Bedbugs, the creature that feeds on us as we sleep are no longer just a problem for visitors to Anchorage, Alaska's largest urban area. The little pests are hitch-hiking to the rural areas as well.

Bedbugs, the light brown to reddish brown oval shaped parasitic insects can survive a broad range of temperatures. Trying to freeze these little creatures will only put them to sleep unless they are frozen at temperatures well below zero. They will go into hibernation at temperatures below about 60 degree F. and survive that way for days unless frozen to temperatures lower than 25 degrees F. So in most cases, trying to freeze the little critters out only gives them a long nap and they will most likely wake up as voracious as ever after thawing out.

These bloodsucking bugs can also survive drying out and can withstand losing as much as a third of their body weight before suffering ill effects. Temperatures of above 115 degrees F. for at least 7-10 minutes will kill all stages of the bug however, as will high concentrations of Carbon Dioxide.

It is virtually impossible to starve a bedbug out. They can survive for at least a year without eating.

According to Ken Perry of Paratax Pied Piper Pest Control, bedbugs have become an increasing problem in Anchorage, and other parts of the state as well and he explains why that is so.

According to Perry, the little pests will travel in your luggage and clothing to your destination and once there will multiply in numbers quickly to take over your dwelling. Precautions must be taken when traveling to urban areas such as Anchorage he says.

Precautions must be taken when bringing second hand furniture and the like into your home. In particular, caution must be used when bringing in used matteresses.

Bedbugs sometimes can be found singularly, but most often, congregations of them will be found. The insect will try to stay close to areas that it host does, such as beds and furniture. They will hide in the seams and threads and can be difficult to detect. Bedbugs can be accurately detected by their smell however, the little critter can be found by its odor that is best described as over-ripe raspberries. Dogs are used many times as detectors of the bug because of their excellent sense of smell.

Ken says that he has had increased calls from the regional hub of Bethel about the bed-ridden pests, He also notes that if the problem is in the regional hub, it is certain to be a problem in the villages surrounding the area that that hub services. Bedbugs travel well says Ken. He has received increased inqueries as to how to rid themselves of the insects from around the Bristol Bay region as well. With airflight to all regions of the state, there isn’t nowhere these parasites can’t travel.

There are very few other remedies to rid yourself of these blood-sucking creatures. Perhaps the best remedy besides active control with pesticides is to wash your clothing in hot water and to dry them on a hot setting as well. Ken advises any traveler in Alaska to do this upon returning home after a stay in any of Alaska’s hotel accomodations.

While Ken cannot send many of the aerosol products that are very efficient at killing off these hungry nibblers, he says that his company has many other products that can be safely shipped through the mail.

In the 1940s, the bedbug problem in Western countries was almost entirely eradicated with powerful insecticides such as DDT, but infestations have resurged in recent years. The reason why this is so is unclear, although increased international travel, resistance to pesticides and the banning of many of the pesticides used to iradicate the creatures previously are thought to be contributing factors.

Ken says business is booming, with an increase in business everyday.