Slate News
What Next TBD: Bedbugs Are Back, Baby!
Nov 19, 2023
Benji Jones, senior environmental reporter at Vox, discusses the rise of bedbugs, their mating behavior, the challenges of eliminating them, their resilience to pesticides, and the potential impact of climate change on their populations.
25:59
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Bed bugs have developed resistance to pesticides, making them harder to eliminate and contributing to their global resurgence.
- The affordability and accessibility of bed bug treatment options pose barriers for lower-income communities facing infestations.
Deep dives
The Resurgence of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs, small insects that feed on human blood, have experienced a global resurgence. They were prevalent in the past and their decline was attributed to the pesticide DDT. However, bed bugs have developed resistance to pesticides, making them harder to eliminate. Travel plays a significant role in spreading bed bugs, particularly with the rise of Airbnb and increased travel after the pandemic. Solutions to control bed bugs exist, such as heat treatments and chemical treatments, but they can be expensive and inaccessible for lower-income communities. As a result, bed bugs are likely to remain a persistent problem.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
