Newspaper Page Text
The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, November 10, 2010, Page 11C
Bed bugs make a comeback in the U.S.
Special to the Ledger
By Sharon Dowdy
University of Georgia
A bed bug feeds on Lisa
Ames’ left arm. Every 30
seconds, Ames pops off a
photograph with the cam
era she precariously holds
in her right hand. Strange?
Maybe, but it’s all in the
name of science.
An entomologist with
the University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences,
Ames wanted to know
firsthand what it felt like to
be a bed bug’s buffet.
“I took five pictures from
the time it started feeding
until it was blown up and
full,” she said. “It only
took two minutes. They are
quick little critters.”
Most people don't have a
reaction
Bed bug bites swell and
itch like a mosquito or flea
bite. They can be random
or appear in a straight line.
Ames is among the lucky
few that don’t suffer a reac
tion from a bed bug bite.
“Only about 5 percent of
people who are bitten have
a reaction,” Ames said.
“The good news is, unlike
mosquitoes that can carry
yellow fever and malaria,
bed bugs don’t transmit
diseases.”
According to the Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention, people can
experience a mild to severe
allergic reaction following
a bed bug bite. Scratching
the bite can lead to skin
infections like impetigo,
ecthyma and lymphanigi-
tis. In the worse cases, it
can cause anaphylaxis, or a
dangerous whole body re
action. They can also cause
anxiety and insomnia, too.
According to a CDC fact
sheet, bedbugs inject an
anesthetic and an anticoag
ulant that prevents a person
from feeling the bite. Be
cause bites usually occur
while people are sleeping,
most people don’t realize
they have been bitten until
marks appear.
They're super tiny
Bed bugs (Cimex lectu-
larius) are reddish-brown,
small, flat wingless-insects
that range from 1 to 7 mil
limeters in length.
“They’re fairly small
and remind me of half a
grain of orzo pasta,” Ames
said. “To me, they start out
kinda flesh-colored and
turn red as they feed.”
On the UGA campus in
Griffin, Ga., Ames has re
ceived a half dozen speci
mens, or dead bed bugs, for
confirmation this year.
Bed bug populations
dropped dramatically dur
ing the mid-20th century,
but the Linked States is
one of many countries now
experiencing an alarming
resurgence. Ames believes
the return may be linked in
part to increased resistance
of bed bugs to available
pesticides.
“They started making
a comeback in Europe a
few years ago, but with the
global economy, people
travel and bring them to
the U.S.,” she said.
Catch a ride on luggage
and furniture
Bed bugs stowaway and
hide in the seams and
folds of luggage, overnight
bags, folded clothes, bed
ding and furniture. Ames
says rumors that bed bugs
hitchhike into the LT.S.
on clothes imported from
China are false. “You won’t
find bed bugs just hang
ing around in new clothes
in department stores,” she
said.
Bed bugs are more at
tached to a place than a
thing. “They may be in
your hotel room and crawl
into your luggage,” she
said. “Or, they are in some-
Photo by Lisa Ames
A series of photos shows a bed bug filling with blood while feeding
on a human arm. Some 95 percent of the population has no reaction
to being the insect’s main menu item.
one else’s carry-on bag and
crawl into your bag.”
Follow tips to prevent
bringing them home
To lower the chances of
getting bed bugs, UGA en
tomologist Paul Guillebeau
Summer-like weather
seeps into Georgia’s fall
Special to the Ledger
By Pam Knox
University of Georgia
Georgia’s warm and dry
weather continued in Oc
tober. Drought in southeast
Georgia increased and
record-high temperatures
were tied or set at many
locations.
Temperatures across the
state were warmer than
normal almost everywhere.
In Atlanta, the monthly
average temperature was
65 degrees F (2.5 degrees
above normal), in Athens
63.4 degrees (1.6 degrees
above normal), Columbus
68 degrees (2.2 degrees
above normal), Macon 64.6
degrees (.7 degree above
normal). Savannah 69.1
degrees (2 degrees above
normal), Brunswick 70.6
degrees (1 degree above
normal), Alma 68.4 degrees
(.1 degree below normal),
Valdosta 69.6 degrees (2.2
degrees above normal) and
Augusta 64.2 degrees (1.1
degrees above normal).
Daytime temperatures
continued to be warm, but,
due to the dry conditions,
overnight low tempera
tures were more moderate.
High temperatures were
tied or set at many loca
tions during the last week
of October due to persis
tent southerly flow from
the Gulf of Mexico. New
records included 91 degrees
at Brunswick Oct. 26,
smashing the old record of
85 degrees set in 1963.
Several airport locations
recorded their warmest or
near warmest May through
October on record, includ
ing Savannah, Atlanta and
Columbus.
Almost all of Georgia
was below normal in
rainfall. The southeastern
coastline was the driest.
The only two areas with
above-normal rainfall were
in the counties west-south-
west of Atlanta and a small
region in the mountains
of northeast Georgia. The
heaviest rains fell during
the last week of the month
when a record-setting low
pressure center in the Mid
west brought a strong cold
front through the South,
dropping rain and severe
weather through the region.
The highest monthly
rainfall total from National
Weather Service reporting
stations was 3.33 inches
in Atlanta (.22 inch above
normal). The lowest was
in Alma at .16 inch (2.63
inches below normal). Ath
ens received 1.42 inches
(2.05 inches below nor
mal), Brunswick .41 inch
(3.5 inches below normal),
Valdosta .57 inch (2.45
inches below normal),
Columbus 1.48 inches (.85
inch below normal), Macon
.95 inch (1.42 inches below
normal). Savannah .6 inch
(2.52 inches below normal)
and Augusta .67 inch (2.53
inches below normal).
The highest single-day
rainfall from the Com
munity Collaborative Rain,
Hail and Snow Network
stations was 3.65 inches
at Carrollton in Carroll
County Oct. 28. An ob
server south of Greensboro
reported 3.6 inches. An
observer southeast of Ath
ens reported 3.31 inches
on the same day. Another
observer in Richmond Hill
reported 3.35 inches Oct.
25. The highest monthly
totals were 5.63 inches
near Dillard in Rabun
County and 5.4 inches near
Peachtree City in Fayette
County.
The last week of the
month was a very active
time for severe weather.
Three tornadoes were
observed. Two tornadoes
were reported Oct. 24 in
far northwest Georgia, one
in Dade County and the
other in Catoosa County. A
small tornado was re
ported Oct. 27 in Chero
kee County. The severe
weather caused problems
for drought-stricken trees
in southwestern Georgia,
making them susceptible
to broken limbs and up
rooting.
It is interesting to note
that the last time a strong
La Nina (similar to this
year) occurred with no
hurricane landfalls on the
United States was 1973.
Since 1900, this is the first
time we have had a hurri
cane season of ten or more
storms without one hitting
the U.S. as a hurricane.
The dry conditions
continued to affect har
vests and yields of several
Georgia crops. There were
a few small and scattered
areas of frost in some rural
areas.
(Pam Knox is the assis
tant state climatologist and
an engineering program
coordinator in the Univer
sity of Georgia College of
Agricultural and Environ
mental Sciences.)
Home remedies: Expert guidance
on what works, and what doesn’t
(ARA) - When it comes
to taking care of your
family and yourself, your
health is no place to cut
corners. Many home rem
edies, however, can help
save you money - and pre
serve your health - when
used wisely to supplement
regular care or emergency
care from your doctor.
“While patients should
always see their doctors
for regular checkups and
treatment for significant
medical issues, it is pos
sible to supplement that
care with cost-effective
home remedies,” says Dr.
Philip Hagen, a preventive
medicine expert at Mayo
Clinic and editor-in-chief
of the new “Mayo Clinic
Book of Home Remedies.”
“Common ailments often
have simple treatments that
could save families hun
dreds of dollars in medical
costs each year.”
Whether motivated by
the need to cut costs in an
uncertain economy or the
desire to simplify their
lives, many Americans are
looking for information
about home remedies and
self-care. From ear pain
and minor eye ailments to
varicose veins, a host of
ailments can be addressed
with home remedies.
Mayo Clinic experts
offer guidance, both in the
new book and online, for
anyone interested in trying
some home remedies:
* Chili pepper seed,
when used as a rub applied
directly to the skin, may
ease aching joints.
* Ginger is thought to
relieve nausea, and many
Asian cultures incorpo
rate it into their diets as a
digestive aid.
* A neti pot, a small pot
with a long spout, may
help reduce sinus inflam
mation caused by allergies.
* Insomniacs may find
relief by inhaling the fra
grance of lavender.
* Plant-derived com
pounds like soy have
estrogen-like effects that
may help ease hot flashes
for women going through
menopause.
* A humidifier may help
ward off colds by increas
ing the moisture in the air
of your home. Cold viruses
thrive in dry conditions.
* Vinegar is thought to
reduce nail fungus. Soak
your feet for 15 to 20
minutes in a mixture of
one part vinegar, two parts
warm water. Rinse your
feet well and pat dry when
offers the following tips:
• Check hotel beds for
signs of bed bugs. Pull
back the sheets, and look
around the cording at the
top, bottom and sides of
the mattress. If you see
dark spots, ask for another
room.
• If your hotel room has
two beds, don’t use one bed
as a luggage holder. “I used
to sleep in one bed and
put my things on the other
bed,” he said. “Now, I hang
my clothes in the closet so
I don’t give bed bugs an
opportunity to crawl into
my bags.”
• Don’t buy or use old
bedding, beds or mat
tresses. “It is extremely
difficult to get rid of bed
bugs that are living in sofas
or mattresses,” he said. “I
tried to donate a nice used
mattress to Goodwill and
they wouldn’t take it now. I
now understand one of the
reasons why.”
Homeowners who sus
pect they have bed bugs
should call a pest control
professional for confirma
tion and treatment.
“You have to know what
you’re doing and know
where they are hiding,” she
said. “They could be in the
electrical sockets, behind
the baseboards, in the sofa
or in a room near the bed
room. Unless you get all of
them, they will just lay low
and come back.”
(Sharon Dowdy is a news
editor with the University
of Georgia College of Ag
ricultural and Environmen
tal Sciences.)
The 17th
Annual Holly
Berry Market
done.
Mayo Clinic Book of
Home Remedies also rec
ommends you keep certain
items on hand for general
care and minor first-aid
issues, including:
* Bandages of various
sizes, gauze, paper or cloth
tape, antibacterial ointment
and antiseptic solution to
deal with cuts.
* Cold packs, gauze,
burn spray and an antisep
tic cream to treat burns.
* Aids such as a ther
mometer, aspirin (for
adults only) and acetamin
ophen for children to treat
aches, pain and fever.
* Cold packs, elastic
wraps and finger splints
for sprains, strains and
fractures. Remember, how
ever, that serious injuries
require treatment from a
medical professional.
“Home remedies may not
be appropriate for treating
every situation all the time;
when in doubt, it is always
best to consult a medical
professional,” Hagen says.
“But it may be possible
to care for minor health
issues at home, or to use
home remedies to enhance
the care you’re already re
ceiving from your doctor.”
Special to the Ledger
It’s still ‘the most won
derful time of the year’.
And it’s still the best place
in town to get into the
Christmas spirit. It’s 17th
Annual Holly Berry Mar
ket. The much anticipated
one day event will take
place Saturday, November
20, 2010 from 9:00 a.m.
- 3:00 p.m. Your $2.00
Admission ticket enters a
chance to win Door Prizes
during the event, children
under 12 are free. Vendor
Booths include collegiate
items, Christmas decor
and ornaments, beauty
products, one-of-a-kind
pieces of jewelry, heir
loom quality needlework,
wood scroll art, letters to
Santa, fashion handbags
and much more. “Last year
I attended my first Holly
Berry and was amazed at
the variety of items avail
able for sale” states market
helper, Vicki O’Brien. “I
found the most beautiful
hand made blanket. Many
shoppers were admiring it.
I couldn’t walk away from
it. I still think it was a
steal and I’ll treasure it for
a long time.” She added,
“We got our traditional
family photo with Santa
then purchased a small bag
of cookies to nibble while
we shopped”.
If your sweet tooth won’t
stop at cookies, fresh
baked cakes, pies, breads
and candies are what you’ll
find at the Mrs. Claus
Bakery. Lunch and snacks
are served throughout the
event at the Santa Cafe and
the Tea Room. The Tea
Room has been a popular
addition to the Market
for years. Sandwiches
and Quiche entrees are
served while you enjoy
live entertainment by local
talent. The Tea Room is
open from 11am to 2pm.
Advance purchased tickets
are $7.00 and $8.00 at the
door.
Much of the excitement
of the day intensifies
around the What I Want
For Christmas... Raffle
Packages. A $2 ticket can
make you the happy owner
of a Wii game console w/
bundled accessories and
games, a Netbook Laptop
computer, a Blu-Ray DVD
player and movie theme
gifts, American Girl Doll
of the year: Lanie and the
list goes on. A complete
list can be viewed at www.
stteresa.org. There will
be a Silent Auction for
extra shopping deals and
Photos with Santa printed
while you wait for only $5.
Babysitting in our nursery
is available for younger
children.
Hosted by the Parent
Teacher Organization
of St. Teresa’s School,
the annual Holly Berry
Market uses the proceeds
to benefit outreach pro
grams including St. Clare’s
Community Center and
Neighbors in Need, located
in Albany and the retire
ment fund for the order of
Sisters who founded the
school in 1954.
St Teresa’s Church is
located at: 421 Edge-
wood Lane, Albany (off
Gillionville Road).
For additional informa
tion please call St. Teresa’s
School at (229) 436-0134
or visit www.stteresas.org
and click on Holly Berry
Market.