Bed bugs are small bugs that feed on blood. They can get into homes, hotels, and other places where people sleep. They don’t seem to spread diseases, but they can make you itch, have allergic reactions, and feel bad about yourself. Bed bugs are also extremely hard to get rid of because they can hide in cracks, crevices, and fabrics and go months without eating.
Bed Bugs Are Becoming More Common in the US
Bed bugs used to be a regular problem in the US, but better hygiene and the use of DDT in the middle of the 20th century got rid of most of them. But bed bugs have come back in the last few decades because more people are traveling, poisons aren’t working as well on them, and people aren’t aware of them. Researchers say that bed bugs have made a “global resurgence” in the past few years, and places in the US are not immune.
The US Cities With the Most Bugs
Because they treat so many cities with bed bugs every year, Orkin and Terminix put out lists every year of the 50 towns in the US with the worst bed bug problems. The lists are a little different, but they both show that bed bugs are more common in cities, especially in the East and Midwest. Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Los Angeles are some of the places that always do well on both lists.
But there are also a lot of bed bugs in Washington. Three of its towns are among the worst in the US for bed bugs. Terminix has a list of the top 50 places with the most bed bugs. Seattle comes in at number 13, Spokane at number 27, and Tacoma at number 37. On Orkin’s list of the top 50 places with the most bed bugs, Seattle comes in at number 14, Spokane at number 34, and Tacoma at number 43. Based on these results, it looks like bed bugs are a big problem in Washington, affecting both homes and businesses.
What Causes Bed Bugs and What Happens When They Get in
Infestations of bed bugs are mostly brought in from places where they already live, like hotels, dorms, trains, planes, and other public places. Bed bugs can move to new places by riding on bags, clothes, furniture, or other things. Bed bugs can also move from one room to another through pipes, vents, or walls that are shared.
Bed bugs can be very bad for both people and businesses. Bed bugs can make you feel bad emotionally and physically. They can give you spots, welts, and infections on your skin, and they can make you feel bad about yourself because of being a bed bug. Bed bugs can also hurt the image and income of hotels, motels, and other places that have guests or customers. Also, treating bed bugs can be expensive and take a lot of time because they need to be removed by pros several times and a lot of things need to be cleaned and thrown away.
How to Stop and Get Rid of Bed Bug Problems
Bed bug infestations can be stopped and controlled by educating people, being vigilant, and taking action. Educating people about bed bugs means making them more aware of their symptoms, risks, and how to avoid and report them in the best way possible.
Being vigilant means checking and keeping an eye on things that could be bed bug sources, like mattresses, beds, furniture, and bags, and being careful when moving or traveling. To intervene, you need to get professional help as soon as possible and do what the professionals say, like using heat, steam, or chemicals to get rid of pests and sealing or throwing away things that are infested.
In Conclusion
The number of bed bugs in the US is going up, and Washington is no different. Pest management companies say that three of its cities are some of the most infested in the US. There are many bad things that bed bugs can do to people and companies, and they are hard to get rid of. Because of this, being aware, careful, and aggressive are all important ways to stop and get rid of bed bugs. We can keep ourselves, our families, and our neighborhoods safe from these unwanted guests if we do this.