Loop bedbugs fight infestation of lawyers at CPS
Chicago Public Schools officials confirmed today that Chicago bedbugs comfortably housed on the seventh floor offices at the headquarters of the nation's third largest school system have become upset because of an infestation of lawyers that currently fill the entire seventh floor. The lawyer infestation, which has expanded since the school board moved its headquarters into the former Commonwealth Edison building at 125 S. Clark St., reached critical mass on or about October 12, 2010, when the bedbugs revolted and swarmed the encroachers.
Chicago Public Radio interrupted its pledge drive on October 13, 2010, to report that the seventh floor of the headquarters of the Chicago Public Schools at 125 S. Clark St. was the site of an infestation of bed bugs. As usual, WBEZ got the story inside out. It was the bed bugs who were complaining because their floor had become infested with too many lawyers.CPS Communications Chieftan Monique Bond confirmed to Substance that the bedbugs have visibled themselves, necessitating, according to CPS, an offensive against the insects, rather than the public's desire, which was to empty the floor (and the building) of lawyers. CPS attorneys, of whom there are at least 45 in the Law Department and dozens more in other posts across the school system, are paid between $90,000 and $170,000 per year. They were not cut during recent cutbacks in "central office" by now lame duck "Chief Executive Officer" Ron Huberman.
For those who have to do business at the headquarters of the third largest school system in the USA, the following information is provided:
BED BUGS
"A survey of pest managers by the University of Sydney Department of Medical Entomology shows the bed bug infestations have increased 5000 percent since 2000!..."
"A survey of Chicago pest managers the Substance University Virtual Doctoral Program in Chief Officer studies shows that lawyer infestations in America's school systems have increased 10,000 percent since 2000!..."
Bed Bugs
Bed Bugs - Infestations of Bed Bugs are up 5000 percent as are the number of reported attacks! The nightmare begins when a Bed Bug finds its way into your clothing; it usually happens at a hotel but can start anywhere.
Hospitals, businesses, homes, busses, apartments and hotels are just a few places where bed bugs are being reported. It is said that bed bugs don't transmit disease from feeding on your blood; however, an engorged bedbug can burst at the slightest bit of pressure exposing you to human blood. If that blood is infected, then you run a risk of infection as well.
Taking a few simple precautions can prevent the nightmare from ever happening. We provide you with information to help determine if you have bed bugs, how to deal with infestations, pictures of bed bug bites (from people around the world) and most important, how to protect yourself during travel!
Bed Bug Infested Mattress
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Finding bed bugs in your home has nothing to do with poor hygiene! It takes only one bed bug to hitch a ride on your clothing (furniture, suitcase, etc) and infest your residence. What's worse is that they can live up to one year without drinking a drop of your blood. Feeding takes about 10 to 15 minutes for adults and less for the nymphs; they feed about every three days. Depending on the conditions, bed bug nymphs can survive for months without feeding.
Bed Bugs are insects, more specifically, 'True Bugs', which have piercing mouthparts that in most species are used for feeding on plants. Unfortunately, there are some species of bugs with mouthparts that have been adapted to feed on human blood while inflicting very little pain (most never feel the blood feeding).
Bed Bug Lifecycle
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The eggs are white and about 1mm long. The nymphs look like adults but are smaller. Complete development from egg to adult takes from four weeks to several months depending on the temperature and amount of feed available, see the lifecycle chart on your right.
How do you know if you have bed bugs? Bed Bugs attack arm!
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Bed bug bites are the best way to determine if you have bedbugs. In the photo below you'll see a visitor who was bitten by bedbugs; he itched throughout the night and when he went in to check, this is what he found!
Although the image to your left is a severe reaction, you may find that your bites are not this bad; not everyone reacts the same to bites. The grouping is a good sign and you should start checking for mold like spots on your mattress.
If you have such a reaction, check with your doctor who may recommend an antihistamine or topical cream to relieve any itching and or burning. Do not scratch the bites as this may lead to infection!
If you suspect you have an infestation, you should contact a licensed exterminator. You can try to do it yourself using the tips found here, but your odds are a lot better letting a licensed professional handle it.
Here are the facts about Bed Bugs:
Bed Bugs are flat, brown, wingless and about 1/4 of an inch
They have 6 legs, shiny reddish-brown but after a good serving of your blood, they appear dark brown and swollen as in the picture below.
They can be seen with the human eye, but do a great job at hiding
Bed bugs are not known to carry diseases as of yet
They feed on human blood preferring to do it in the dark when you're sleeping
Simply using chemical treatments will not remove the infestation
These bugs love to hide in the seams of your mattress including:
Sofa seams
Cracks in the bad frame and or head board
Under chairs, couched, beds and dust covers
Under rugs, edges of carpets, drawers, baseboards and window casings
Behind light switches, electrical outlet plates, cracks in plaster
Televisions, radio clocks and phones
Backpacks, Sleeping bags, Cloths
Behind wallpaper, picture frames and other dark areas
Quick tips to help remove bed bugs
The best way to deal with bed bugs is by sealing your mattress and pillows with a plastic or hypoallergenic zipped cover. This traps the bugs that are inside your pillow and prevents them from feeding and kills them over time - remember, a nymph can live for two months without feeding, an adult can survive more than 12 months!
Do not apply any pesticide to mattresses or surfaces that would come in contact with the skin unless the pesticide specifically states that the product can be used in this manner.
Wash all your linens and place them in a hot dryer for 20 minutes (or you can freeze them at -5 C or below for five days).
You can vacuum to capture bed bugs and their eggs, but because the eggs are embedded to the fabric, you may have to scrape the surface. Once you have vacuumed everything, immediately place the vacuum bag into a plastic bad, seal it tight and dispose (outside).
Seal items mentioned above to prevent the bugs from hiding. You can place glue boards or sticky tape around your bed and in the room to catch the bed bugs as the move around; this gives you a way to monitor the effectiveness of your efforts.
A few ways to prevent bed bugs from getting into your home include:
* Hang clothing in the closet farthest from the bed
* Place luggage on the folding rack found in most hotels
* Place luggage in the dry cleaning bad found in the hotel.
* Most important, don't bring home a mattress that has been used by unknown sources.
Our Bed Bug discussion has 100's of stories and pictures of people bitten by bed bugs that include helpful insights into coping with this . If have bite marks on your body and are looking to determine what bit you, check out discussions, they can be a big help! If you have a picture, please send it in and we'll post it for others to comment on - not to worry, we'll crop the picture so that only your bite shows, so don't fret about the details.
We also offer our very popular bedbug checklist to help you quickly look for signs of bedbugs BEFORE you sleep. Our Bed Bug Treatment section covers in detail the methods used to get rid of these bugs and our Frequently Asked Questions (Bed Bug FAQ) covers the most common questions our visits ask.
Perhaps you can help identify the bug bite or may know of method of pest control not mentioned? If so, please leave a comment and help out. Bedbug infestation is a frightening experience and knowing that others have been down the same road can really help, so please comment whenever possible.
note: a survey of pest managers by the University of Sydney Department of Medical Entomology shows the bed bug infestations have increased 5000 percent since 2000!
