• New York blog by New York

    A discussion of all things New York science. A group effort by Sabbi Lall, Caryn Shechtman, Neda Afsarmanesh and Barry Hudson.

    • The Buggy Truth

      Wednesday, 15 Jul 2009 - 00:03 UTC

      Bed bugs… uh! Just the sound of those words makes me quiver. Living in New York, a highly infested area, you are constantly hearing about bed-bug devastation.

      My friend had to throw out all of his furniture.
      I know someone who had to dry clean every piece of clothing they own.

      Sounds scary expensive, and infestation is on the rise.

      After having a bed bug scare about a year ago, I have attempted to learn as much as possible about avoiding an infestation and how to deal with them should your home become infested. But alas! What took me nearly a year to learn, the New York Times has recently packaged into a nice little article. This article offers many invaluable tips on how to identify if you have a bed bug problem, how find the right exterminator (avoid those who will scam you) and tips on preserving you mattress and clothing. I found it helpful, especially since the average infested family spends nearly $5000 getting rid of bed bugs. I can’t afford that on a graduate stipend.

      If that isn’t enough bugginess for you, check out this discussion board where people offer their tips and stories of bed-bug mayhem. I only got though a couple of posts before I had to stop, but I did find out some new information about (more) natural ways of killing bed bugs, by means of using diatomaceous earth, which actually wears through the bugs’ shells and causes death by dehydration. It’s loaded with a lot of valuable information if you are bed-bug phobic like me.


      I’m glad I got those mattress covers. Picture courtesy of wikipedia.

      Last updated: Wednesday, 15 Jul 2009 - 00:03 UTC

      • Comments

        • Date:
          Wednesday, 15 Jul 2009 - 04:10 UTC
          Sabbi Lall said:

          Ugh! Makes me shudder (as much as the lice post that I suspect Trisha’s brewing likely will. I’ve heard that limiting use of chemicals that were being used to control bedbugs is helping them resurge?

        • Date:
          Wednesday, 15 Jul 2009 - 14:37 UTC
          Caryn Shechtman said:

          That’s right. They were nearly wiped out with the use of DDT. But since it had carcinogenic effects, it was banned. So now the bed bugs returned, unfortunately for us.

        • Date:
          Wednesday, 15 Jul 2009 - 22:37 UTC
          Sabbi Lall said:

          I feel like there’s a rise in mosquitoes this year too, maybe coming from New Jersey? Just kidding on the NJ part, but I’m looking for another source to confirm if this is so in Manhattan, since honestly skeeters seem to be everywhere this year (fire flies, not so many).

        • Date:
          Wednesday, 15 Jul 2009 - 23:15 UTC
          Henry Gee said:

          I once shared a New York hotel room with a cockroach. It was very friendly and hospitable. I’d have felt quite lonely without it.

        • Date:
          Thursday, 16 Jul 2009 - 18:24 UTC
          Caryn Shechtman said:

          Sarbjit- I think so too. According to Jersey, it’s from the rain. Since the rain seems to be slowing down, the mosquitoes will too (hopefully)!

          Henry- I have some cockroach friends myself. One actually crawled up my leg once. That one wasn’t my friend.


Search blogs

web feed Want a blog?

Submit this post to

Advertisement