Comments on: Texas A and M researchers: chickens and bed bugs? http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/ bed bug news, information, activism, and support Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:58:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: hopelessnomo http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-7941 hopelessnomo Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:43:46 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-7941 The <a href="http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/209951/" rel="nofollow">Arkansas Democrat Gazzette interviews University of Arkansas entomologist C. Dayton Steelman and James Austin of Texas A&M</a> about <em>the whole chicken thing</em> as I've come to think of it. Also <a href="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5362866.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. And Steelman is speaking <a href="http://esa.confex.com/esa/2007/techprogram/paper_30426.htm" rel="nofollow">at the ESA Annual Meeting</a>. I note the reluctance to jump to conclusions: <blockquote>But they made clear that they are not faulting poultry companies for the resurgence of bedbugs.</blockquote> Sigh: if only others would take similar pains when it comes to the other purported causes of the resurgence. (Edit: sorry, wrote this comment before I saw Nobugs' post.) The Arkansas Democrat Gazzette interviews University of Arkansas entomologist C. Dayton Steelman and James Austin of Texas A&M about the whole chicken thing as I’ve come to think of it. Also here.

And Steelman is speaking at the ESA Annual Meeting.

I note the reluctance to jump to conclusions:

But they made clear that they are not faulting poultry companies for the resurgence of bedbugs.

Sigh: if only others would take similar pains when it comes to the other purported causes of the resurgence.

(Edit: sorry, wrote this comment before I saw Nobugs’ post.)

]]> By: Houston Chronicle update on the U of Arkansas / Texas A&M research on bed bugs in chicken breeding facilities http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-7939 Houston Chronicle update on the U of Arkansas / Texas A&M research on bed bugs in chicken breeding facilities Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:32:57 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-7939 [...] We started hearing about this research a few months ago, and it is very exciting.  I’m still wondering if there’s a connection between live poultry houses in NYC as a contributing factor in the resurgence of bed bugs here (which hopelessnomo draws our attention to in the comments thread I just linked to). [...] [...] We started hearing about this research a few months ago, and it is very exciting.  I’m still wondering if there’s a connection between live poultry houses in NYC as a contributing factor in the resurgence of bed bugs here (which hopelessnomo draws our attention to in the comments thread I just linked to). [...]

]]> By: nobugsonme http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5778 nobugsonme Mon, 03 Sep 2007 17:18:32 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5778 Hi concerned blogger, Thanks for commenting! This article quotes directly from others' theories and research, and does not reflect our opinions or hypotheses. As far as treatment, you might be interested in reading our FAQs which make very similar recommendations. Hi concerned blogger,

Thanks for commenting! This article quotes directly from others’ theories and research, and does not reflect our opinions or hypotheses.

As far as treatment, you might be interested in reading our FAQs which make very similar recommendations.

]]> By: concerned blogger http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5756 concerned blogger Mon, 03 Sep 2007 05:02:29 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5756 Clarification: Bed bugs likely evolved from feeding on bats in caves, moved to birds at some point in their evolutionary history. When primative humans began dwelling in caves, it is believed they switched hosts to humans. As man migrated from caves to dwellings, bed bugs likely came along for the trip. When domesticated animals (such as chickens) came into the picture, bed bugs likely were relatively content on humans, but as time passed were likely forced back to birds. Widespread use of DDT contributed to the overall dissapearance of bed bugs; discontinuance of preventative treatments has likely contributed to their resurgence along with global transportation opportunities (airplanes, ships, busses, etc.). Resistance to pesticides is real, but cannot be generalized...some populations are probably equally susceptible as others can be resistant. Bed bugs can be managed, but it has got to be by thorough applications made by professionals in most instances. Consult your land grant institution or local pest control professional about problems in your area and use commen sense--don't accept used furniture or bedding without thorough inspection and consideration of the potential problems that might await you. Clarification: Bed bugs likely evolved from feeding on bats in caves, moved to birds at some point in their evolutionary history. When primative humans began dwelling in caves, it is believed they switched hosts to humans. As man migrated from caves to dwellings, bed bugs likely came along for the trip. When domesticated animals (such as chickens) came into the picture, bed bugs likely were relatively content on humans, but as time passed were likely forced back to birds. Widespread use of DDT contributed to the overall dissapearance of bed bugs; discontinuance of preventative treatments has likely contributed to their resurgence along with global transportation opportunities (airplanes, ships, busses, etc.). Resistance to pesticides is real, but cannot be generalized…some populations are probably equally susceptible as others can be resistant. Bed bugs can be managed, but it has got to be by thorough applications made by professionals in most instances. Consult your land grant institution or local pest control professional about problems in your area and use commen sense–don’t accept used furniture or bedding without thorough inspection and consideration of the potential problems that might await you.

]]> By: links for 2007-08-21 | Musings of a Chicagoan http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5427 links for 2007-08-21 | Musings of a Chicagoan Tue, 21 Aug 2007 05:28:27 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5427 [...] Did bedbugs never die out, but just migrate to chickens? “For this reason, we believe that populations never truly died out in the United States, but were forced to alternate their hosts.” (tags: interesting weird bedbugs) [...] [...] Did bedbugs never die out, but just migrate to chickens? “For this reason, we believe that populations never truly died out in the United States, but were forced to alternate their hosts.” (tags: interesting weird bedbugs) [...]

]]> By: hopelessnomo http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5423 hopelessnomo Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:51:36 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5423 I'm linking the following cautiously, very cautiously! In 2000, this (archived) New York Times <a href="http://dackman.homestead.com/files/ChickenNYT.htm" rel="nofollow">article</a> discussed the upsurge in live poultry markets in New York City. There were 73 then in all five boroughs, up from 20 four years prior. I found one reference in one of the personal bedbug blogs from a Vancouver bedbug sufferer who suspected becoming infested after riding commuter buses in an area she described as populated by poultry workers. (I think that speculating about the source of our infestations can be important but is usually futile.) This is an interesting theory but my guess is that, like all the others, it cannot possibly explain everything. I’m linking the following cautiously, very cautiously!

In 2000, this (archived) New York Times article discussed the upsurge in live poultry markets in New York City. There were 73 then in all five boroughs, up from 20 four years prior.

I found one reference in one of the personal bedbug blogs from a Vancouver bedbug sufferer who suspected becoming infested after riding commuter buses in an area she described as populated by poultry workers. (I think that speculating about the source of our infestations can be important but is usually futile.)

This is an interesting theory but my guess is that, like all the others, it cannot possibly explain everything.

]]> By: hopelessnomo http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5422 hopelessnomo Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:31:20 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5422 Hi Ru, since the idea that avian mites can survive on human hosts is a controversial one, I too hope that some wonderful scientists will put it to rest so that we don't have to speculate. Hi Ru, since the idea that avian mites can survive on human hosts is a controversial one, I too hope that some wonderful scientists will put it to rest so that we don’t have to speculate.

]]> By: Ru http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5420 Ru Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:49:04 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5420 WOW. What a story! A lot of people think Avian mites can adapt to new hosts. Now this with bedbugs! Well, hopefully, science will figure all this out in time to save us from Avian flu..... and to think i used to love the birds ;^) WOW. What a story! A lot of people think Avian mites can adapt to new hosts. Now this with bedbugs! Well, hopefully, science will figure all this out in time to save us from Avian flu…..

and to think i used to love the birds ;^)

]]> By: lieutenantdan http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5419 lieutenantdan Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:54:29 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5419 If bed bugs exist at poultry facilities then could bed bugs be included in packaging? Open a package of wings and nymphs find a way to you. If bed bugs exist at poultry facilities then could bed bugs be included in packaging?
Open a package of wings and nymphs find a way to you.

]]> By: hopelessnomo http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5418 hopelessnomo Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:53:12 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/20/texas-a-and-m-researchers-chickens-and-bed-bugs/#comment-5418 I still can't wrap my head around the Gil Grissom angle, but what I'm thinking now is poor chickens! I seem to have read somewhere that is lost to me now that free range chickens suffer more from mite problems. I wonder if it's the same for bedbugs. I still can’t wrap my head around the Gil Grissom angle, but what I’m thinking now is poor chickens!

I seem to have read somewhere that is lost to me now that free range chickens suffer more from mite problems. I wonder if it’s the same for bedbugs.

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