Bedbugs Are On The Rise!

[gansky1]

Spray those tomato plants

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[sudsmaster]

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Not to bust your chops, Greg, but I'm of the opinion that all those pesticides you're liberally dosing your home with are doing more harm to your health than any bedbug might.

But that's just my opinion. I was a high school entomologist and have never really lost my fondness for many of these special little critters.

Of course I hate fleas, flies, roaches, bedbugs, yellow jackets and anything that spoils my garden. But still, you have to admire the insect world for its sheer success - in numbers, mass, and genetic diversity. The building material of the typical insect - chitin - is Mother Nature's original plastic that makes all this possible.

 

[ronhic]

Welll....

I've been reading this with interest...

I can honestly say (touch wood) that I have never seen a bed bug or been bitten by one....that I am aware of....

I'm also not a chemical freak either as many of you will know. Sure, if I see it, I'll hit with a contact spray (mortein etc) and we do have a few roach baits around...under the stairs, garage (which is internal) and under the fridge...and I do spray the inside rim of pot plants every 6months or so with surface spray as they are known roach breeding grounds

...but that's about it....

The last time I bombed the house it was because the dog came back from a show with fleas....and the washing machine worked overtime that day too, as did the dryer...I've done it once....

Sure, we see the odd large cockroach (mainly outside)...at least an inch in length....but then we are surrounded by mulched garden...and spiders are an Australian specialty - big - but they keep many other insects at bay...so long as they don't come in the house, they're safe...

BUT....

If it has less than 2 or more than 4 legs and I see it...it's DEAD....

 

[philcobendixduo]

Been there - done that!

I had the misfortune of having bedbugs in my home about 3 years ago. My Mother had red marks all over her arms, etc. and her "quack" Dr. told her it was "dry skin". Much later, I discovered the sofa she sits on all day long was loaded with bedbugs. They either came from visitors that had stayed in a cheap hotel before flying over from England or from a trip we all took around Northern CA. Because bedbugs could be hiding just about anywhere in the house, I had the place fumigated with Vikane. For bedbugs, the Vikane has to stay in the house for 2-3 full days. It worked. Had to buy a new sofa as the old one had so much "dirt" from the bugs (and blood stains). I will NEVER stay in another hotel/resort again! Even the finest resorts can have bedbugs and they are good at hiding! Fumigation is the only sure way to eradicate them eggs and all. It was a VERY expensive experience and a lot of work preparing for the fumigation - not to mention having to move out for 4 days.

 

[mixfinder]

Murderer!!!

I am a devotee of Ganksy's approach. I don't want an infestation of anything and flies can stay outside eating of rot and not from my food. If we had a pristine envirnment I may feel differently, but I am not keen on living with bugs and then going out to breath and drink the cesspool of the planet. I'll go happy and scratch free.