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WEBVTT MEGAN: THEY ARE BLOODSUCKINGPARASITES.ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THE BUGBUSINESS KNOWS, >> THE INSECT FROM HELL. MEGAN: BED BUGS WILL MAKE YOURSKIN CRAWL.>> IT'S THE WORST INSECT IN THEWORLD.THEY CAN LIVE A YEAR WITHOUTFEEDING.SO THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT TO GETRID OF. MEGAN: MARK DUTTON, THE MANAGEROF CANTON ACE HARDWARE, SAYSBALTIMORE HAS A BED BUG PROBLEM,AND IT'S HARD TO SLEEP TIGHTONCE YOU FIGURE OUT .>> PEOPLE TEND TO THINK BED BU, HAVING BEDBUGS IS RELATED TOPOOR HOUSEKEEPING, BUT IT'S NOT.ANYONE CAN GET BED BUGS.MEGAN: ESPECIALLY BECAUSETHEY'RE HITCHHIKERS, AND THEYOFTEN ACT AS THE SOUVENIR YOUNEVER WANTED>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURETHAT IF YOU GO TO HOTELS ORCRUISES OR PLACES OUTSIDE THATTHEY USUALLY SIT DAY COMICS --INSPECT IT WELL.MEGAN: ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTSTHEY'RE NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND., YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOUARE LOOKING FOR.TAKE THIS APPLE.AN ADULT BED BUG IS ABOUT THESIZE OF THE SEED.AND ONCE YOU FIND THEM, IT'STIME TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.MARK DUTTON SAYS IT TAKES TIME,BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TOEVICT BED BUGS. HE SAYS TREATMENTS OF SPRAYS,ALONG WITH SEALANT COVERS FORTHE MATTRESS AND THE BOX SPRING,WILL DO THE TRICK.BUT REMEMBER, JUST BECAUSETHEY'RE CALLED BED BUGS DOESN'TMEAN THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE TOFIND THEM.>> THEY CAN BE BEHIND ELECTRICALOUTLETS, THEY CAN BE BEHINDBASEBOARDS, THEY CAN BE IN YOURNIGHTSTANDS. THEY LOVE WOOD.THEY LOVE BOOKS.MEGAN: BOTTOM LINE WITH THESEGUYS, KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THEMBEFORE THEY FIND THEIR WAY TOYOU.IN BALTIMORE, MEGAN PRINGLE,

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The phrase, "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite," isn't all that easy with this story. Baltimore ranks No. 1 on the list of the top 50 bed bug cities, according to a survey by the pest company Orkin. Orkin based the results on bed bug data from the metro areas where the company performed the most treatments. "It's the worst insect in the world,” Mark Dutton, manager at Canton Ace Hardware, said. “They can live a year without feeding. So they're very difficult to get rid of." Dutton said Baltimore has a bed bug problem, and it's hard to sleep tight once you have figured that out. “People tend to think bed bugs is related to poor housekeeping, but it's not,” Dutton said. “Anyone can get bed bugs.” Pest experts said part of the problem is that bed bugs are considered “hitchhikers” that people don’t realize they have brought home until it is too late. "It's really important if you go to a hotel or cruise, places outside where you usually stay, inspect that as well,” Orkin entomologist Ron Harrison said. According to the experts, bed bugs are not impossible to find. People just have to know what they are looking for as an adult bed bug is about the size of an apple seed. Dutton said it takes time, but there are plenty of ways to evict bed bugs, including treatment sprays, along with sealant covers for mattresses and box springs. Experts warn that bed bugs can also be found behind electrical outlets and baseboards, in night stands, wood and books.