New Yorkers were bitten bad by bedbugs in 2010. During the year, New York’s residential bedbug complaints rose nearly 7%. Nationally, according to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), one out of five Americans has either had a bedbug infestation in their home, or knows of someone who has encountered these critters at home, or in a hotel.
Mr. Sorkin, an entomologist, says that New York City tends to have many more infestations than actual complaints and violations. He says that many people won’t report a bedbug infestation, especially bed bugs in apartment buildings.
| Years: | 2009 | 2010 |
| Violations: | 4,811 | 4,846 |
| Complaints: | 12,594 | 13,472 |
In case of a bedbug complaint, New York has registered such situations with the city’s 311 nonemergency hotline. When 311 is contacted, the landlord is notified of the complaint and the tenant is then contacted by the department in order to confirm the complaint, prior to making a site visit, followed by a site visit by a pest control professional. In the case that bedbugs are detected, a violation will be issued.
A national survey says: People are most concerned about encountering bedbugs at hotels, in public transportation, at movie theaters, in retail stores and at medical facilities (NPMA). The association reports that bed bugs are present in every state, with no regional “hot spot” for infestation.
| Respondents in the Midwest and the South: | 1 out of 5 encountered bedbugs. |
| Respondents in the West: | 19% encountered bedbugs. |
| Respondents in the Northeast: | 17% encountered bedbugs. |
Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association says, “Fairly evenly across the country, people are having experiences with bedbugs. I think so often people think Manhattan is the only city that has bedbugs…”
Bedbugs seem to be a major problem for travelers, as bed bugs in hotels have become an increasing issue. Bedbug.com offers bed bug travel protection, as well as many other categories of bed bug prevention aids and entomologist approved products!
