Bed bugs warm to London

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By Mark Prigg Science Correspondent, Evening Standard
24 November 2004

London has become a "perfect breeding ground" for bed bugs, experts warn today. The average bed could harbour up to 1.5 million of the mites, which can trigger asthma and allergies.

"London is a real hotbed for dust mites," said Marcella Ucci of University College, London, who is studying them on a Governmentfunded project.

"The recent warm temperatures and humid conditions mean that mite populations are expanding rapidly.

"We think that by 2050, throughout the South-East, populations will have increased by up to eight times." To make their predictions, researchers use a combination of computer models and live mites.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/14911609?source=Evening%20Standard