Bedbugs, International Insects of Mystery

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 | by Pat's Picks

Why did the US bedbug population rebound from virtual extinction in the 1990s? Ask that to any bug expert and you’ll get the same answer says the New York Times: “Good question.” Bedbugs are one of the mysterious insects around. Not only did they disappear for nearly 40 years, they continuously baffle researchers by their inability to carry disease.  That inability, says the Times, is the reason not much is known about them. Unlike mosquitoes or ticks, bedbugs are disease-free, making them a low research priority for the government. That’s slowly changing as they infest American cities in a serious way but still no one is exactly sure what’s next.