Next year will mark a decade since bed bugs began to resurface in the U.S. Now found in every state, the pesky blood-sucking insects won’t be going away any time soon. In fact, bed bugs experts are predicting a noticeable increase in bed bug infestations next year. 

“Bed bugs have been a hot topic in the news during the past several years; especially when a new geographical area is infested or bed bugs are discovered in public places such as hotels or shopping centers,” Virginia Tech entomologist Dr. Dini Miller recently explained. 

Consumer complacency isn’t the only problem. There is still a fair amount of embarrassment and social stigma associated with bed bugs in many parts of the country that prevents people from getting help when bed bugs invade their home or apartment.  

Despite continuing attempts to educate the public, many people cling to the belief that bed bugs are attracted by poor hygiene or lax housekeeping, classing these insects with fleas, lice and roaches. This is absolutely untrue. The only thing that attracts bed bugs is the human blood on which they feed. Bed bug infestations cross all social, economic and ethnic borders. They are as likely to be found in a Park Avenue penthouse as a homeless shelter.  

New York City and New Jersey residents should remain vigilant. The bed bug threat is real.