Valley Independent Sentinel

Another Bedbug Found At LoPresti School

by Jodie Mozdzer | Mar 9, 2011 9:00 pm

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Posted to: Seymour, Education

Another bedbug was found at the Anna LoPresti School in Seymour.

But school officials said a “thorough investigation” of the classroom shows there are no other bugs at the school.

The tiny critter possibly came into the school on a backpack or item of clothing, according to a letter sent to parents.

“Bed bugs can be transmitted by ‘hitching a ride’ on pets, clothing, and luggage, such as backpacks,” the letter read. It was sent home to parents on Monday, after the bug was found last week. School officials did not say which classroom the bug was found in.

Article continues after letter.

Bed bug letter 3-11

Superintendent MaryAnne Mascolo, in an e-mail response to questions about the incident, said the district’s director of facilities contacted Ansonia exterminator Bug Busters, who inspected the classroom and “found no evidence of an infestation.”

“As an additional measure ‘climb up’ traps specifically designed for bed bugs were placed in the room Friday night by Bug Busters and checked on Saturday morning by Bug Busters and our Director of Facilities,” Mascolo wrote. “There was no evidence of bed bugs!”

Charlie Pucilauskas, the president of Bug Busters, said the school is not infested, and the bug likely came in on a backpack.

This was the second time a bedbug has been located at the school. The first time a bedbug was found in a kindergarten classroom in December.

The room was “fumigated and certain areas were steam cleanen,” officials told the Valley Indy at the time.

School officials were advised to keep people out of the room for 48 hours. After several calls from parents about the incident, school officials decided to close the classroom until after the holidays to alleviate concerns.

Mascolo said the district likely over-reacted in December.

“We have received guidance from the department of environmental protection and we clearly over-reacted to the last sighting of a SINGLE bedbug,” Mascolo wrote.

Worried?

Pucliauskas said it’s hard for residents to do their own inspections, because they might overlook bedbug hiding places like inside outlets and behind picture frames.

But, there are some signs you might have a bedbug infestation at home, Pucliauskas said.

“The best way to check on bedbugs is you’ll see little red spots on your sheets,” he said. “That’s where they defecate.”

The spots could also appear on couches or other resting places where bedbugs might feed on human blood, Pucliauskas said.

It’s hard to prevent the bugs from getting inside the house, he said.

“You could go to a movie house and get bed bugs. People go on cruises and they pick them up. People fly on an airplane and pick them up,” he said.

“The good news is they don’t transmit any diseases,” he said.

Pucilauskas said if people think they have an infestation, they should call an exterminator to be sure.

Pucilauskas said Bug Busters charges about $100 for a three-room house inspection.

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