Federal agencies are reacting to a growing population of insects that emerge at night to feed on human blood - bedbugs.
The Environmental Protection Agency hosted its first-ever bedbug summit yesterday to provide state and local agencies with advice on how to deal with infestations, according to the Associated Press.
Even on Ohio University's campus, students might have brought back more than memories and souvenirs from spring break - bedbugs commonly attach themselves to humans while traveling.
As their name states, these bloodsucking bugs are found in bed, usually after humans have traveled, said Susan Jones, associate professor in entomology at Ohio State University Extension.
These are small insects that we call 'hitchhikers
' Jones said. They basically hide in luggage furniture and bedding waiting to latch on to humans.
Bedbugs feed on both animal and human blood but prefer human blood. The bites are painless, but result in itchy welts around the bite area, Jones said.
However, bedbugs are not known to transfer disease to humans.
Humans are their main host for blood meals
so they hide themselves anywhere humans might be around
Jones said.
Infestations are most common in hotels and apartment complexes where there is a high turnover rate of tenants, she said, adding that usually multiple rooms or apartments are infested.
Representatives from both University Courtyard and University Commons said they've had no reports of bedbugs and periodically spray apartments with pesticides to get rid of any other insects.
In Athens, businesses and residences are not required to report possible bedbug infestations to the City-County Health Department, but the agency does provide free bug identification.
We haven't had any reported infestations
but we do get calls every week or so from people wanting information about bedbugs or how to identify them
said Adele Hanson, public health sanitarian with the Athens City-County Health Department.
In addition to free bug identification services, the health department provides literature about bedbugs and recommends professional exterminators to anyone concerned about possible bedbug infestations, she said.
It's not a big problem in Athens so far
but we're here and ready should the bugs start to become a nuisance
she said.
Even if bedbugs have yet to become a major problem in Athens, Jones still recommends that students take precautions when traveling or signing leases for apartments.
Jones suggests that students ask landlords if they've dealt with bedbug infestations in the building and what the procedure is for dealing with any infestations.
Always
always check under beds
mattresses and inside pillowcases for either bedbugs or evidence they're around
