Bedbugs Movie Theater Invasion: What's Their Next Target?

Have you seen bed bugs in the movie popcorn? (istockphoto)

(CBS/AP) No longer content to explore trendy retail stores, New York's army of bedbugs invaded a 25-screen movie theater in New York's Times Square Wednesday.

Bedbugs were found in two seats at the AMC Empire 25 during an Aug. 3 inspection, and a guest reported being bitten this past weekend. 

PICTURES: 10 Most Terrifying Parasites

Exterminators were called, the seats were removed and new ones were installed.

"Based on our pest control specialists' recommendation, we treat theaters two weeks after their initial treatment. In the case of our Empire 25 theater, the two-week follow-up treatment occurred last night, August 17," AMC Entertainment spokesperson Justin Scott told CNN.

"Unfortunately, a guest reported bedbug bites at Empire 25 this past weekend, so we quickly reinspected the auditorium in question and, upon finding bedbugs in that auditorium, we immediately closed it until it received treatment last night," he added.

A guest at the AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 theater also reported a bite in late July, but not to worry says Scott. He told CNN that all AMC theaters in Manhattan have been inspected.

As CBS News reported last month, bed bugs seem to have it in for New Yorkers this year. Office buildings - including the Time Warner Center - have been invaded, and retail stores such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria's Secret and Hollister have all been treated after bedbugs were discovered.

It's difficult to say how many apartment buildings have been attacked, but many residents know one sign of an infected apartment: furniture and clothes that appear to be in perfectly good condition piled on the curb like garbage. When bedbugs attack, sometimes it's cheaper and more effective to throw everything out than to get multiple exterminations.

17 Photos

10 Most Terrifying Parasites Ever

[cindrellas]

How do you say that bug in that picture is a bed bug?
You need to fist look at some bed bugs pictures http://www.whatdobedbugslooklike.net/interesting-bed-bugs-pictures.html

[makeithappen14]

That is really gross to think that the <a href="http://www.imax.com/">movie theater</a>s are not longer safe from things like bed bugs. I wont be able to sit comfortable the next time I go.

[Blattella1]

That's not even a bed bug in the picture on this article!!!!! How about getting that right first...

[bedbuggerDOTcom]

The photo shown above (as of 8/20 at 1:29 pm EST) is NOT a bed bug.

One reason bed bugs are spreading so easily is because people do not know how to recognize them. Journalists could do a lot to help change that fact, by posting accurate photos of bed bugs, and providing good information to the public.

[John Meshna]

Bed Bugs are becoming resistant to the toxic sprays used to kill them requiring heavier doses and even more toxic chemicals to kill them which they quickly develop a resistance to. Fortunately there's a better way.
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