Bed bugs were the Freak-Out Flavor of the Month a few years ago. But you don’t seem to hear much about them now. Why is that?
Primarily because those who influence the news stories don’t stand to make a lot of money from them. What? Isn’t news, news? Not really and here is the truth behind bed bugs.
These small blood suckers have been a pest of humankind for centuries. Once the details of life were documented with regularity, these pests were discussed frequently. Fossilized bed bugs date back 3500 years so clearly, they are a part of Man’s history.
With the invention of DDT, bed bugs within modernized countries were basically wiped out. The DDT controlled them easily and they were considered all but gone. DDT was an extremely toxic, life-altering, synthetic chemical developed by scientists using leftover technology from World War II. It killed massive amounts of pests and was heralded as a marvelous invention (the inventor even won the Nobel Prize for Medicine!). But after several years of use, the truth came out…
DDT was slowly killing the environment. Not just ‘pests’ but wildlife. Streams, rivers, and reservoirs were being tainted. Eagles were pushed to the brink of extinction. Earth was being poisoned, and concerned people demanded it be ‘banned’. (The quotations are because DDT is still being manufactured and used in Third World Countries… but we digress.)
In its place, a gazillion types of chemicals were created, all slightly different. But eventually, ALL synthetic pesticides became worthless in the fight against pests. Even DDT.
That is due to a scientific phenomenon known as “Pesticide Resistance” which states that eventually, insects will become immune to the effects of synthetic pesticides. If the product used to control pests is man-made and not a product of Nature, then after time it will lose the pest control ability. Synthetic pesticides – including DDT – are no longer capable of controlling bed bugs.
Now the bed bug population is growing… exponentially! No place is safe from these human parasites. Anywhere people are is an opportunity to get them. They are everywhere!
Then why aren’t we hearing about this in the news anymore?! Why don’t we read grotesque stories of infestations, pitiful living conditions, and unsuspecting victims?
Because there is no one fanning the flames of panic that stands to benefit. Big Chemical pesticide manufacturing companies have the deep pockets to stir up the panic pot yet they have no options to control bed bugs. Without a concentrated effort to bring an issue to national attention, it is a non-issue.
But just ask someone with a bed bug infestation if they are a non-issue. Uh, nope. And people really want solutions!
