Giant Bed Bug Found in Mexico City | ILSTV.com | World, Bed Bug Registry Map

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Entomologists at the Universidad La Salle in Mexico City are baffled by the latest specimen to come into their possession: a bed bug over 10 times its normal size. Eduardo Guitarrez, Senior Entomologist at La Salle, says they have never seen anything like it. Its either a rare genetic mutation, an entirely new species of bed bug, or the common bed bug is evolving into something rather sinister.

The strange specimen, discovered by a housekeeper at an upper scale hotel in Mexico City, asked that her identity and that of the hotel remain anonymous.

Speaking through a translator the housekeeper says that while changing the sheets she noticed a hole in the middle of the mattress. I looked closer and suddenly this bug squirmed out! I thought it was a cockroach because the color was very similar, but when I looked closer, I knew it was no cockroach. Sensing it was something unusual, the housekeeper and a co-worker managed to trap the bug and bring it to the hotel manager, who, through a friend at La Salle, brought it to the attention of Eduardo and his peers.

Whats unusual, said Eduardo, is that no other bed bugs, normal-sized or otherwise, were found in the bed. Perhaps our elongated specimen practices cannibalism.

It is very odd, said hotel manager, Carlos Parada, our guest in the room stayed two nights, but made no complaints of being bitten. Im sure a bed bug of that size would have left quite a mark! He added that the hotel would be doing a thorough search of all the rooms to make sure no more bed bugs exist.

Eduardo, when told the guest suffered no bites, offered this explanation: Bed bugs usually require 5-10 minutes to engorge with blood. They feed by inserting two hollow, beak-like feeding tubes into their host. The first tube injects the bugs saliva, which contains anesthetics to numb the feeding area. The second tube draws blood. After feeding, they move to secluded places and hide for 5-10 days. During this time, they do not feed but instead digest their meal, mate and lay eggs.

Eduardo believes that their specimen was between feedings, and that is why the guest did not fall victim to its nocturnal feedings. He does feel, however, that had the bed bug not been captured, the next guest in that room would not have been so lucky.

There is no question the next guest would have been victimized, said Eduardo. He or she would have become an all-you-can-eat buffet!

As no prior guests experienced anything unusual either, it is believed the bed bug hitched a ride to the hotel in the last guests suitcase. Though it has not been confirmed, it is believed the person traveled from North America. Does this mean giant mutant bed bugs are breeding in North America? It is quite possible, but still too early to tell, says Eduardo.

To put it in perspective, the average adult bed bug grows to about 1/4 of an inch. The specimen brought into La Salle is just over three inches long, or roughly twelve times the average adult bed bug size.

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Giant Bed Bug Found in Mexico City | ILSTV.com