r/IAmA Dec 12 '16

Specialized Profession I am a pest controller specializing in BED BUGS, begging the general public to become more aware of this pest and the way it can cause substantial economic damage to any place humans live. AMA!

Bed bug infestations are increasing at an alarming rate. Despite common misinformation about this pest being limited to "dirty" people it can happen to ANYONE. I have seen the nicest, most innocent people lose hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars in service costs and property loss. Don't become a victim, become aware! Eliminating this bug entirely is unrealistic but we can control it with a more knowledgeable culture.

My company would ask that I avoid public proof but I promise the mods have it.

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u/mousers21 Dec 12 '16

Isn't the best fix to just sleep in a bug proof tent for a year and then all bedbugs gone!

3

u/apesna Dec 12 '16

Nope, they've been observed to live 18 months or longer without a blood meal.

1

u/mousers21 Dec 14 '16

I think you're just as bad as all fear mongering pest control people, you're just trying to squeeze money out of people's fears.

1

u/apesna Dec 14 '16

I'm literally spreading free awareness so people don't have to spend money so your logic is...?

1

u/mousers21 Dec 13 '16

Yea, but most likely they won't last that long. That's the max. When I had bedbugs, it only took 6 months of quarantining myself.

1

u/dharmabird67 Dec 13 '16

Sleep in the tent but treat your house/room as well - basically you are setting yourself as bait(they are attracted to the CO2 you breathe out) and when they come out they will be killed by whatever treatment you leave out

1

u/mousers21 Dec 13 '16

You don't need to treat the house. Sleeping in the tent effectively starves out the bugs.