Bedbugs are back, keeping bug experts busy

With all the national buzz about bedbug infestations, the staff at Canine Scent Investigations has been busy.

The Crofton-based company uses detection dogs to help homeowners and hotel chains determine if they have any six-legged guests.

Recent reports about an infestation in New York and a bedbug ranking list that places Washington, D.C., in the top 10 have made the calls come more often than usual.

"These last few days, (business) kind of exploded for us," said co-owner Beth Nelson, who also is a sergeant with the Annapolis Police Department. "A lot of our clients call us because they're getting bites, and they can't explain them. Without a major infestation, (bedbugs are) … very hard to find. (Then) they're everywhere."

This past week, Terminix, a pest control company, ranked the top 15 cities in the United States for bedbugs. Washington came in ninth. The list was based on call volume from Terminix service locations around the nation.

New York, Philadelphia and Detroit were the top three. Ohio alone had four different cities on the list.

Bedbugs feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals that act as hosts. The wingless insects get into homes as stowaways in luggage, and can move from apartment to apartment through hollows in walls, according to Medical News Today.

There is no indication that bedbugs can pass any illnesses to humans. In many cases, people will blame a bedbug bite on mosquitoes.

Some bedbug victims get severe reactions that can include red welts and an itchy rash. When they scratch the rash, it can develop into open sores, said Dr. Kelly Russo, acting deputy health officer in the county Health Department.

Unlike mosquito bites, a bedbug's nibbles will usually be in a line, reflecting the way the insect travels up and down arms or legs.

Health department officials said there is no indication of an outbreak in Anne Arundel County. Anyone who suspects they have bedbugs can call the department for an inspection.

If their concerns are valid, officials work with the homeowner or landlord to treat the affected area. That can entail a series of measures over a six-week period, including applying pesticide and washing personal belongings at 120-degree temperatures.

"Because of the life cycle of the bed bug, it can take several treatments," said Kerry Topovski, director of the health department's Environmental Health Bureau.

"That's part of the frustration that people experience. They're going through multiple treatments in their home, and they have to vacuum and thoroughly clean those bedrooms and sleeping areas."

Through his Silver Spring-based company A Healthy Home Inc., David Hersh travels the state and Washington searching for the insects.

He uses a nontoxic powder that the bugs take back to their nests, where they die off. This method normally takes about five treatments, with the powder applied weekly in order to reach all the bedbugs, from the younger nymphs to the adults.

Hersh has noticed that many believe throwing out their furniture will solve their bedbug problem. That is not the case. The insects can be found in a mattress or box spring, but it's best to reach them at their nest, which is likely in the walls or under furniture, he said.

"I just love killing bedbugs," said Hersh, who owns his business. "I stumbled onto it and I enjoy it because it makes a big difference in people's lives. When people have bedbugs, they get paranoid, and that's another sign. People who are paranoid about things crawling on them, that's a sign of bedbugs."