Bedbugs

[W5GA]

Food for thought, I got this via email and have no idea if it's true or not.

Date: Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 7:01 AM
Subject: Bed Bugs
To:



Hi All: A bit of information that you might like to know about. We have friends here in our community and one of their sons is an entomologist (insect expert), and has been telling them that there is an epidemic of bed bugs now occurring in America . Recently I have heard on the news that several stores in NYC have had to close due to bed bug problems, as well as a complete mall in New Jersey .

He says that since much of our clothing, sheets, towels, etc. now comes from companies outside of America, (sad but true), even the most expensive stores sell foreign clothing from China, Indonesia, etc. The bed bugs are coming in on the clothing as these countries do not consider them a problem. He recommends that if you buy any new clothing, even underwear and socks, sheets, towels, etc. that you bring them into the house and put them in your clothes dryer for at least 20 minutes. The heat will kill them and their eggs. DO NOT PURCHASE CLOTHES AND HANG THEM IN THE CLOSET FIRST. It does not matter what the
price range is of the clothing, or if the outfit comes from the most expensive store known in the U.S. They still get shipments from these countries and the bugs can come in a box of scarves or anything else for that matter. That is the reason why so many stores, many of them clothing stores have had to shut down in NYC and other places. All you need is to bring one item into the house that has bugs or eggs and you will go to hell and back trying to get rid of them. He travels all over the country as an advisor to many of these stores, as prevention and after they have the problem.

[NQ6U]

I think it's mostly, but not entirely, BS. There has been an increase in bedbug infestations over the past few year but they were already here, not shipped from overseas. Also, I could find no reports of stores or malls being closed due to them.

[w3bny]

Lemme guess...if I cash there check, they will take the bed bugs back

[KC2UGV]

Bed bugs live in beds. The reason? They can not tolerate light very well. It's also why you don't usually see them, unless you snatch up the bedspreads.

Seeing as clothing tends to be hung on racks, I don't think this is feasible. Coupled with the customs requirements for cargoes, I don't think it's likely.

[W5GA]

Coupled with the customs requirements for cargoes, I don't think it's likely.

Which is why Guam has a Brown Tree Snake problem.

[VK3ZL]

Oh, I am always in favor of having multiple companions in bed..:stirpot:....Nothing better than having a good scratch...After all, I bet all our ancient ancestors never worried about a few bugs and the occasional flea ridden dog to keep themselves warm at night...Trouble these days, is people have this idea of being super clean and sterile is better for their well being...That's why there are so many health problems rife in the community...

Go outside and roll in the dirt with the dogs and encourage your kids to do the same...Toughen up the immune system a bit and share a few germs around...Hell, I was brought up with my weekly bath in the laundry trough after mum had washed all the clothes every Saturday morning...Never killed me...Hard to escape Jeannie's eagle eye these days though, as she counts the jocks and socks each washing day and gives me hell if any are missing...I'm great to be around on a 40C day though..

Modern living ?? Bah, bunch of wimps....

Bob..VK3ZL..

[KC2UGV]

Which is why Guam has a Brown Tree Snake problem.

And we have problems with boa's as well here.

I'm saying the two facts combined (Not individually) make it unlikely that the root cause is importation.

[n2ize]

Food for thought, I got this via email and have no idea if it's true or not.

I think its largely false. While its true that the bugs and their eggs can be carried from place to place on clothing I have never heard or have been able to find any reference to the notion that they come in on new clothing from places like China. Nor have I heard of stored closed due to the bugs. In NYC there is an issue with bedbugs in some hotels, including one or more fancy high priced hotels. This seems to indicate that they could be carried on clothing of hotel patrons but not nessesarily new cloths made in China. Other listed causes of increased bedbugs appear to be a buildup of resistance to pesticides, carried by animals, pets, and, the insects themselves moving from one location to another.

[N8YX]

One may also help prevent the spread of bedbugs simply by not stealing the hotel linens.

Simple, wasn't it?

[ki4itv]

Probably more related to packing way too many young men in a single residence. You know... to do those jobs that many claim we won't do for ourselves around our own homes and businesses.
But nobody will come right out and say that... will they?
I certainly wouldn't.