Did anyone ever say to you, “Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite”? You’d better hope so. The infestation of bed bugs, first noticed in New York City, has been making its way across the country, with hot spots in Philadelphia and Columbus, Ohio. “Go West, young bug!” seems to be their motto, and there are already signs of infestations appearing right here in Santa Cruz.
The problem, people say, is travel. Despite their name, the tiny bugs do not limit themselves to beds. In fact, they can be found in all sorts of crevices, from light switches to suitcases, and suitcases tend to get schlepped across the country, infesting hotel after hotel. Some Santa Cruz hotels have dealt with the problem, as have hotels and motels in Monterey and Big Sur.
Regardless of what Glenn Beck might say, the fault is not President Obama’s. It’s actually Charles Darwin’s. Although bed bugs were all but eradicated for a long while, it appears that these insects of the Cimicide family have evolved to be immune to existing pesticides. As for natural predators, there are a few, but these are mainly cockroaches and ants, not the kinds of insects you want around your bed, either.
While the bedbug infestation in the Central Coast has yet to reach the proportions of New York City—even the Empire State Building was infested—it is best to keep an eye out for the pesky bloodsuckers, especially if you travel. Delousing a private home can cost between $2,000 and $3,000, a hefty expense, especially these days. Read more at KSBW.
