The Bug That Is Eating Manhattan: Cimex lectularius

Posted on | September 1, 2010 | Comments Off on The Bug That Is Eating Manhattan: Cimex lectularius

Mike Magee

On July 16, 2010, New York City dwellers reacted with shock and disgust at the news, Cimex lectularis had been detected in a wonder bra at Lexington and 58th. The tenant? Victoria’s Secret. Obviously it was time to get serious. It wasn’t a matter of disease – the bug doesn’t transmit disease. It was it’s reputation for being nearly impossible to get rid of (having developed resistant to most insecticides); for striking in the middle of the night and sucking your blood (you don’t feel the bite because the bug injects an anaesthetic and anticoagulent into your skin); and for leaving you with itchy trail marks, a bad reputation, and insomnia. (CONTINUE….)