National Bed Bug Prevention Day is appropriately observed on June 10 each year. Who would have imagined that something as small as a bed bug could cause so many human problems? Worse still, despite causing us so much trouble, we cannot even see them. It is not surprising that these pests are among the most common problems encountered by individuals worldwide. Worst of all, it is nearly impossible to eliminate them on your own! No matter how hard you attempt, they will always return.
The background of National Bed Bug Prevention Day
Dodson Pest Control established National Bed Bug Prevention Day in 2019 to recognise their extensive history of treating bed bug infestations. Unfortunately, we’ve all had our fair share of bed bug nightmares. The number of reported bed insect infestations has skyrocketed in recent years. As travel becomes simpler, bed bugs have become a problem of unprecedented proportions.
Bed bugs have plagued humanity for centuries, and Aristotle even mentioned them in ancient Greece. Pliny’s “Natural History,” which was published in Rome in 77 A.D., asserted that bed bugs could be used to treat snake bites and ear infections. This belief persisted until at least the 1700s, when Guettard suggested using bed bugs to treat hysteria.
Bed bugs were first mentioned in England in 1583, but remained uncommon until 1670. In the 1700s, people began to believe that bed bugs were introduced to London with wood used to rebuild the city following the Great Fire of 1666.
Prior to the mid-1900s, bed bugs were very common. In 1933, according to a report from the United Kingdom, all homes in many regions were infested with bed bugs. This increase in bed bug populations has been attributed to the use of electric heating, which allowed them to flourish year-round, as opposed to only during the warm months.
During World War II, these parasites were also a significant problem on U.S. military bases. The issue was resolved through a hazardous Zyklon Discoid fumigation procedure. D.D.T. was utilised subsequently, but bedbugs have since developed a high level of resistance to it. The decline in bed insect populations in the 20th century is frequently attributed to the development of potent pesticides.
5 facts about bed bugs that will astound you
Adult insects can be up to a quarter of an inch in length, and you may also observe tiny black flecks, which are their faeces.
In addition, they hide in warm, dark places such as wall voids, fractures, and crevices.
Although they are most active at night, they can and will appear during the day, so changing your sleep schedule will not assist.
They can survive a year without blood and reproduce quickly, making them exceedingly difficult to kill.
The average cost to remove bed bugs is between $1,000 and $2,500, making it an expensive endeavour.
NATIONAL BED BUG PREVENTION DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | June 10 | Saturday |
| 2024 | June 10 | Monday |
| 2025 | June 10 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | June 10 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | June 10 | Thursday |
