Bed bugs make unwelcome return to Southern California – The San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Each night a couple years ago, Louis Salgado fell asleep knowing he would wake up a few hours later itching all over his body.
The West Covina apartment he and his late wife shared for two decades was infested with bed bugs for the better part of 2015.
I couldnt sleep, Salgado, 64, said recently as he recalled the most uncomfortable experience of his life. It got to the point that Id be up in the middle of the night with a flashlight and Id be seeing them crawl all over the carpet and Id try to kill them, try to stomp on them tried whatever I had available.
Turns out bed bugs, those not-so-cuddly insects our parents mentioned when they tucked us in at night and that we didnt give a second thought to, are very real these days.
And, yes, they bite.
Indeed, experts say the reddish-brown bed bug that is about the size of a grain of rice has made an extraordinary comeback after a roller coaster of a century.
In the early decades of the 1900s, the bug was widespread across the U.S. But the advent of DDT during World War II changed that, killing off huge numbers in the 1940s and 50s.
We thought it was gone forever, said Dini Miller, professor of entomology at Virginia Tech University. When you think about it now, that was kind of stupid.
After lying low for decades, the dreaded insect that was mentioned in medieval European literature is enjoying a renaissance of sorts. Since 2000 its numbers have multiplied.
Its just exploded, Miller said.
Today theyre everywhere.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, theyre in apartments, houses, shelters, college dormitories, cruise ships, buses and trains. They typically live within an 8-foot crawl of where people sleep.
And if you thought your car was a refuge from the blood-sucking pests, guess again. Miller said bed bugs are fond of automobiles for good reason.
The food comes and sits down on a regular basis, she said. And everybody gets something to eat.
The crazy thing is, you dont know when your blood is being slurped through the bed bugs version of a straw an elongated beak for a meal. The CDC says the bug injects an anesthetic and anticoagulant that renders its bite painless.
Itchy, bite marks do appear in a few days. They are similar to marks from a mosquito or flea bite, a slightly swollen and red area, the CDC said.
Advertisement
Scratching sometimes causes infection. But many people have no reaction at all.
In any event, bed bugs arent considered dangerous.
They do not transmit any diseases, said Dong-Hwan Choe, an urban entomologist and assistant professor of entomology at UC Riverside.
Choe is working to develop a device that can detect bed bugs for hotel chains and other businesses.
It has to be simple. It has to be cheap, Choe said. It has to be small so that it can be placed without being noticed by the people staying in the hotel.
Disease bearing or not, the thought of being dined on is enough to make ones skin crawl.
Choe said the bugs feed mostly at nighttime, which creeps people out.
And dont think you can fool them if you work a graveyard shift and sleep during the day.
In a 2015 article titled, Your Guide to Bed Bugs, University of Kentucky entomologist Michael Potter said the pest will adjust its schedule to yours.
Sleeping with the lights on is also not likely to deter hungry bed bugs, Potter wrote.
Potter said a feeding takes three to 10 minutes. Then the bug crawls back into its hiding place to digest the meal. Its flat body enables it to hide in tiny crevices in mattresses, box springs and bed frames.
When it comes to the creep-out factor, there is at least one thing in our favor: unlike other insects, bed bugs cant fly, Choe said.
But theyre speedy. The CDC says the bugs can crawl more than 100 feet in a night.
The nations big bad bed bug blow-up can be traced to a number of factors, experts say.
For one, DDT is long gone. The EPA banned it in 1972.
Even so, the bugs were building up resistance to DDT, Miller said. And, gradually, they are building up a defense against insecticides being used today.
She said some have developed thick, protective skins.
Others produce enzymes that break down toxic ingredients and render insecticides harmless.
We like to call those the hard-drinking bugs, she said.
Still other bed bugs have mutated.
They meet, fall in love and make other genetically immune babies, Miller said.
Perhaps we have ourselves to blame, too.
With the bugs out of sight and out of mind for decades, we have been slow to rally against them.
Plus, we travel a lot these days to faraway places, experts say. And the bugs are good at hitchhiking a ride home on our luggage.
Los Angeles is the nations sixth worst metro area for bed bugs, according to Atlanta-based Orkin. In the firms 2017 ranking, L.A. followed Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York and Columbus, Ohio.
For the Orkin survey, the L.A. area was defined as Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.
Miller noted Terminix puts out an annual ranking, too. In its most recent report, Detroit was No. 1 on the list. L.A. was No. 4.
You have to take all of this with a grain of salt, Miller said. But, its one of the few indicators that we have.
During the fiscal year ending June 30, Los Angeles County received nearly 1,500 bed-bug complaints about 19.5 percent fewer than the previous year according to data from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which does not track Long Beach, Pasadena or Vernon because those cities have their own health departments.
Sixty-two of those complaints originated from communities within the San Gabriel Valley, the data showed.
Between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017, the Pasadena Environmental Health Division received 25 bed-bug complaints, according to city data. It received 26 complaints during the same period the previous year.
Not including Pasadena, residents in El Monte filed the most bed-bug complaints 15 with the county during the year ending June 30, according to the county data.
Choe, the expert from UC Riverside, said densely populated cities such as El Monte are more prone to infestations than sparsely populated ones.
They tend to have more frequent problems with bed bugs because they have more units and more people living close together, Choe said.
Some apartment units are treated repeatedly.
That may seem over the top. But its in line with the industry experience.
Salgado, who moved to La Puente earlier this year, said his West Covina apartment was only treated once and once was enough.
They spray your mattress, we had to throw couches away, everything was infested, he said. It was a big ordeal.
According to a national survey, two to three treatments is typical when insecticide is sprayed.
Survey results were detailed in Bed Bugs Across America, a 2015 report by University of Kentucky entomology professors Potter and Kenneth Haynes, and Jim Fredericks, vice president of technical services for the National Pest Management Association.
More expensive heat treatments are more likely to knock out an infestation in one visit, the report stated.
Because heat treatment can take most of the day, said Glen Ramsey, Orkin technical services manager, conventional treatment is more common.
Heat treatment takes longer than conventional treatment, as the affected areas need to be warmed up to 125 degrees, held for one hour and then cooled back down, Ramsey said.
The report said treatment costs averaged $1,225 for single-family homes and $3,128 for multifamily buildings in 2015, though some apartment managers spent as much as $50,000.
That places Plymouth West at the high end of the range. Davis said LOMCO spent $400,000 for treatments there from 2013 to 2016.
Before an exterminator ever steps foot in the door, extensive preparations are made.
Residents strip beds of sheets and blankets, empty dressers and closets, and wash and bag clothes.
The key is to put them through the dryer for an hour at high temperature, Long Beach resident Gary Shelton said.
Shelton had to leave his apartment for several hours. He returned the same day. Other renters spent a night in a motel.
Underscoring the difficulty involved in eradicating bed bugs, Sheltons unit was sprayed three times. Even then exterminators didnt get everything.
They said they couldnt get the bed bugs out of the bed frame, Shelton said.
So he threw it out and bought a new one.
Life is getting back to normal now. Its been anything but since that fateful day in late November.
A friend was over and noticed a live bug in the middle of the bed spread, Shelton said.
He was stunned. I wasnt getting bites that I was aware of, he said. But he promptly called the apartment manager.
After seeing one, he started seeing a lot more bugs.
Once you see them, youll see them in your mind, Shelton said. Youll see them everywhere.
----------------------------------
BEDBUG (NOT SO FUN) FACTS
Size: 1 mm to 7 mm, roughly the size of Lincolns head on a penny
Color: Reddish brown, similar in coloration to an apple seed
Food: Human blood
Home: Within 8 feet of sleeping quarters. Known to live in apartments, houses, hotels, shelters, cruise ships, buses, trains and dormitories
Travel: Cant fly or jump, but can crawl fast up to 100 feet per day
Bite: Similar to mosquito, flea bites; does not carry disease
Evidence of presence: Bedbugs in folds of mattresses and sheets, rusty-colored blood spots; a sweet, musty odor
Treatment: insecticide, heat; significant preparation required of home occupants in advance; professional treatment recommended
No-nos: Do not spray bed sheets, blankets or clothes; do not apply bleach or alcohol. Applications of rubbing alcohol have sparked fires.
Sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Your Guide to Bed Bugs, by Michael Potter; news reports
See original here:
Bed bugs make unwelcome return to Southern California - The San Gabriel Valley Tribune
- From Itchy Bites to Asthma Triggers: Why One UF/IFAS Scientist Studies Whats Bugging Us - Pest Control Technology - July 27th, 2025
- 4 Michigan cities among Americas worst for bed bugs: Is yours on the list? - MLive.com - July 27th, 2025
- Bed Bug Issue Reported on Disney Cruise Line, Theyre Likely All Over the Ship - disneydining.com - July 25th, 2025
- All about bugs: How to keep your family healthy from creepy crawlies that get too close for comfort - UCHealth - July 25th, 2025
- Bed bugs found in downtown Columbus office building home to the Ohio Bureau of Workers Comp. - The Columbus Dispatch - July 25th, 2025
- Bed bug spotted on the TTC - CityNews Toronto - July 23rd, 2025
- Bed bugs: What to know, how to treat them - WATE 6 On Your Side - July 23rd, 2025
- Target webinar takes bed bug treatment Beyond the Bite - Pest Management Professional - July 23rd, 2025
- How to Find Bed Bugs in the Daytime: 10 Easy Ways! - July 21st, 2025
- Midland resident upset with apartments after living with bed bugs - CBS7 - July 18th, 2025
- Detroit is now the third most bed bug-infested city in America, but theres free help available - MLive.com - July 18th, 2025
- Bed bugs: What to know, how to treat them - NewsNation - July 18th, 2025
- Rocky River Savers finds no evidence of alleged bedbugs, reopens - News 5 Cleveland WEWS - July 18th, 2025
- This 'gross' mattress delivery story is giving me nightmares and reminding me to always check the warranty - Tom's Guide - July 17th, 2025
- Bed bugs: What to know, how to treat them - WANE 15 - July 17th, 2025
- BASF's Adrian Culpepper on 10 Years of Working in the Field with PCOs - Pest Control Technology - July 15th, 2025
- Bed Bug Season Is Here, and These Cities Rank the Highest for Infestation - marthastewart.com - July 13th, 2025
- Fort Wayne Ranked In Top 50 Cities With Bed Bug Problems - wowo.com - July 13th, 2025
- 4 Michigan cities have a problem with bed bugs. What to know about the pests - Detroit Free Press - July 13th, 2025
- These Bed Bug Infestations Taking Over Suburban Homes Are Straight From Your Nightmares! - AOL.com - July 13th, 2025
- Bed Bugs Are Most Active Right NowThese Tips Will Help You Avoid Them - Better Homes & Gardens - July 13th, 2025
- Bed Bugs Are Most Active Right NowThese Tips Will Help You Avoid Them - Yahoo - July 11th, 2025
- Check your vacation rental, hotel for these unwanted guests: What to know about bed bugs - Treasure Coast News - July 11th, 2025
- Summer travel could lead to bed bugs. How to identify risks and avoid an infestation - The News Journal - July 11th, 2025
- Detroit Ranked Among Worst Cities for Bed Bugs in the US - One Green Planet - July 11th, 2025
- How to get rid of flying ants: An experts advice - AOL.com - July 11th, 2025
- Midnight movers: The hidden threat of bedbugs - Review Times - July 11th, 2025
- Wisconsin City Cracks Top Ten On Bed Bug Destination List - Duluth Country Radio - July 11th, 2025
- Bed bugs on the rise: Fort Wayne, South Bend among the worst cities in US - 21Alive - July 11th, 2025
- Bed Bug Season Is Here, and These Cities Rank the Highest for Infestation - AOL.com - July 11th, 2025
- 4 DIY pest control mistakes youre probably making and how to fix them - Country Living Magazine - July 11th, 2025
- This is the most hated bug in Florida, study finds - WKMG - July 11th, 2025
- Whats Behind the Surge in Emergency Room Visits This Summer? - 94.3 The Point - July 11th, 2025
- Toxicity of ivermectin to bed bugs (Cimex hemipterus) and risk factors associated with infestation in Kwale County, coastal Kenya - Parasites &... - July 9th, 2025
- 4 DIY pest control mistakes youre probably making and how to fix them - Yahoo - July 9th, 2025
- 11Alive News: The Take | Bed Bugs Still Biting Atlanta: What to Know (7/7/25) - 11Alive.com - July 9th, 2025
- The Real Dirt On The Difference Between Bugs And Insects - TwistedSifter - July 9th, 2025
- Bed sheets will only be free of bed bugs if washed at 1 specific temperature not 40C - Daily Express - July 7th, 2025
- Pest expert shares most effective method to get rid of bed bugs without chemicals - Daily Express - July 7th, 2025
- Malaysian scientists discover bed bugs can play role in forensic investigations - Asia News Network - July 7th, 2025
- Flint moves up on Orkins annual bedbug report, 3 other Michigan cities named - WNEM - July 5th, 2025
- Which New England cities are on Orkins list of worst bedbugs in 2025? - MassLive - July 5th, 2025
- Michigan has four of the most bed bug-infested cities in the entire country - MLive.com - July 5th, 2025
- Two Iowa Cities Make List Of Top 50 U.S. Bed Bug Cities - newsradio 1040 who - July 5th, 2025
- Malaysian scientists discover bed bugs can help in forensic investigations - The Straits Times - July 5th, 2025
- The Bed Bugs Are Back In Town, And One MN City Is Feeling The Bite - Quick Country 96.5 - July 5th, 2025
- Two Texas Cities in Top 10 of Worst in U.S. for Bed Bugs - KPEL 96.5 - July 5th, 2025
- This unseen pest is wreaking major havoc on homes across MS - Biloxi Sun Herald - July 5th, 2025
- Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint, And Lansing Face A Bedbug Crisis - 1077 WRKR - July 3rd, 2025
- Avoid These 50 Cities with the Most Bed Bugs in 2025 - 24/7 Wall St. - July 3rd, 2025
- Chicago Isnt Just the Rattiest City in the U.S.Its the Bed Buggiest Too - Secret Chicago - July 3rd, 2025
- The worst cities for bed bugs in 2025? These Ohio cities made Orkins new list - Cleveland.com - July 3rd, 2025
- Are bedbugs a growing problem in Cedar Rapids? - thegazette.com - July 3rd, 2025
- Richmond ranks 28th amongst cities with bed bug infestation issues - WRIC ABC 8News - July 1st, 2025
- Indiana City Ranked 5th Worst in U.S. for Bed Bugs - 99.5 WKDQ - July 1st, 2025
- The travel mistake everyone makes that puts you at risk of SCABIES, expert warns - Daily Mail - July 1st, 2025
- Chicago named America's most bed bug-infested city for another year - NBC 5 Chicago - July 1st, 2025
- Seoul wrestles with how to handle invasion of lovebugs | South Korea - The Guardian - July 1st, 2025
- Cities Plagued by Bed Bugs and Treatment Options - cleanlink.com - July 1st, 2025
- Chicago Tops Orkin's 2025 Bed Bug Cities List Again as Unexpected Cities Climb the Ranks - PR Newswire - July 1st, 2025
- More Than 100,000 Bed Bugs Found in Massachusetts Apartment - How to Spot Bed Bugs Early - 97.5 WOKQ - July 1st, 2025
- Where Are Bed Bugs Most Common? 10 Countries with the Worst Infestations in 2025 - Pulse Nigeria - July 1st, 2025
- Discover 10 Solutions that Kill Bed Bugs Permanently - AOL.com - July 1st, 2025
- 'Disturbing' find in hoarder's flat teeming with 100,000 bed bugs - The Mirror - June 29th, 2025
- 'Disturbing' find in hoarder's flat infested with 100,000 bed bugs that are spreading - The Mirror US - June 29th, 2025
- Know before you travel: Worst bed bug cities in Florida, how to identify and prevent them - Tallahassee Democrat - June 27th, 2025
- Brookline condo is filled with bed bugs, and they're spreading to other units - NBC Boston - June 27th, 2025
- Boston makes list of most infested cities in the U.S. Here's where it landed - The Patriot Ledger - June 27th, 2025
- Entire Boston condo complex on notice after 100,000 bed bugs found in unit occupied by hoarder: Its disturbing - The Independent - June 27th, 2025
- Disturbing': 100K bed bugs believed to be in Brookline condo as infestation spreads - NBC Boston - June 27th, 2025
- Dealing with bed bugs: Prevention, removal, and mistakes to avoid - The Indian Express - June 27th, 2025
- Entire Boston condo complex on notice after 100,000 bed bugs found in unit occupied by hoarder: Its disturbing - inkl - June 27th, 2025
- Pensioners 'living in fear' amid bed bug infestation at sheltered housing - Ardrossan Herald - June 27th, 2025
- How to check for bedbugs now that summer travel season is here - Bergen Record - June 27th, 2025
- Bed-bugged: Six weeks of war with an infestation after one thing only my blood - Edmonton Journal - June 27th, 2025
- Where do bed bugs come from? Really anywhere. Here's how to prevent them - The Oklahoman - June 24th, 2025
- Know before you travel: Worst bed bug cities in Florida, how to identify and prevent them - Gainesville Sun - June 24th, 2025
- The Most Bed Bug-Infested Areas In The Country (And How To Prevent Them In Your Home) - Yahoo - June 24th, 2025
- Know before you travel: Worst bed bug cities in Florida, how to identify and prevent them - Florida Today - June 24th, 2025
- Severe bedbug infestation spreads through Coolidge Corner condo building - Brookline.News - June 24th, 2025