Are bedbugs the perfect symbol of urban paranoia?

First they invaded cities across North America, lying in wait for us to fall asleep, living off our blood and evading eviction. Now, the tiny blood-suckers have worked their way into our cultural imaginations. Bedbugs have truly achieved urban paranoia status. For many people, the thought of them sends an itchy chill down the spine. Something writer Ben Winters expertly exploits in his new supernatural thriller -- you guessed it -- Bedbugs.

Ben told Jian today why bedbugs were ripe for the horror treatment, and why we're so ready to fear them.

Would you agree that bedbugs are the top contender for mass urban paranoia or do you have another nominee? Over to you to share your own bedbug horror stories -- or tales of other urban anxiety!