Bed bugs stretching and feeding while lying down on their backs
Mattress update
I have neglected to update the various mattress topic threads that this site explored in the past. There are updates on same pages here, particularly the NYC page, but nothing that has gone over the posts feed.
“The bed bugs got us”
This is and isn’t about bed bugs. It’s also sad but hopeful. So I hope it will do as a “happy holidays” post.
Don’t look for bed bug free hotels, learn to inspect, but what if we could read official reports of bed bugs in room 104?
Which hotels in NYC are bed bug free?
People ask this question all the time. In response, both these statements are probably true: a) there aren’t any, at any price point; and b) there are lots of bed bug free hotel rooms, everywhere, at every price point.
Communicating with building management
Those of you who are fighting bed bugs in your apartment buildings know that it is extremely challenging to find effective ways of cooperating to eradicate infestations.
Vincent Harraca: basic research, olfaction, and the difficult bed bug
bed bug on servosphere - photo: Vincent Harraca
Investigating an acoustic monitor for bed bugs?
This is really very interesting. And it’s also that wonderful, rare thing: a free article.
Mankin, R. W., R. D. Hodges, H. T. Nagle, C. Schal, R. M. Pereira, and P. G. Koehler. 2010. Acoustic Indicators for Targeted Detection of Stored Product and Urban Insect Pests by Inexpensive Infrared, Acoustic, and Vibrational Detection of Movement. Journal of Economic Entomology 103: 1636-1646. doi:10.1603/EC10126. [download free PDF here]
Small public meeting in January, interested?
David Cain will be in New York City again in mid-January. We’re thinking of holding another small public meeting.
Acts of forgetting
The scientific and technical literature is rich with opportunities to notice changes in the cultural thought and experience of bed bug infestations. And, beyond that, the “noise” introduced by the biases of authors is interesting all by itself. Observing the mechanics of how certain basic and practical observations and systems of knowledge concerning this pest receded over the years, with predictable consequences for our ability to control them, is instructive.