As a landlord and a pest control operator, I have a couple of comments about the July 29 story on bedbugs.

First, the quote, “80 percent of Lewiston is infested,” should not have been printed without some hard research on the true number of affected units.

I have treated places for bedbugs for many years, and I feel sure that an accurate number is less than 10 percent. The Sun Journal has the ability to harm the local rental market when it allows such a flagrantly inaccurate statement to stand without comment.

Second, the article failed to quote accurate prices for chemical treatments. The number $1,000 for two units should have been accurately labeled as the price a given company charges, not represented as the general price. I charge far less.

Third, what about the drawbacks of thermal treatments? One important drawback is that there is no residual protection with the method. A day after thermal treatment is complete, bedbugs can be reintroduced to the unit.

The article read like an infomercial for those guys with their new equipment.

How about doing a little more research next time and presenting an actual news story?

Ken Hodgkins, Lisbon