Cities across North America and Europe are in the thick of a seam glitch epidemic , a plague of bloodsucking parasites that are infest bedrooms and hotel rooms across the state . And they are so flagrant , leaving unwary dupe with irritated skin and a profound pillowcase of the willies . It ’s gotten so bad that the U.S. alone spends$250 million each yearto fight the bugs , and with little advancement . Part of the trouble is the perceivable reluctance to use chemical substance pesticides in our quiescency quarters — a dilemma that could be solved by using a natural option : fungus .
According to a new study published in the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology , a natural fungus called Beauveria bassiana is being seriously consider in the war on bed bugs . B. bassiana causes disease in insects , including seam bugs . And it ’s relatively well-off to produce in the science lab , make them a executable choice to chemical pesticide .
During the bailiwick , which was conducted by bug-hunter Nina Jenkins , an airbrush sprayer was used to put on the fungal spores to paper and cotton jersey ( what are common bed sheet materials ) . A control surface was also used in which a canonic oil was applied .
Moreover , the morbid bottom bugs infected their unexposed comrade . And in fact , they observed 100 % infection . What this implies is that direct picture to the fungus is not required — what will for certain help terminator given the seam bugs ’ penchant for occupy difficult - to - achieve places . As the research worker observe , seam bugs can hide behind light electrical switch , business leader socket , and in between the cracks of the skirting board beneath carpets .
For the next stage of the project , Jenkins and her confrere will test exposure times and give the fungal spray to seam bug in their innate hiding areas . It ’s not known , for example , the charge per unit at which the bug can develop an granting immunity — if at all .
All this say , while Beauveria bassiana is report to be non - toxic to humans and other vertebrates , its potential allergenicity has not been widely study . other indications , however , suggest that it ’s dependable .
The subject area will appear online at the Journal of Invertebrate Pathologylater this workweek .
Top image : Shutterstock / Margaret M Stewart . Inset figure of speech : Nina Jenkins , Penn State .
bed bugsBiologyFungusScienceSHUTTERSTOCK
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , scientific discipline , and polish news in your inbox daily .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
You May Also Like
