Bed Bugs
The Growth of Bed Bugs
Prior to World War II bed bugs were virtually eradicated in the U.S.; now bed bugs documentation wasnt as abundant during this period as it is today. It is pretty safe to say since we know bed bugs are great hitchhikers, that lots of U.S. military soliders unfortuantley carried them home after they proudly served our country. This era really kicked off more research for the now common pest the bedbug Cimex lectularius.
Bug Bug Resurgence in the U.S.
During the late 90’s bed bugs began to re-emerge in the United States, Canada, Australia, the UK, and counties around the world. The haven’e really pinned down what caused the growth of the bed bug population. Some experts believe that bed bugs developed a resistance to common pesticides being overused, other experts believe the dot-com bubble started the bed bug boom, and some experts believe people lacked bed bug information which enabled bed bug carriers to deposit bed bugs throughout the country. We know that one event cannot cause the resurgence of bed bugs, but acknowledging all these events played a major part into the resurgnace of bed bugs.
The Resistant Bed Bug
We know that bed bugs are an invasive species that are designed to survive, so they are growing resistance to pesticides. Bed bugs have the capability of reducing the effects that pesticides have and they are passing these pesticide resistance to their offspring. Pesticide resistance bed bugs only get stronger with each new generation of bed bugs that hatch. This resistance has played a major role in the bed bug’s resurgence, especially in big cities.
The Dot-Com Bug
The dot-com bubble created a brand new market throughout the world. The birth of the internet, search engines, IT, on-line stores, and software companies help boost the economy and create new jobs that have never existed before. There was a demand to stay ahead during this new business movement and the inventory of experienced people was spread out through the world, so business travels increased around the globe.
The growth of internet users helped startups companies like Ebay and Amazon, making shipping across borders easier for the users. Internet users became their own travel agent using a website like Travelocity and Expedia, making it easier for consumers to discover the world. This movement helped boost the growth of the hotel and airline businesses across the globe. The dot-com boom was increasing the frequency of bed bug encounters with travelers; bed bugs have been found in hotels, airplanes, packages, mail, restaurants, and companies - allowing greater numbers of bed bugs to increase in the U.S.
The growth of internet users helped startups companies like Ebay and Amazon, making shipping across borders easier for the users. Internet users became their own travel agent using a website like Travelocity and Expedia, making it easier for consumers to discover the world. This movement helped boost the growth of the hotel and airline businesses across the globe. The dot-com boom was increasing the frequency of bed bug encounters with travelers; bed bugs have been found in hotels, airplanes, packages, mail, restaurants, and companies - allowing greater numbers of bed bugs to increase in the U.S.
Bed Bugs Took Advantage
The lack of preparedness and knowledge when it came to bed bugs did not exist as the rise of bed bugs continued. People unknowingly became a carrier of bed bugs; documented bed bug cases showed that bed bugs did not care where they lived. They have been found in hotels, movie theaters, Disney, Victoria Secrets, schools, and friends that live in your neighborhood.
For a pest that does not have wings or have the capability to jump; they have made a significant impact on people all across the world.
For a pest that does not have wings or have the capability to jump; they have made a significant impact on people all across the world.
