Bedbugs and cockroaches have existed on the Earth since ages immemorial. These pests are the most resistant and persistent among the insect category. Few decades ago, when people thought that the humankind successfully eradicated these pests from the face of the earth, they have returned causing frustration and lot of physical and mental hassles to the people. Bedbugs are known not to spread infectious diseases, yet the bed bug bites can trigger various allergic reactions within the body. The ugly scar marks and skin infections are a great source of concern. There is no single reason that can cause bed bugs.
Travel: Economic progress and expansion led people to travel to different countries. For the bed bugs to make an entry into the home, they often get a free ride hiding in the luggage, clothes and the baggage of the traveler. Travel is one of the prime reasons for widespread infestation of bed bugs.
Public Spaces: There are high chances of bed bugs to be present in public spaces, including, hotels, movie theaters, library, schools, etc. Public transport such as train, bus, airplane, ship is also another mode through which bed bugs make easy travel from one place to another.
Clutter: There is a myth that dirt and trash causes infestation of bed bugs, which is not true. Bed bugs do not feed on trash and dirt but on warm blood. They will make settlement in those places where they have easy access to the hosts – human beings, rodents, birds and animals. They also take shelter in the most luxurious and pristine hotels, which confirms the fact that bedbugs and dirt do not go hand in hand. Besides, bed bugs need and favor tiny hiding spots near the hosts, including cracks, crevices, folds of the mattress, corners, etc. There are many opportunities for the bed bugs to make a widespread settlement if the house or space is cluttered. More clutter at home leads to more hiding spots for the bed bug. It also becomes difficult to treat the bed bugs if there are large numbers of hiding spots.
Changing lifestyle: People in the recent years are dependent on public laundry machines to wash clothes. There are chances to get a bed bug through infested clothes through such machines. There is a spurt in the purchase of used mattress, furniture and other items, which is yet another easy route for the bed bugs to travel. The design and structure of modern apartments and buildings have a central duct system, which give freeway for the bed bugs to move across apartments and buildings.
Ineffective pesticides: After the ban of DDT, numerous changes in the pest-control methods have made bed bugs more resistant to weak chemicals. In addition, there are different types of chemicals to treat bed bug depending on the location of the infestation – indoor and outdoor. Usage of incorrect pesticide not just fails to kill the bed bugs but makes the problem even worse, making the bed bugs hide in hard-to-reach corners.
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