Students, officials react to bedbugs in Wells Library

The infestation of bed bugs that has plagued much of the nation in recent months has crept its way onto campus.

IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre confirmed Tuesday that two bed bugs were found in the Herman B Wells Library.

MacIntyre said an employee found one of the tiny, wingless insects on the library’s fifth floor, prompting the IU public-health staff to set out traps.  

Though no additional bedbugs have been found, the traps remain set and the area was treated with insecticide.

Sara Ivey Lucas, residence manager for the division of Residential Programs and Services, said that no bed bugs have been found in campus housing and that students should not worry.

“We have spent the last two years preparing for bed bugs arriving on campus, as they have been arriving in places throughout the country,” she said.

Ivey Lucas said students moving into campus housing this fall received handouts with information about the insects whose bite, while irritating and itchy, does not pose any real health threat.

“If the students just follow those safety protocols, they should be fine,” she said.

Even so, the presence of the blood-sucking parasites has left some students concerned.

“If they’re on campus, then they could be in my bed,” said freshman Amanda Mcmahon, who lives in Briscoe Residence Center. “Just bugs in my bed, in general, do not sound good.”

Freshman Kaleigh Bodenschatz, a resident of Teter Residence Center, said though she is not a fan of the bugs, she isn’t worried.

“I mean, I don’t live in the library, and I clean my sheets,” she said.

The news did not seem to have had an effect on students studying in the library Wednesday Students filled the lobby, computer areas and group study floors.

Sophomore Devin Gladney had not heard of the bugs until his elevator ride down from studying on the fifth floor.

“You can’t get rid of all bugs,” Gladney said. “But bed bugs, I feel like that’s kind of nasty. I’m not sure if I would have studied up there if I knew about them.”

Sitting outside the library, junior Michael Zeisz said he does not think the bugs that were found are indicators of a bigger problem.

“There were only two of them, so it doesn’t concern me at all,” he said. “It sounds like it’s really not that big of an issue.”