The Center for Disease Control and the EPA has confirmed that the bedbug population has resurged in the United States. In New York alone, bedbug complaints rose 39% from 2008. Bedbugs are tiny insects that like to feed on sleeping animals, including humans. The pests were a common infestation in the mid-twentieth century but were nearly eradicated by the end of the century due to the pesticide DDT. However, in 1972, DDT was banned after Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring demonized the pesticide for killing birds and interrupting ecosystems. Well, now that DDT use has ceased, bedbugs have made a big come back across the nation.
The biggest resurgence has been in New York City where an infestation has plagued everything from movie theater to posh penthouses and office buildings. Bedbugs like to hide in just about anything including clothing, luggage, furniture and purses. They are not known to transmit any disease however they do leave large, itchy, red welts on the body if bitten.
So how do we heed Rachel Carson's warning about DDT and still deal with these pests? The Center for Disease Control has a few suggestions including bedbug sniffing dogs. But incase you don't own a bloodhound, the CDC recommends clearing out as much clutter as possible, vacuuming, steam cleaning, sealing cracks and crevices, heat treatments and deploying non-toxic pesticides such as diatomaceous earth.
Diatomaceous earth is basically just plain ol' dirt. However, it is made up of the fossils of single cell algae that have jagged edges and will slice and dice any insect that crosses it. But no worries, it is harmless to humans and too small to hurt other mammals.
