Changes

==History==

==History==

Bedbugs have been plaguing humans since ancient times. They are mentioned in medieval European texts and in classical Greek writings back to the time of Aristotle.  Use of the pesticide DDT in the 1950s resulted in the virtual disappearance of bedbugs in the United States. Some state laws once required that the furniture be tagged as fumigated before it could be resold. But increases in immigration and in population density and clutter, increased travel, the development of strains that are resistant to insecticides, and changing pest control products and methods, have resulted in bedbugs making a comeback.  

Bedbugs have been plaguing humans since ancient times. They are mentioned in medieval European texts and in classical Greek writings back to the time of Aristotle.  Use of the pesticide DDT in the 1950s and its successors resulted in the virtual disappearance of bedbugs overall in the United States. Some state laws once required that the furniture be tagged as fumigated before it could be resold.  

 

In the year 2000 reported infestations of bedbugs began a dramatic increase, the prime causes of which are yet debated. Social aspects such as  increased travel immigration and population density, clutter, etc. have all been blamed, as well as changing pest control products and methods and the development of strains of bedbugs that are resistant to insecticides. As regards the latter, one theory for the cause of bedbug resurgence postulates that use of DDT and its successors (after DDT was banned) on household pests such as the German [[cockroach]] also killed bedbugs before they became established in a home. After roaches developed resistance to every insecticide used, hydramethylnon bait was introduced in the early 1980s, which provided superior effectiveness. This resulted in a switch from spraying and dusting and baseboard treatment which also controlled bedbug populations, to the use of baits and Internal Growth Resistors (IGRs) in the early 1990s. In addition, besides DDT, many more pesticides, including broad spectrum residual chemicals, were banned or heavily restricted in the United States during the past few decades, and many developing countries have also banned many powerful pesticides.<ref>http://waronbedbugs.blogspot.com/2007/03/tracing-cause-of-bedbug-epidemic.html</ref>

The University of [[Kentucky]], which has provided much research on bedbugs,  reported that 95% of 521 U.S. pest management companies reported encountering a bedbug infestation in the past year. <ref>Potter MF, et al. ''Bugs Without Borders—Executive Summary'', Fairfax, VA:National Pest Management Association, Inc. (2010)</ref>.  <ref>http://www.npmapestworld.org/documents/bbsurveyexecsummaryjuly26.pdf</ref>  Canada  reported similar numbers (98%), as well as  Europe (92%), and Africa/Middle East (90%). In contrast, prior to the year 2000 only 25% of U.S. survey respondents reported bedbug infestations.<ref>[http://www.pestworld.org/bedbug National Pest Management Association (NPMA), July 26, 2010]</ref> Inb the United States, state and local government officials say they are being overwhelmed with complaints of bedbug infestations.

The University of [[Kentucky]], which has provided much research on bedbugs,  reported that 95% of 521 U.S. pest management companies reported encountering a bedbug infestation in the past year. <ref>Potter MF, et al. ''Bugs Without Borders—Executive Summary'', Fairfax, VA:National Pest Management Association, Inc. (2010)</ref>.  <ref>http://www.npmapestworld.org/documents/bbsurveyexecsummaryjuly26.pdf</ref>  Canada  reported similar numbers (98%), as well as  Europe (92%), and Africa/Middle East (90%). In contrast, prior to the year 2000 only 25% of U.S. survey respondents reported bedbug infestations.<ref>[http://www.pestworld.org/bedbug National Pest Management Association (NPMA), July 26, 2010]</ref> Inb the United States, state and local government officials say they are being overwhelmed with complaints of bedbug infestations.