National Pest Management Association
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Who: Greg Baumann, Technical Director and Senior Scientist at
the National Pest Management Association
What: Featured as the cover story in this morning's Wall Street
Journal, bedbug infestations continue to rise in
residential homes, multi-family homes, apartment complexes
and more. The small, flat bugs have proven themselves
resilient pests because of their nocturnal habits and
elusive nature. But, there are steps consumers can take to
address bedbug infestations successfully.
Where: Greg is located in Raleigh, NC and is available this week
for interview via satellite or telephone.
Why: Bedbugs are the new media craze for pest-related health
issues. Recently featured on CNN and Primetime Live - this
topic is flooding national media. Bedbugs are found in
some of the most upscale hotels and are not evidence of
unclean or unsanitary living areas. Professional pest
control companies are now receiving 50 times the number of
bedbug calls they did just five years ago.
Background: These bloodsuckers have been around since the 17th Century
and are currently found worldwide. Bedbugs are transient,
elusive pests that are able to crawl in the smallest
crevices, such as between mattresses, the seams in bed
linens, upholstery, inside electrical boxes, in floors and
wallpapers. They can even relocate themselves by
hitchhiking in luggage, boxes, shoes and other mobile
material.
These nocturnal pests will move distances at night for a
blood meal, which is why infestations commonly occur in
beds, but merely washing bed linens or other infested
areas might not eliminate the source. Bedbugs cannot be
controlled with do-it-yourself measures; bedbug
infestations necessitate professional pest control
intervention.
© 2005 Business Wire
