CHICAGO — One can cook them or freeze them. Poison them and stab them with a screwdriver. People have tried all these tactics and more, but bedbugs continue to thrive and spread across the United States, experts say.
An industry emerged last week to offer suggestions for controlling the blood-sucking parasites at the first-of-itskind BedBug University Summit in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont.
Almost 400 people attended the sold-out conference, with another 200 turned away. Some were researchers, others from government agencies, housing administrators and exterminators alike, all trying to find out how to get rid of the infestation.
Demonstrators sprayed a white cloud of carbon dioxide to freeze them. Entire trucks with propane furnaces were on hand to roast a houseful of furniture up to 180 degrees, more than warm enough to kill the bugs.
On the exhibit floor, Scooby the beagle wagged his tail and stomped his feet at just the thought of going bughunting.
The bugs’ bites can cause red welts, but carry no disease.
Business, Pages 74 on 09/26/2010