Web Buzz: How to avoid bedbugs

If all the talk in the news about bedbugs is giving you clinophobia (fear of going to bed), arm yourself with more information about the little pests at BedbugRegistry.com.

What’s hot: This online outlet lets travelers look up and report bedbug incidents. The homepage displays recent bedbug reports and a map that links to reports in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. You can also search for smaller cities such as Charleston, S.C., or Bakersfield. Besides checking on potential hotels, don’t miss the resources page, with information on what bedbugs look like, what to do when you find them and how to avoid them in the future. Maciej Ceg?owski, a writer and computer programmer, says she created the website in 2006 after being bitten by bedbugs in a San Francisco hotel.

What’s not: The website offers this caveat: “Because our bedbug reports come directly from users, we can’t guarantee their accuracy.” Users can contact the website to dispute a report. Information is limited to the U.S. and Canada. I would love to see the reports span the globe. (I was once bitten more than 30 times in a London hotel.)