Jones Susan C
Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1065, USA.
Insects. 2021 Feb 4;12(2):133. doi: 10.3390/insects12020133.
Bed bugs have recently re-emerged as human pests worldwide. In this study, two surveys queried licensed pest management companies in Ohio (Midwest USA) about their experiences managing bed bugs. A primary objective was to assess the magnitude and spread of bed bug infestations statewide based on companies' treatment records from 2005 and 2011 (first survey) and 2016 (second survey). The survey response rates were 35.6% and 31.6%, respectively. Treatment data from 2005 indicated that Ohio's bed bug problem likely started in the SW corner of the state in Hamilton County (includes city of Cincinnati), since it totaled five times more treatments (approximately 4500) than second-ranking, centrally located Franklin County (Columbus). In the first half of 2011, more than 15,000 treatments were performed in these two counties. In 2016, treatments reached nearly 38,000 in Franklin County and in NE Ohio in the three combined counties that include Cleveland-Akron-Canton. Bed bug problems expanded statewide during an 11 y period, with an estimated 100+ treatments in 7 counties in 2005, 45 counties in 2011, and nearly all 88 counties in 2016. Apartments/condos and single-family residences comprised the largest share of bed bug work. Residents misused many pesticides and household cleaners trying to eliminate bed bugs. Many also discarded unwrapped infested furniture, which may further spread these bugs. More public education is needed to stop such practices. This study shows that bed bug problems grow and spread quickly; federal, state, and local officials and the public should immediately deal with bed bugs.
臭虫最近在全球范围内再度成为危害人类的害虫。在本研究中，两项调查询问了俄亥俄州（美国中西部）有执照的害虫管理公司处理臭虫的经验。一个主要目标是根据公司2005年和2011年（第一次调查）以及2016年（第二次调查）的处理记录，评估该州臭虫侵扰的规模和蔓延情况。调查回复率分别为35.6%和31.6%。2005年的处理数据表明，俄亥俄州的臭虫问题可能始于该州西南角的哈密尔顿县（包括辛辛那提市），因为其处理次数（约4500次）是排名第二的位于中部的富兰克林县（哥伦布市）的五倍多。2011年上半年，这两个县进行了超过15000次处理。2016年，富兰克林县以及包括克利夫兰 - 阿克伦 - 坎顿在内的俄亥俄州东北部三个县的处理次数达到近38000次。在11年的时间里，臭虫问题在全州范围内不断扩大，2005年估计有7个县进行了100多次处理，2011年有45个县，2016年几乎所有88个县都有处理。公寓/共管公寓和单户住宅占臭虫防治工作的最大份额。居民在试图消灭臭虫时滥用了许多杀虫剂和家用清洁剂。许多人还丢弃了未包装的受感染家具，这可能会进一步传播这些虫子。需要更多的公众教育来阻止这种行为。这项研究表明，臭虫问题增长和蔓延迅速；联邦、州和地方官员以及公众应立即应对臭虫问题。
