NPMA releases results of 2010 Comprehensive Global Bed Bug Study

A new survey conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the University of Kentucky, confirms what pest management professionals across the U.S. and around the world have been seeing in the field - bed bugs are back in a very big way, with 95 percent of U.S. survey respondents indicating that their company has encountered a bed bug infestation in the past year. Prior to 2000, only 25 percent of U.S. survey respondents encountered a bed bug infestation.

“Because bed bugs don't discriminate between rich and poor, don't have a preference for climate or environment, public awareness, education and vigilance are key in detecting and preventing bed bug infestations.”

"The results of the 2010 Comprehensive Global Bed Bug Study suggest that we are on the threshold of a bed bug pandemic, not just in the United States, but around the world," said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. "Because bed bugs don't discriminate between rich and poor, don't have a preference for climate or environment, public awareness, education and vigilance are key in detecting and preventing bed bug infestations."

In the U.S., bed bugs are infesting homes, apartments, hotels, retail stores, offices, places of worship, college dorms, hospitals, daycares, libraries, modes of transportation, movie theaters, laundry facilities and other places where humans live and gather.

If the public knows what to look for, bed bugs can be easy to spot. In fact, visual inspections are the preferred method of determining if a bed bug infestation exists according to survey respondents. Bed bugs are the size and color of an apple seed, like to travel and will hide in suitcases, boxes and shoes to be near a food supply. They are elusive, nocturnal creatures, and beside the mattress and headboard, they can be found behind baseboards, electrical switch plates, picture frames, wallpaper, upholstery and in furniture crevices. They come out at night for a blood meal.

The findings of the 2010 Comprehensive Global Bed Bug Study, are based on responses from nearly 1,000 U.S. and international pest management companies. Here are several key survey highlights: