
only one side of the body could be indications of bedbugs.

In which case, he says, a call to a professional pest control operator might
be in order.

Contact Curt Blankespoor at 616-526-6498

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Received on Thu Dec 1 11:43:17 2005