BLANCHARDVILLE — As a part of the Wisconsin Science Festival, there will be a free, in-person talk about bed bugs hosted at 11 a.m. on October 22, 2026 by Blanchardville Public Library. No registration required.

Once a creature of nursery rhymes, bed bugs have reemerged around the U.S. over the last decades. This talk will discuss the biology of bed bugs, their history, precautions for travelers, and bed bug management in contemporary times.

Patrick (PJ) Liesch is a statewide entomology specialist and director of the University of Wisconsin Insect Diagnostic Lab (IDL). Every year, the IDL handles over 2,400 insect identification requests from Wisconsin’s farmers, private industry, university and government agencies, the general public, and other groups. PJ also provides entomology-related outreach throughout the state, including regular appearances on Wisconsin Public Radio.