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 OK but for real why are there so many bedbug infestations in so many major cities all at the same time 
 @fc4db4fc Pet theory is that we've normalized involuntarily exposing others to risk in how we've handled covid, so people who have been exposed to bed bugs aren't warning others sufficiently to allow them to avoid it. For example, in one of my social circles someone recently got covid and a few days later went to a birthday *knowing they had it*. Now, would this person also skip that party because they had a bed bug infestation? Probably not.

But. Is this a different set of behavior in regards to bed bugs than say 5 years ago? I suspect so, but zero proof on that lol.

Also, a lot of people being evicted and slumlords probably shittily cleaning flats before finding a new tenant, so 🤷 

Also also, as someone else said, a lot more people are traveling again 
 @fc4db4fc 

Having done no research into the current situation, I would guess heat. Bed bugs do better in the heat, I think that's often linked to periods of high bed bug activity. 

Not sure if "major cities" means global or US, but maybe with rent and housing crunch in many US cities, people are also less likely to move, more willing to move into poorly maintained buildings, etc. More shitty furniture flosting around. That's speculation.