The number of bedbugs in Georgia has increased significantly since the late 1990s, according to University of Georgia entomology professor Dan Suiter. The increase in numbers is attributed to a resistance to pesticides and a milder climate in the South. Suiter advised residents to watch for signs of bedbug activity on mattresses and check common hiding spots for wood and fabric. The longer you wait for professional pest control assistance, the more costly it may be to address the issue. While bedbugs are not believed to spread disease, they can cause severe irritation and itchiness and lead to allergic reactions.