...another unintended side effect of the hysterical ban on DDT occasioned by Rachael Carson's pseudoscience. DDT eliminated bedbugs, malaria, yellow fever, and even household dust mites where it was properly used, saving millions of lives and reducing the incidence of allergic diseases. Give me back my old Flit Gun.

Tom Davidson, Richmond, Virginia, US

I just get tired of saying it, but the true culprit of global warming AND carbon emissions and verdicide, is the demographic explosion. There simply isn't enough room for so many consumers on the planet. If there were only one million cars running, or an hundredth of the land developments for all these people needing houses and shopping centres and highways and, and, and...we'd be completely free from pollution. It would be negligeable. BRING THE POPULATION DOWN!

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

They could go back to "nature" instead of pesticides and try using essential oils. There are several oils reputed to be useful against dust mites, bed bugs etc.

Rosy Knight, Sheffield, UK

There so many in my house recently we got it some how I don't know how and if anyone can give a few tips on how to help me get rid of them that would be great, I've had them for a couple of months now but I've never seen any with my own eyes, until today when we checked my daughters bed it was full, behind the bed sheets and every where, trust me it was a nightmare and I shout I was scared so please let me know if you previously had bed bugs give me some hints on how to get rid of them my kids are all afraid and they wouldn't sleep at all.

Dina, Toronto, Canada

Bed bugs are a nasty problem the world over with parts of London experiencing a 500% - 1200% increase in the last few years.

I run a specialist pest control group based in London that treats between 8 and 12 properties per day and we only do bed bugs. Its a complex problem to deal with and rapid identification is really the only way to get rid of them quickly.

Don't wait to start getting bitten as 60% of people do not initially respond to the bites check your sleeping area on a regular basis and as part of your monthly or bi monthly cleaning.

They can affect anyone exposed to them regardless of personal hygiene and living conditions if you come into contact with them while traveling, working or eating out take sensible steps not to bring them home. They are certainly a house guest my clients are glad to see the back of.

David Cain, Battersea, London

They are rempant in NYC. You regularly walk down the streets and see bedding out for collection...with the word "BUGS!" spray painted across the mattresses.

I think DDT should be legalized for use by professionals in certain controlled instances (obviously not the wholesale spraying of wheat fields).

Glen, New York City, NY USA

I read somewhere that you are supposed to put your bed's legs in pans of water because bedbugs can't swim. And also make sure no bedding touches the floor. You have to keep this up for a year I'm told.

Claudia , Atlanta, USA

We have gotten them twice, both after staying in hotels.

The first time, they infested our house, primarily in our bedroom. We used veterinarian type flea/tick spray several times. Most importantly, we frequently washed the sheets and pillow cases and put them plus the pillows in the clothes dryer on the hottest setting. We also bought plastic covers that fully sealed for the box spring and mattress of the bed. After 6 months we stopped seeing the bedbugs. We found dead bugs and egg cases throughout the box spring.

The second time, we realized that there were bedbugs while we were still at the hotel (they hurt when they bite and there are usually a few drops of blood on the sheets or pillow). We took all clothing, pillows, and blankets that had been in the hotel room and washed and dried them immediately upon arrival home. No bed bugs were found in our house.

Our new plan is to minimize how much is unpacked in a hotel room and treat everything if exposed.

Jim Mann, Damascus, Maryland, USA

They are a nightmare to get rid of, I know that from a personal experience, and absolutely scarring in the sense that every time you read an article like this or hear the mention of them you start itching. Bed bugs usually bite mainly the arms, although a guest of mine was covered in bites after a night on the couch (also infested) and they hide behind the bed post, in the dark corners... that way they don't have to climb the bed to reach the victim, they sleep right by its head.
Oh and just because they're called bed bugs, doesn't mean they only lay eggs and hide at your bedside, in fact they can be anywhere in the house... yuck!

diana, London,

Another example of environmental fanaticism gone wrong - the banning of DDT. Even though DDT was greatly over-used (as a kid I remember running through huge clouds of DDT sprayed from trucks), the harm it was causing was greatly exaggerated.

The solution? Allow limited indoor use of DDT by licensed exterminators. Bedbug problem solved, and zero harm to the environment.

Roberto, San Diego, CA USA

I've been in London for 2 years and I've got a big problem with this little bloodsuckers...
I hate them! I hate them all! I tried with the spray but they're always coming back...
Please, can you tell me how can I kill them?
I know they are not really dangerous but they are disgusting!
Thank you very much.

alex, london, United Kingdom