It’s been a pretty good summer to go to the movies.
Christopher Nolan took audiences back to ancient Greece with The Odyssey, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day swung into theaters. If you haven’t seen them- go!
And because we’re Bell Environmental, watching Odysseus fight his way home and Spider-Man save the day naturally made us think about…
Bed Bugs.
We know. Occupational hazard.
But there’s actually a connection here, and it goes back a lot further than modern movie theaters.
Even the Ancient Greeks Complained About Bed Bugs
Bed bugs aren’t some modern problem created by hotels, airplanes and vacation travel.
People have been dealing with these unwanted houseguests for thousands of years.
Historical research places records of bed bugs living around people in Greece at about 400 BC. And Aristophanes’ comedy The Clouds, first produced in 423 BC, includes characters complaining about bugs biting them in bed and wondering whether there’ll be anything left of them by morning.
So while Odysseus had Cyclopes, Sirens and a very complicated trip home to worry about, ordinary ancient Greeks apparently had another nighttime menace:
Bed Bugs.
Penelope eventually got the suitors out of the house.
Bed bugs can be considerably harder to evict.
More than 2,000 years later, we’re still dealing with them.
Some villains really do have staying power.
And Spider-Man Isn’t Going to Save You Either
Then there’s Spider-Man.
We’re fans.
Unfortunately, neither spiders nor Spider-Man are going to solve one of the worst parts of a possible bed bug encounter:
The stress of wondering whether you brought one home.
Was that a bite?
What’s that little mark on the sheet?
Did something just move?
Is that a bug or a piece of lint?
Did I pick something up at the hotel?
The movie theater?
The rental house?
Suddenly, you’re examining every speck on the mattress like you’ve joined a forensic investigation team.
That’s part of what makes bed bugs so unpleasant.
There’s the actual pest problem.
And then there’s the worry that comes with not knowing whether you have one.
Wait — Movie Theaters and Bed Bugs?
Yes, bed bugs can turn up in public places.
But this is where it’s important not to become alarmist.
We’re not telling anyone to stop going to the movies.
The EPA says an established bed bug infestation is much less likely in a non-residential setting than it is in a home. But public places can occasionally act as transfer points, giving a hitchhiking bed bug an opportunity to move from one person’s belongings to another. Areas with upholstered furniture are among the places where awareness makes sense.
Think about a movie theater.
People are constantly coming and going.
They’ve got coats, purses, backpacks and shopping bags.
They’re settling into comfortable seats for two or three hours.
Then everyone gets up and heads somewhere else.
A bed bug doesn’t need a ticket.
It just needs a ride.
That doesn’t mean there’s a bed bug hiding in your seat.
It means the possibility exists anywhere people and their belongings move through shared spaces.
Out of the Headlines Doesn’t Mean the Risk Went Away
Every so often, a bed bug sighting somewhere unexpected makes news.
A theater. An office. A hotel. A college dorm. A public building.
Then the headline disappears.
The bed bug risk doesn’t disappear with it.
Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers. They can move with luggage, clothing, backpacks and other belongings, which is one reason human movement plays such an important role in how they spread.
That doesn’t mean you should spend your life afraid to sit down.
It means a little awareness goes a long way.
There’s a big difference between being aware and being alarmed.
Go to the movies.
Get the giant popcorn.
Sit in the recliner.
Enjoy The Odyssey.
Cheer for Spider-Man.
Just know what to do if you ever have a legitimate reason to think you’ve encountered bed bugs.
So What Should You Do?
First, don’t panic.
And don’t decide you have bed bugs because you woke up with one mysterious bite.
Lots of things can cause bites and itchy skin.
But if you know you’ve been somewhere with a confirmed bed bug issue—or you’re getting repeated unexplained bites—pay attention.
Take a look at your belongings before putting coats, bags or backpacks on your bed.
Check seams, folds, pockets and zippers.
Around your sleeping area, look at the mattress seams, bed frame, headboard and nearby furniture.
And if you’re genuinely concerned, find out what you’re dealing with instead of spending the next month guessing.
That’s actually consistent with the EPA’s advice: make sure you really have bed bugs before you start trying to treat them, and bring in an experienced professional when needed.
Because Bed Bugs Just Suck
We could give you the more technical pest-control version.
But sometimes the plain-English version works better:
Bed bugs just suck.
They bite.
They hitchhike.
They’re difficult to eliminate once they’ve become established.
And maybe worst of all, they can make perfectly reasonable people lie awake wondering whether every itch means something.
So why spend weeks worrying?
If you’ve got a reason to be concerned, get an answer.
Call in the Beagle Detective!
Fortunately, our version of this movie has a hero too.
He’s shorter than Spider-Man.
Hairier than Odysseus.
And, as far as we know, Christopher Nolan hasn’t shot him in IMAX yet.
🐶 Roscoe the Bed Bug Dog.
Roscoe’s trained to sniff out bed bugs and help determine whether there’s actually something there.
So if you’re concerned after a movie, hotel stay, vacation, college trip or any other possible exposure, give Bell Environmental a call.
You don’t need to live with the paranoia.
You need to know.
Because sometimes the best ending isn’t defeating the Cyclops, escaping the Sirens or saving New York City.
Sometimes it’s getting into bed, turning off the light and not wondering what’s in there with you.
Where’s Roscoe? He’s Workin’. 🐾
