Blood Thirsty Bed Bugs Invade Moscow Russia, Blood Sucking Vampires

Written by admin on June 18, 2010 – 7:20 AM -

Bed-bug invasion becomes a nightmare for Moscow
by Evgeniya Chaykovskaya at 17/06/2010 14:34

Miniature vampires are stalking the Moscow night – with residents making ten times as many complaints about bed bugs this year.

Figures from health watchdog Rozpotrebnadzor suggest that the city’s bug population is doubling each year, and hinted at a link to the ever-growing migrant community, RIA Novosti reported.

The rust-coloured insects feed on human blood and thrive in densely-populated living quarters such as hostels and building site cabins, the report added. This type of accommodation is typically associated with migrant workers, and the official report highlighted active migration into and around the city as a possible part of the problem.

However, it’s not just foreigners who are vulnerable or responsible – the spread of pests is largely due to changing address or redecorating at home.

The advice to anyone itching for a good night’s sleep is to use insecticides when moving house, and carefully checking new furniture to ensure there are no unwanted guests in the package.

And despite the name, it’s not just beds that can harbour the hungry horrors. The watchdog warned that floors, ceilings, cabinets and even books can make a good home for an insect.

While the bugs usually attack at night, they will pounce whenever they are hungry and often bite repeatedly in their search for a suitable spot to slurp up some fresh blood.

Although the bites themselves are not noticeable at the time, they start to itch later and can trigger an allergic reaction.

The problem has grown sharply in recent years. In 2005 bedbugs represented just 1 per cent of insect exterminations carried out in Moscow, but by 2009 it was up to 5.2 per cent and that figure is expected to double once again in 2010.

Moscow is not the only major city suffering from the invasion of the blood-suckers. In New York their numbers rose by 70 per cent in 2010.



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