As
seasoned travelers, they are among the most feared and reviled in the
hospitality industry, mounting their stealth attacks on unsuspecting
hotel
guests in the middle of the night and scurrying away to their hiding
places
before the light of day.
They
are the dreaded bedbug, and while these pernicious pests are not known
to carry
any disease, their growing presence is fueling heightened anxiety among
not
only the traveling public but also hoteliers fearful of the bugs
sullying their
good reputations.
Although
there is no formal process for documenting bedbug infestations, pest
control
companies report their numbers are multiplying rapidly across the
country,
especially in more populous areas and tourist destinations like San
Diego that
are more vulnerable to the tiny travelers.
|
Photo David Brooks
Ricky Munoz, a technician with Terminix,
holds a mattress for service
manager Kyle Mullin as he sprays frozen carbon dioxide to kill any bed
bugs
that may be present. |