Officials say bedbugs problem in Bloomington, Indianapolis

Hide your kids, hide your wife, because bed bugs are crawling in peoples’ beds across the U.S., including Indiana.

Terminix has released a list of the top 15 bedbug-infested US cities, and seven of them are in states that border Indiana. Indianapolis is No. 12.

They didn’t just stop in our state’s capital, though. Bedbugs have been found in Bloomington, said Penny Caudill, administrator for the Monroe County Health
Department.

“We have been working with people within the University and the community to figure out how to address that,” Caudill said.

Bedbugs don’t carry diseases, so they aren’t reported to the health department, Caudill said. The health department doesn’t know how many cases of bedbugs there have been in Monroe County.

Randall McKinney, branch manager for the Bloomington Terminix, said bedbug infestations have escalated in the previous three months.

“We’re getting calls daily,” McKinney said.

IU Residential Programs and Services was unavailable to comment before deadline regarding bedbugs in residence halls.

Caudill said those who suspect they have bedbugs must address the problem as quickly as possible. McKinney said these people should call a professional immediately.

“It’s not a do-it-yourself kind of thing,” McKinney said.

People usually realize they have bedbugs when they awaken with itchy red welts.

McKinney said that once the infestation has escalated, and bedbugs can be seen walking across ceilings and walls.

“They get behind mirrors, in dressers, kitchens, furniture,” said McKinney. “We have to look for them everywhere.”

Insect infestations are often associated with uncleanliness, but McKinney said this is not the case with bedbugs.

“These are equal opportunity pests” McKinney said. “They will go wherever they can get a ride and start infesting.”