Bed Bugs

Don't Do This

2013-07-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

WOODBURY, N.J. - A New Jersey house fire is being blamed on a homeowner's battle against bedbugs.

A county spokeswoman says the homeowner in the southern New Jersey town of Woodbury was using a space heater, a hair dryer and a heat gun Tuesday to try to eradicate the pests in a second-floor bedroom. The combination sparked a fire.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency says very high, sustained heat can kill bedbugs, but raising the temperature with the thermostat or space heaters won't do the job. It says special equipment is needed.

Woodbury Fire Marshal Joseph Buono tells WPVI-TV in nearby Philadelphia that quick Internet remedies for killing bedbugs are a "catastrophe in the making." He says the afflicted should "call the professionals."

Innovative New Nanotechnology Stops Bed Bugs in Their Tracks -- Literally

2013-06-03T13:22:00.002-07:00

Bed bugs now need to watch their step. Researchers at Stony Brook University have developed a safe, non-chemical resource that literally stops bed bugs in their tracks. This innovative new technology acts as a human-made web consisting of microfibers 50 times thinner than a human hair which entangle and trap bed bugs and other insects. This patent-pending technology is being commercialized by Fibertrap, a private company that employs non-toxic pest control methods.

The nanotech solution was developed at Stony Brook University's Center for Advanced Technology in Sensor Materials (Sensor CAT), a program funded by NYSTAR, as part of a statewide effort to encourage greater technological and economic collaboration between industry and research universities.

Miriam Rafailovich "Our nanotechnology produces entanglements that are millions of times more dense than woven products such as fabrics or carpets," said lead researcher Miriam Rafailovich, Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Co-Director in the Program of Chemical and Molecular Engineering at Stony Brook University. "The microfibers trap them by attaching to microstructures on their legs taking away their ability to move, which stops them from feeding and reproducing."

Successful tests were performed using live bed bugs and termites in Professor Rafailovich's lab with the assistance of Ying Liu, a scientist with Stony Brook University's Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center and Stony Brook graduate students Shan He and Linxi Zhang.

Kevin McAllister, Fibertrap's co-founder added, "We are very excited to move this advancement from the lab to the consumer. Our goal has always been to make a difference for people living in areas where bed bugs are pervasive and difficult to eradicate."

The microfibers are safe for humans and pets and unlike chemical treatments the insects cannot develop a resistance to it.

About Bed Bugs

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, flat, parasitic insects that feed solely on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, wingless, range from one millimeter (mm) to seven mm (roughly the size of Lincoln's head on a penny), and can live several months without a blood meal.

Infestation

Bed bug infestations usually occur around or near the areas where people sleep. These areas include apartments, shelters, rooming houses, hotels, cruise ships, buses, trains and dorm rooms. They hide during the day in places such as seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, dresser tables, inside cracks or crevices, behind wallpaper or any other clutter or objects around a bed. Bed bugs have been shown to be able to travel over 100 feet in a night but tend to live within eight feet of where people sleep. A bed bug bite affects each person differently. Bite responses can range from an absence of any physical signs of the bite, to a small bite mark, to a serious allergic reaction. Bed bugs are not considered to be dangerous; however, an allergic reaction to several bites may need medical attention. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) For more information please check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Bed Bug FAQs.

Statistics

New York City consistently ranks in the top 10 or 15 cities with the worst bed bug problem across the nation. An annual list released by Orkin Pest Control based upon bed bug business in U.S. cities, lists Chicago as having the worst bed bug problem for 2012; New York City comes in at #10.

Do Bedbug Sprays Really Work?

2013-06-03T13:12:00.001-07:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio -

They are the public health pest causing people to dive under their covers with flashlights, armed with over-the-counter pesticides.

Bedbugs are a big problem, creating big business in Central Ohio.

Regulations for over-the-counter pesticides cover safety concerns, not effectiveness.

NBC4's Candice Lee puts popular pesticides to the test.

The following is an exact transcript of the report as shown on NBC4 at 6 p.m. on May 14, 2013.

Lee: Store shelves are stacked with over-the-counter pesticides, claiming to kill bedbugs.

But Dr. Susan Jones, associated professor of entomology at The Ohio State University and a leading bedbug researcher, tells me while many may kill a few bedbugs, all fail to provide homeowners long-term relief.

To prove it, I went to her campus lab, where we tested three over-the-counter products.

In the early morning hours of March 20, Charles Adams discovered bedbugs on a pull-out in a back bedroom of his Fornoff Road home.

He used an alcohol-based bug spray, thinking it would kill the pests. But when his wife entered the room, she lit a lighter, not knowing Adams had sprayed.

It sparked a fire, which quickly spread through the home, sending the family running for safety.

Adams: "We was half asleep, just woke up. I mean, I panicked, trying to hurry up and get that couch out of there, 'cause we've been fighting bedbugs off and on."

It is incidents like this that worry members of the Central Ohio Bedbug Task Force like Jones.

Here at the Rothenbuhler Lab on the Ohio State campus, Dr. Jones and her assistants are looking for ways to eradicate the pests.

They test dozens of over-the-counter pesticides. But Jones tells me pesticide makers promise more than they deliver.

Jones: "If a product worked as well as the label indicated or the website indicated, we would've solved all of our bedbug problems. But that's not what you see."

NBC4 put three products to the test: Hot Shot Bedbug and Flea Spray, a natural pesticide called Stop Bugging Me, and 90-percent rubbing alcohol.

First up, Hot Shot, which claims to kill bedbugs on contact.

Jones: "The spray has to directly contact the bedbug if it's going to have any effect whatsoever."

Next up was Stop Bugging Me, a natural insecticide, which claims to kill 100 percent of bedbugs in 15 minutes.

Finally, we hit the rubbing alcohol, which is highly flammable, but used by many people nonetheless.

Jones: "If you spray enough on the bedbugs, some of them will potentially die. But as Josh is showing you right here, he is spraying the 90-percent, and a lot of the bugs aren't reacting."

In order for bedbug treatments to be successful, the pesticides must be strong enough to remain effective over long periods of time. Pest control companies recommend repeated professional treatments over several months. Dr. Jones says over-the-counter products dry quickly, making it impossible to kill the bugs completely.

Three days later, we returned to Dr. Jones' lab to check on our specimens.

Of the 10 bedbugs sprayed with the Hot Shot product, 50 percent died the first day.

Only 45 percent of the bedbugs treated with Stop Bugging Me died.

The rubbing alcohol killed 20 percent of the bedbugs.

Jones: "The bedbugs that are reproducing behind the walls or in the electrical outlet, or in the bed frames, they've already replaced any bedbugs that you've potentially killed."

I reached out to the makers of Hot Shot and Stop Bugging Me and informed them of our results.

In an emailed statement, the makers of Hot Shot told me, "The Hot Shot Bedbug & Flea Killer Aerosol is a cost-effective option for do-it-yourself, spot-treatment control of bedbug infestations. The aerosol, which is EPA-registered for use against bedbugs, is designed to kill bedbugs where they hide."

I also heard from the makers of the Stop Bugging Me! spray. They refute the study we conducted with Ohio State, citing their own study, "Stop Bugging Me! was effective against the bedbug, providing complete mortality by 24 hours post treatment."

The only way to address a bed bug infestation is to hire a professional pest control company. They have access to commercial grade pesticides that overtime and repeated treatments can kill the pests.

Laboratory Methods (Ohio State/NBC4 Testing)

The contact toxicity of various products was assessed by directly spraying groups of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) confined to petri dishes lined with filter paper discs. Treatments included five over-the-counter products (JT Eaton™ Kills Bed Bugs, JT Eaton™ Kills Bed Bugs II, Stop Bugging Me!™, HotShot^® Bedbug and Flea Killer, and Bonide^® Bedbug Killer) and three home remedies (50, 70, and 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol). For each treatment and a distilled water control, 3 replicates consisting of 10 adult bed bugs (males and females) from one bed bug population (Republic, collected during 2012 from Columbus, OH) were established.

Residual efficacy of each product was assessed by exposing bed bugs (3 replicates, 10 mixed-sex adult bed bugs) to filter paper discs that had been sprayed to saturation with each product then air dried for approximately 3 hours.

For contact toxicity and residual efficacy tests, the condition of bed bugs was assessed at 3 and 8 d. Each bug's condition was assessed based on its behavioral response when probed:

Healthy – the bed bug moves quickly and in a coordinated manner to avoid stimulus.
Sluggish – reacts slowly, but makes coordinated movements to avoid stimulus.
Ataxic – unable to coordinate movements to avoid the stimulus. Ataxic bugs can right themselves after falling.
Moribund – incapable of locomotion and exhibiting movement only of appendages or other body parts.
Dead – no movement whatsoever.

Three Signs You May Have Bed Bugs

2013-06-03T13:07:00.002-07:00

Do you think it’s possible that you could have a good night...or sleep tight...if there is even the tiniest chance that a bed bug could bite?

We didn’t think so.

Bed Bugs are becoming an epidemic in North America. Increased travel and tighter pesticide regulations are some of the reasons why the spread of bed bugs are causing headaches for residents, and property owners.

There are three signs to look for concerning bed bugs that should prompt you to take action immediately:

Small red bites on your body that itch and you can’t explain.

Bed bugs usually bite on your neck, arms, shoulders, legs and ankles. They usually bite in a straight line, so that’s a sign that the bites are from bed bugs. Even for doctors it can be hard to determine if bites are from bed bugs until a pest-control specialist thoroughly examines your home.

You see actual bed bugs or signs of them.

If you spot a bed bug you have a problem. Adult bed bugs are usually light brown to reddish brown, 4 to 5 millimetres long and 1.5-3 millimetres wide. They are light brown to reddish brown and oval. Tiny white eggs, dark liquid feces spots, and discarded shells are also visible evidence of bed bugs. Even if you see bed bugs or signs of them, the extent of the infestation and the locations of their hidden nests can be hard to pinpoint. Call us at 905-390-1809 and we can help.

You smell the scent of rotten raspberries.

This unpleasant odour often accompanies bed bug infestations.

Worst Bed Bug Cities 2012

2013-01-17T11:45:00.001-08:00

The “City of Brotherly Love” is probably not loving being declared the most bedbug-infested city in the U.S. However, according to an annual ranking released today by Terminix, Philadelphia replaces New York City as the metropolitan area most infested by bedbugs.

“Bedbugs continue to increase their presence across the U.S.,” Terminix entomologist Stoy Hedges said in a press release. “While major metropolitan areas are most at risk, it is important to note that bedbugs have been spotted in cities and towns across the country.”

Here are the 15 cities that topped the Terminix list:

Philadelphia
Cincinnati
New York City
Chicago
Detroit
Washington, D.C.
Columbus, Ohio
San Francisco
Denver
New Haven, Conn.
Dallas
Houston
Indianapolis
Miami
Cleveland

It bears mentioning that a similar ranking released this March from Rollins (NYSE:ROL) pest control subsidy Orkin, did not even list Philadelphia among its top 15 cities with bedbug woes.

To compile its list, Terminix collected data from 300 of its branches across the country. Service calls from customers as well as confirmed bedbug cases were included in the data.

The company said that bedbug infestations can get worse during the summer as more travelers spend time in hotels and airports. It also noted that the tiny pests are sneaky.” Bedbugs can cause itchy welts and rashes, and may go undetected for months in a home or business,” Hedges said. “It is important for consumers to know the signs of an infestation and to have their home inspected by a professional if they suspect a problem.”

Bed bug fact sheet

2013-01-17T11:28:00.002-08:00

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human blood. They are usually active at night when people are sleeping.

Adult bed bugs have flat, rusty-red colored oval bodies, no wings and are about the size of an apple seed. They are big enough to be easily seen, but hide in mattresses, box springs, bedding, cracks in furniture, floors, or walls. When bed bugs feed, they swell and become brighter red. They can live for several months to over a year without feeding. They don't jump or fly, and they crawl and move about the same speed as an ant.

How do I know if my home has bed bugs?

Close-up view of a bed bug on a dime.Adult insects are about the size of an apple seed. Click image to enlarge.

Look for signs of an infestation that may include:

Itchy skin welts on your body
Small blood smears on bedding from crushed insects
Tiny dark spots on your sheets, mattress or box spring which are their fecal droppings
Dried remains of shed bed bug skins

Be aware that other insects, such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitos, can leave bites that look like bed bug bites. Bites alone cannot prove you have a bed bug infestation.

Important note: The only way to be sure you have a bed bug infestation is to find and positively identify a live bed bug.

If you suspect you have bed bugs, you will have to conduct a thorough search of your home. Bed bugs are hard to find because they hide in, under, and around beds. They also hide inside, under and behind furniture, and in small cracks or corners in furniture, floors or walls or in carpeting close to where they feed at night.

Newly hatched bed bugs are about the size of a poppy seed, pale yellow in color, almost transparent, and very difficult to see. Once they have fed, they become larger and are red or brown in color which makes them easier to see. Bed bug eggs are white and about the size of two grains of salt. When laid, they are cemented to surfaces making them difficult to remove.

What do bed bug bites feel and look like?

A bed bug bite is painless and some people have no reaction to the bites at all. Most people have itchiness, red spots, or welts that look like mosquito or flea bites hours later. There may be an itchy bump but the tiny bite mark may not be visible. These usually fade after several days. A few people have severe allergic reactions.

Remember: Bites are only a clue that you may have bed bugs, but you can't tell from bites alone that you have a bed bug problem.

Bed bugs usually bite at night while you are asleep. If you wake up in the middle of the night and find a bug on your bed, don't squash it - instead, completely seal a live sample in a clean zip-style sandwich bag and have the bug identified by a pest control operator.

Are bed bugs dangerous?

Bed bug bites are a nuisance and annoying, but bed bugs are not known to spread diseases. Try not to scratch bites because it increases the risk of skin infections. If you have a severe reaction to a bed bug bite, see your doctor.

How do bed bugs get into homes?

Bed bugs are not a result of poor housekeeping. Anyone can have bed bugs. People bring bed bugs into their homes unknowingly in infested luggage, backpacks, purses, furniture, bedding, shoes or clothing. They can also travel between apartments through cracks in walls and floors.

Total release pesticide foggers or 'bug bombs' can force bed bugs into adjacent apartments. DO NOT USE: 'Bug Bombs'. They do not control bed bugs and using 'bug bombs' improperly can be dangerous and spreads pesticide throughout your home.

If you have bed bugs and live in a rental property, notify the property manager immediately. Do not use pesticides to treat for bed bugs yourself. "General use" pesticides are not effective against bed bugs and their use may cause the bed bugs to spread to adjacent units.

Where do I look?

Bed bugs can hide anywhere but usually close to where people sleep. Find bed bugs early by inspecting your bed and bedding each time you remove the sheets for washing. Check around the edge of the mattress and box springs, in seams and under buttons and tags. Remove the thin cover material on the underside of your box springs, a common hiding place, and look inside. If you have a headboard, footboard or bed frame, carefully inspect the corners, cracks and screw holes for bed bugs.

Bed bugs can hide in nearby bedroom furniture, baseboard heaters, window sills, curtains, nightstands and dressers. Remove the drawers and look inside in corners, in cracks, screw holes, and under each piece.

Using a flashlight and 10x magnifying glass can help to spot the small bugs in dark, tight areas.

Check upholstered furniture, sofas, and recliners. Look under cushions and the skirt of upholstered furniture. Turn upholstered furniture upside down and carefully look at the underside for signs of bed bugs. Look behind pictures and wall hangings. Inspect curtains or other window coverings.

Bed bugs can hide under carpet edges where carpets meet walls; if necessary, pull up the edge of wall-to-wall carpeting.

Examine loose wallpaper, cracks in plaster and walls. Inspect window and door casings, moldings. Bed bugs may hide behind baseboards and wood trim moldings. It may be necessary to remove these moldings to find hidden bed bugs.

Inspect throw rugs, electronics (TVs, radios, clocks, computers, CD players, DVD players) and especially clutter (books, papers, magazines, clothes).

How do I get rid of them?

Bed bugs are very difficult to get rid of because they are hard to find and kill. Making your home bed bug-free will take time and effort from you; the housing manager (if the home is a rental unit); and a pest control company.

The best way to eliminate bed bugs is early detection, regular cleaning and inspecting, and targeted pesticide use by a pest management professional. This includes regular cleaning and vacuuming, steaming to kill bed bugs, laundering and drying clothes on high heat, and precisely applied pesticides directly on bed bugs. Bed bugs are killed when they are sprayed directly; sprays that have dried are not very effective. Pesticides should only be used by Licensed Pesticide Control Operators (PCO).

Bed bug elimination is generally a 5 step process:

Step 1: Before the PCO arrives:

If you have bed bugs, wipe them up with a wet rag and crush them. Mild soap and water will also remove bed bugs and eggs, but not necessarily kill them. The key to cleaning is detailed-oriented cleaning: simply dousing an area with soapy water will not help control bed bugs. Dirty wash and rinse water may be placed in a toilet and flushed down the sewer. You may also use a commercial steamer using "dry steam"steamer to kill the bed bugs and eggs, just be careful not to use too much pressure and blow them away before killing them. Steam will also kill the eggs. Vacuuming will also reduce large numbers of bedbugs quickly. Be careful not to spread the bed bugs to other areas of the house and properly dispose of the vacuum bag immediately after vacuuming to prevent the live bugs from crawling out of the vacuum. Seal used vacuum bag in a plastic bag and dispose it in an outside trash can.

Save a live bug sample in a zip-type sandwich bag. Coax the bug into a bag, gently flatten the bag to press out the air, and seal it completely. Have the sample inspected and the type of bug positively identified by a pest control operator. If you find bugs that do not look similar, save samples of the different bugs in separate bags. There may be bed bugs at different life stages, or there may be different types of bugs. The method of pest treatment will depends on what type of bug is present. A pest control operator will correctly identify the type of pest(s) present before they recommend a method of treatment.

Step 2: Obtain the services of a Pest Control Operator (PCO):

You will most likely need a PCO to help you eliminate a bed bug infestation, especially in a multi-family setting. Success requires knowledge and experience in finding infested areas (including neighboring units) and using a combination of control methods to eliminate them. Elimination methods will include a combination of non-chemical and chemical controls available only to a licensed pest control operator. A PCO will give instructions on how to prepare for an inspection and treatment of a dwelling unit. Follow the PCO's instructions. Failure to do so could potentially spread the infestation to other areas within the home or to adjacent units. There are many non-chemical measures available to help eliminate bed bugs. A PCO will ask for your help in eliminating the infestation. You may be asked to vacuum floors, beds and furniture, launder linens and clothes, and install mattress and box spring encasements, and remove clutter.

Step 3: Remove clutter (as directed by the PCO):

Clutter provides bed bugs a place to hide. Remove all clutter. Follow the PCO's directions to prevent spreading bed bugs. In the future, keep everything off the floor including old magazines, books, clothes, and keepsakes. Discard all unnecessary and unneeded items. Do not store things under or around the bed. Place all discarded items in plastic bags and place them in the outside trash where someone else will not get them.

Step 4: Clean (as directed by the PCO):

Clean areas where bed bugs are likely to hide. Use soap and warm water on surfaces that will not be damaged by moisture. Clean or vacuum bedding, linens, curtains, rugs, carpets, and clothes. Wash items in hot water and dry them on the highest dryer setting. Items that cannot be washed (like wool or fabrics that may shrink, stuffed animals or shoes) may be placed in a dryer on high heat for 30 minutes. Check to make sure high heat will not damage these items.

Dry cleaning will kill bed bugs but you must deliver clothes in a sealed plastic bag and inform the dry cleaner the items may be infested with bed bugs. Some dry cleaners may refuse infested items because they could escape and be taken home by other customers.

Scrub mattress seams and stitching along the mattress edge with a stiff brush to dislodge bed bugs and their eggs. Vacuum by scraping the seams and stitching with the crevice tool attachment, or while using a stiff brush to loosen eggs. Vacuum mattresses, bed frames, furniture, floors and carpets. Pay special attention to cracks, corners and hiding places.

After cleaning the mattress and box spring, cover them with bed bug proof mattress and box spring covers (encasements) that have been tested and proven to control bed bugs. These tight fitting bags keep bed bugs from getting into or out of a mattress or box spring and must be bed bug proof and rip-resistant. Good quality encasements cost more than $50 from online companies or linen stores. Avoid plastic encasements that are uncomfortable and may tear easily. Tightly zip the encasements closed so that bed bugs do not crawl through a gap at the end of the zipper. Leave the encasements on for a minimum of one year.

Independently tested bed bug-proof brand mattress and box spring encasements can be found on the web by doing a search on "mattress encasements". Box springs are structurally more complex and have more hiding places than a mattress; encase the box springs if only one cover can be purchased.

Vacuum carpets, especially along edges and where the carpets meets the walls.

Step 5: Disposal:

Prevent the spread of bed bugs. Do not resell or donate infested furniture or clothing. If you throw infested furniture away, make it unusable by destroying it or slashing the upholstery. Seal infested items in plastic bags before moving to prevent spreading bed bugs on the way to the outside trash. Spray paint or mark discarded items "Infested with bed bugs!"

After vacuuming, immediately place the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of it in an outdoor trash container. Bed bugs can crawl out of vacuum cleaner bags.

Discard infested items that cannot be cleaned. If you decide to dispose of your mattress or box springs, wrap and seal them tightly in plastic before carrying them outside. Mark them with the words "Bed Bugs" to prevent someone else taking them home.

If I have bed bugs, how can I sleep at night?

If you have bed bugs it is not necessary to get rid of your mattress or box springs. Encasements will prevent bed bugs from hiding in your mattress and box springs, but if you have bed bugs in other places, they can still crawl into your bed. Pesticides should not be applied to the top of mattresses, sofas or other items where people have close contact. A bed bug proof encasement protects mattresses and box springs without pesticides.

Create a bed bug free island after washing bedding, disinfecting the bed frame, slats, and head and foot board, and use interceptors. Interceptors are placed under the legs of the bed to trap and keep bed bugs from crawling between the bed and the floor. Interceptors help confirm that an infestation is gone when there are no longer trapped bed bugs.

Keep the bed away from walls and bedding off the floor so that the bed and bedding do not touch the floor or walls, and do not put clothes or other items on the bed; these give bed bugs a way to climb into your bed.

Do I need a pest control company?

Using a combination of non-pesticide techniques and a precisely placed application of pesticides is the most effective and practical way to eliminate a bed bug infestation.

To completely eliminate bed bugs, it will most likely be necessary to contact a pest control company. A resident or homeowner using only non-chemical treatment methods may notice they're not effective or efficient enough to be able to eliminate or even control this pest. A resident should never use pesticides to treat for bed bugs because of the risk of spreading the infestation to other areas.

Will a pest control company use pesticides?

Pesticides will be used, as needed, in combination with other non-chemical treatment methods. However, using only pesticides to eliminate bed bugs is not effective enough to eliminate this pest.

Non-chemical treatments methods include:

clutter removal
keep non-infested items in sealed plastic bags during the treatment period
keep infested items in sealed plastic bags until they are treated
use of interceptors and barriers to prevent movement of bed bugs
use of soap and water to clean items not damaged by moisture
hot water laundering and high heat drying of washable items
use of dissolvable laundry bags for infested items
use of steam on hard-to-reach and hard to clean areas
use of mattress and box spring encasements
vacuuming visible bed bugs and disposing of live bed bugs
ambient heat treatments to 130º to 140ºF by using approved external heat sources, fans and recording thermometers to heat all items in the infested area

Can I apply pesticides myself?

NO. General use or 'over the counter' pesticides are not effective in killing or eliminating bed bugs. Even pesticides available only to licensed professionals have limited effectiveness. Bed bugs have developed resistance to certain pesticides. Using pesticides incorrectly can make the problem worse by causing insects to scatter and move into walls, hard to reach places and other parts of the home.

Do not use bug bombs or foggers - they do not work against bed bugs and spread hazardous chemicals throughout your home.

What pest control company should I hire?

Indoor pest control companies operating in King County must have proof of insurance and have a current registration with Public Health - Seattle & King County. Call 206-263-9566 or find registered businesses at: www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/pco.aspx

Take the time to look for a pest control company with experience finding and treating bed bug infestations before they use a pesticide as part of their control program. Cost is not always the best reason to hire a company.

When deciding on which pest control company to use, here are some questions to ask:

Do your staff members have a pesticide applicators license?In addition to being registered in King County, all professionals applying restricted pesticides must be licensed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Ask for a copy of their Pest Applicator's License or call the Washington State Department of Agriculture at 877-301-4555, or check their license at: http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/LicensingEd/Search
Do you inspect the dwelling for bed bugs?The answer should be yes, they will inspect and positively identify that the dwelling has bed bugs before they recommend and proceed with any type of treatment method.
How I should prepare for a bed bug inspection?The company should be able to specifically describe how you should prepare for their inspection and treatment including general cleaning and removal of clutter. Be aware that extensive cleaning may disrupt and scatter any bed bugs.
How long do inspections take?
A thorough inspection can take 1 to 4 hours or more depending on the extent of the infestation and the amount of clutter. Inspections confirm that there is an infestation by finding live bed bugs and should provide the pest control operator information on how best to treat problem. A severe infestation can be confirmed in a matter of minutes.
Do you use a HEPA vacuum or dry steam to kill hidden bed bugs and their eggs?
Pest professionals should use a non-pesticide method like vacuuming or steam to kill bed bugs and eggs before using pesticides. The pest control company should be able to describe both chemical and non-chemical control methods they normally use. Avoid companies that only use chemicals or pesticides to treat for bed bugs.
Do you locate and eliminate bed bug hiding places?
The pest professional should know how to locate hiding areas, how to clean and seal cracks and holes to eliminate hiding places. Pest companies may not do this and leave cleaning and prevention to the homeowner or building manager. Pest professionals can advise you on when and how to eliminate hiding places.
How do you decide where to spray?
The pest professional will identify where bed bugs are hiding and should spray in those areas only. Pesticides should not be applied randomly throughout your home or to the top of mattresses, sofas or other items where people have close contact.
Do you talk about safety issues?
Pest professionals must inform residents about the hazards of the chemicals they use, especially where there are children or expecting parents. They should describe where chemicals will be used, how to avoid contact, and when it is safe to enter treated areas.
Do you provide MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) or other safety information to customers on the specific chemicals you use?
You can ask the pest professional to provide you with an information sheet (MSDS or other safety sheet) for each pesticide they plan to use before the treatment is performed. If you are concerned that you or your belongings may react to or be affected by the chemical or treatment, discuss this with the pest professional in advance to see what precautions to take or whether there are safer pesticides, or alternative treatments methods he or she can use. The pest professional should be able to confirm that the chemicals are registered for bed bug use, both federally and with the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
Do you schedule return visits to make sure bed bugs are eliminated?
It usually takes several visits (at least two or three) over several weeks to inspect, treat and eliminate bed bugs. Afterwards, you will still need to monitor for bed bugs returning.
Are infested areas retreated with pesticides whether or not bed bugs are seen?
Pest professionals may treat cracks and other hiding places, but if no bed bugs are visible, avoid the use of pesticide sprays. Bed bugs are killed when they are sprayed directly; sprays that have dried are not effective. Dusts approved for bed bugs may placed in inaccessible areas like wall voids and cracks. Visible dusts should be removed before the room is occupied.

How can I prevent infestations?

Change your bedding, pick up clutter, clean and vacuum and at least twice a month. Weekly is even better. Look for bed bugs while you clean especially around the edge of the mattress and the box spring. A careful inspection of these areas will help prevent bed bugs from becoming established and catch infestations early. An early infestation is easier and cheaper to treat than an established population of bed bugs.
Check all used items you bring into your home carefully for bed bugs and eggs. Inspect all used furniture, mattresses or box springs, bedding, and used clothing and books. Remember: eggs and the immature bed bugs are very small and easily overlooked.
Stay clutter free. Remove boxes and other stored items in bedrooms. Keep your bed bug-free by keeping it away from walls. Keep bedding from touching the floor and keep clothing and other items off the bed.
Clean regularly and eliminate hiding places. Seal cracks, crevices, and hiding places. This will also discourage movement of bed bugs from one place to another. Repair and seal cracks in plaster, walls, and baseboards; repair or remove loose wallpaper.

Other helpful hints:

If you use interceptors, inspect them regularly to see if there are trapped bed bugs.
If you buy a new bed, covering the new mattress and box spring with new encasements and placing interceptors under the bed legs will help prevent possible infestations in the future.

How can I keep bed bugs out of my home?

When you travel, ask your hotel about their bed bug inspection policy. Inspect your hotel bed as soon as you arrive - lift off the bed sheets, and check sheets and mattress edges for bugs or dark fecal dropping spots. If you see any signs, inform the hotel. Consider moving to another room or changing hotels.

Immediately after trips, wash clothing and inspect luggage and shoes. Thoroughly vacuum luggage inside and out before storing. Use a dry scrub brush to remove bed bug eggs that may be present. You can also seal the luggage in a plastic bag for at least a year. Any eggs or bed bugs hidden in the luggage will hatch and the bed bugs will die without feeding.

Inspect and clean used furniture, clothing and books for bed bugs before bringing it into your home. Don't take home discarded bed frames, mattresses, box springs, or upholstered furniture.

Pill Could Join Arsenal Against Bedbugs

2013-01-17T11:23:00.004-08:00

Volunteers who let their arms be bitten in the name of science.

THE HYPOTHESIS

A common deworming drug can be used to kill bedbugs.

THE INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Johnathan M. Sheele, Eastern Virginia Medical School

It was a visit to a cousin in New York City two years ago that inspired Thang D. Tran, a medical student at Eastern Virginia Medical School, to volunteer to become a human booby trap in the war on bedbugs.

Douglas A. GardnerWARRIOR Dr. Johnathan M. Sheele, an emergency medicine specialist, in his lab at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

“She told me everyone in New York was scared of bedbugs,” he said of his cousin. So when Dr. Johnathan M. Sheele, an emergency medicine specialist at his school, asked for volunteers to test a new way of killing the pests, Mr. Tran raised his arm. Soon, it was covered with itchy welts.

Dr. Sheele’s study, released at a tropical medicine convention in November, unveiled a possible new superweapon against Cimex lectularius: a deworming pill.

You take the pill and go to bed — perchance even to sleep, if you can sleep knowing how patiently bedbugs wait in your walls or mattress, sniffing for the sweet stream of your exhaled carbon dioxide and for your warm skin to grow still. You let them bite you. And then — in a few days — they die.

The technique is known as xenointoxication, which sounds like intergalactic beer pong but in medical pathology is Greek for “poisoning the guest.” In Dr. Sheele’s study, over 60 percent of the bedbugs died after volunteers like Mr. Tran took a single pill. Bigger or more regular doses might improve the lethality.

And it’s not as if the drug is rare and dangerous. It’s already in thousands of American households: ivermectin, the active ingredient in the beef-flavored Heartgard Chewables that kill heartworm in dogs.

(For humans, the brand name is Stromectol, and it is available by prescription only, usually for travelers who pick up worms overseas, or toddlers who get them from playing in sandboxes used by dogs.)

Ivermectin is also very safe. Millions of doses have been given to African children to kill the worms that cause river blindness. Many Papua New Guineans get double doses to kill scabies. One early study of the drug found that up to 10 times the normal dose was safe.

Eastern Virginia Medical SchoolThe bitten arm of the study’s leader, Dr. Johnathan M. Sheele.

Ivermectin attacks a type of “gated chloride channel” in the nerves of insects that does not exist in mammals.

Dr. Sheele is not advising bedbug-tormented Americans to start eating Fido’s worm tablets. With only four volunteers, his study was tiny and preliminary, he emphasized. Neither the Food and Drug Administration nor any medical society has approved using ivermectin this way, and no one yet knows what the ideal anti bedbug dose is.

But ivermectin experts say his idea isn’t crazy.

“Maybe partially crazy,” said Dr. Peter J. Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. “But not entirely crazy.”

Dr. Hotez’s hesitation is mostly that bedbugs, unlike body lice and worms,do not cause disease, so xenointoxication seems heavy-handed.

But many Americans, including many New Yorkers, are so terrified of the bugs that they have spent thousands of dollars fighting them, so ivermectin could be cost-effective.

Brian D. Foy, a virologist at Colorado State University’s veterinary school, has shown that it also kills mosquitoes, and so could be used against malaria. His initial reaction to using it against bedbugs was that he thought it would be easier to clean one’s house and throw out one’s mattress.

“But maybe that’s just my ignorance about bedbugs,” he admitted. “We don’t have them out here in Colorado.”

(Local news reports do not back him up on that.)

“Needless to say,” he correctly pointed out, “this isn’t going to solve the problem of bedbugs in hotel rooms.”

Dr. Sheele speculated that ivermectin might be best used in combination with current measures like pesticides, desiccant powders, mattress covers, heat treatment, steaming and vacuuming. While it might not work alone, it could give exterminators a head start.

Dr. Frank O. Richards Jr., a parasitologist at the Carter Center in Atlanta who has spent years running programs in Africa and Asia that give out ivermectin donated by Merck to fight river blindness, said he was “excited to see how this plays out.” Americans might be initially squeamish about deworming pills, he said, but the country does have “a lot of worried rich people who don’t like bug bites.”

He has tracked women in his river-blindness programs who took ivermectin before realizing they were pregnant, he said, “and all their babies were cool.”Nonetheless, he said, even though one 2002 study found a huge dose to be safe, which theoretically means that multiple small ones also would be, “as a physician, I’d be very concerned about an off-label use like that.”

“If I gave that out, and something happened,” he continued, “I would not have a leg to stand on in court.”

Because each bug feeds only occasionally, he said, “I don’t buy that a week would do the trick. I think you’re going to need two, three, four weeks. And that’s concerning. We don’t have any toxicity data like that.”

Like Dr. Sheele, he favors more testing of multiple doses.

Ivermectin is not cheap. In the United States, a typical adult dose of Stromectol is about $40, and no generic version is sold legally. A year’s supply of Heartgard for a big dog can cost more than $100.

But, Dr. Sheele said, that pales beside the price of multiple visits by a team of exterminators.

He got interested in bedbugs, he said, because they plagued so many of his Norfolk, Va., emergency room patients.

“I even had one patient come in with a baggie full of them,” he said. “As a physician, there’s nothing you can do for them except give them Benadryl and steroids for the itching.”

He knew about ivermectin’s power to kill skin parasites because he had done a fellowship in international emergency medicine, he said.

His school provided financing but was nervous about letting him officially import bedbugs to campus, so he had to borrow the lab of a tick researcher at Old Dominion University. (Mr. Tran remembers it as humid and redolent of lab rats.)

Eastern Virginia Medical School also wanted animal studies before he recruited medical students, so he dosed mice first; in that case, 86 percent of the bedbugs died.

Now he hopes to find support for a full-fledged clinical trial.

And he is working on a new project: If xenointoxication kills bedbugs, he surmised, how about ticks?

The parasite-host relationship isn’t as predictable as it is between bedbugs and their dinner. But the stakes are higher, since ticks carry serious diseases like Lyme and babesiosis.

“It could be interesting for people who have to spend a lot of time in the woods — like soldiers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tran and An Teng, another medical student and study participant, are enjoying their new notoriety.

“My friends were completely grossed out that I let myself be bitten,” said Mr. Tran, whose rash from the bites lasted for a month. “But working on something so relevant to society caught my attention.”

The Most Commonly Asked Bedbug Questions ANSWERED (PHOTOS)

2013-01-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

If My Colleague Has Bedbugs, Will I Get Them?

Sometimes there is a stigma associated with having bedbugs, so not everyone is going to share if they are currently experiencing a bedbug infestation. This is why it is always good to be aware of your working environment regarding bedbugs and any other pests that you might take home.

If you have a relationship with a colleague who is dealing with an infestation, ask them if they are currently being treated by a licensed pest control company. Speak with your supervisor and/or human resources department and request a certified bedbug inspection of your office as a precautionary measure. It is also a great idea to carry an over-the-counter spray such as Pronto Plus. These types of sprays kill the bedbugs and their eggs on contact and can be used around your office, work station, at a hotel during business travel and even your car. A bedbug infestation in the workplace is a concern for not only you and your family, but all of your colleagues in the office.

What If I Open A Box From The Mail And One Falls Out?

Remove both the bedbug and the box from your home. Thoroughly vacuum the area where this happened and clean it with warm, soapy water. After the area is dry, use an over-the-counter bedbug spray around the room in which the sighting occurred. Remember to always follow the label. Lastly, phone the company that sent you the package and make them aware of your findings. For future security, call a professional to inspect your home to make sure an infestation did not occur.

What If I Ate At A Restaurant Or At A Friend's House That Was Later Revealed To Be Infested?

If you find yourself in this situation it is best to have a certified inspection team visit your home to determine if you carried any bedbug eggs or live bedbugs into your home. If you see a bedbug while in one of these locations, remove all of your clothing/items before you enter your own home. Wash the items you were wearing immediately in hot water and dry them in the dryer. Do not place your clothes in the hamper. If you need to wait to wash the items, it is best to put them directly in an airtight, plastic bag. It is also a good measure to spray your car with an over-the-counter spray.

What If I Wake Up In A Hotel Room With Bites?

Call the hotel management and make them aware of your bites. They then should have a certified inspector check your room for bedbugs. Sometimes bedbug bites can be confused for other insects, such as mosquito bites. Regardless of the result, it is best to have your clothing washed prior to bringing anything home. Spray your luggage inside and out with a preventive bedbug spray that is EPA certified. Make sure the spray kills both the bugs and their eggs.

How Do I Know If My Office, Home, Dorm Room Or Even Child's Day Care Has An Infestation?

The best advice when visiting places where you live, eat or work is to keep an eye out for anything that looks like a bedbug and to inspect yourself and your family for bedbug bites. Bedbugs are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals including humans and pets. They do not fly and are carried or transferred by crawling from person-to-person and material-to-material. Their eggs are very small, about the size of a poppy seed. Their larvae are the size of a grain of rice. Adult bedbugs are about a quarter of an inch long, reddish-brown in color, and fairly flat. They live in dark crevices, such as those in mattresses and bed frames. They can also live in other furniture, openings in the floor, or in carpeting.

Even if you do not see any signs of actual bugs, their eggs, or larvae, it is still good to check for bites. When it comes to a child's daycare, check the mattresses used at naptime and speak openly with the school director about whether they have preventative measures in place to protect against this epidemic. It is also helpful to do some research on mattress and box spring encasements, such as Protect-A-Bed encasements. Encasements help ensure that bedbugs or other pests will be kept out.

What If I Can't Afford A Pricey Dog Sniffer/Exterminator?

It is always best to seek concrete answers to your bedbug questions from a certified expert. My company, GotchA! Bedbugs Inspectors, doesn't sell you a service--we are consultants. We guide you through the process by educating you to make the best possible choice for your current situation, if you actually have a bedbug problem. Should we detect an infestation, we can help prepare your home, office etc., and discuss your options for determining a solution that will eradicate your specific problem.

Overall, one should work with a certified company and ask if they can offer a payment plan. You should also know if the company personally trained with their bedbug sniffing dog. You might also be surprised at how affordable a K-9 bedbug inspection is. If your infestation is not severe you can also use an over-the-counter product that is preventative and will also treat your current infestation.

How Do I Use Over-The-Counter Option

My company offers a detection service and prepares residential and commercial properties for a licensed pest control company to come and eradicate bedbug infestations. If you would rather try to treat your pest problem on your own, there are many products on the market that you can use. However, since some work and some don't, I recommend doing your research. First, determine if you even have bedbugs. If so, read up on the "do-it-yourself" products on the market and make sure they are approved by your state's pesticide regulatory departments. Always follow the instructions as per the label--you never want to use a product if you are not sure what you are dealing with.

I frequently recommend an over-the-counter spray, such as Pronto Plus, that is EPA certified to kill the bedbug and their eggs. The most common issue with over-the-counter use vs. professional is misuse of the product. If the product is not used as indicated on the label and sprayed in the specific areas we consider "Hot Zones," it is not likely to completely eradicate an infestation. It is important to use an over-the-counter spray in accordance to the specific instructions, as well as to repeat use every 14 days to ensure the infestation is eradicated.

What Steps Should I Take If I Purchased Clothing From An Infested Store?

If you've purchased clothing from a store that was found to have bedbugs, there are several steps you should take. If the clothing is still in the bag, take it outside your home and wash it at a laundromat. Be sure to use detergent and wash in warm water. Also dry the item thoroughly on high heat. If it is a dry-cleaning-only item, it is best to take it to a professional dry cleaner. If you have placed the item in your dresser or closet, it is best to vacuum the closet and do your own inspection to see if you identify any live bed bugs on the clothing. You can take it a step further by washing all clothing that was in the closet or dresser with the infested item.

Next, call a professional to inspect your home. A K-9 inspector will pinpoint exactly where bedbug eggs and/or live bedbugs are living. That will give you the reassurance of identifying an infestation stage early on, rather than waking up with bites before you realize you have a problem. You can also use an over-the-counter spray in the area after you removed all of your belongings and vacuumed.

How Can I Protect Myself And My Family When I Travel?

It is always important to keep your eyes open when renting a car, shopping or sleeping in a hotel. Automobiles are usually not areas that should cause you great concern. You can use an over-the-counter spray if you would like as a preventative measure. There is one coming to market in 3-ounce travel size for this very use. If you are traveling and staying in a hotel, make sure you keep your clothing inside your luggage and use the luggage stand to hold your luggage. Try not to use the drawers or the closet in the hotel room. Check your bedding before going to sleep, paying close attention to mattress seams, headboards and box springs. Look for any stained spots you might find on the sheets, pillowcases and comforters.

Carry a preventive spray with you that you can check in to the hotel to spray your room with. Again, always follow the instructions on the label. If you find something in your hotel room that causes alarm, call hotel management and express your concerns immediately. If there is an infestation, you will want to follow the same steps noted in the above and take care of your items before bringing them back into your home.

Bed Bug FAQs

2013-01-05T08:33:00.003-08:00

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, flat, parasitic insects that feed solely on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, wingless, range from 1mm to 7mm (roughly the size of Lincoln’s head on a penny), and can live several months without a blood meal.

Where are bed bugs found?

Bed bugs are found across the globe from North and South America, to Africa, Asia and Europe. Although the presence of bed bugs has traditionally been seen as a problem in developing countries, it has recently been spreading rapidly in parts of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe. Bed bugs have been found in five-star hotels and resorts and their presence is not determined by the cleanliness of the living conditions where they are found.

Bed bug infestations usually occur around or near the areas where people sleep. These areas include apartments, shelters, rooming houses, hotels, cruise ships, buses, trains, and dorm rooms. They hide during the day in places such as seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, dresser tables, inside cracks or crevices, behind wallpaper, or any other clutter or objects around a bed. Bed bugs have been shown to be able to travel over 100 feet in a night but tend to live within 8 feet of where people sleep.

Do bed bugs spread disease?

Bed bugs should not be considered as a medical or public health hazard. Bed bugs are not known to spread disease. Bed bugs can be an annoyance because their presence may cause itching and loss of sleep. Sometimes the itching can lead to excessive scratching that can sometimes increase the chance of a secondary skin infection.

What health risks do bed bugs pose?

A bed bug bite affects each person differently. Bite responses can range from an absence of any physical signs of the bite, to a small bite mark, to a serious allergic reaction. Bed bugs are not considered to be dangerous; however, an allergic reaction to several bites may need medical attention.

What are the signs and symptoms of a bed bug infestation?

One of the easiest ways to identify a bed bug infestation is by the tell-tale bite marks on the face, neck, arms, hands, or any other body parts while sleeping. However, these bite marks may take as long as 14 days to develop in some people so it is important to look for other clues when determining if bed bugs have infested an area. These signs include:

the bed bugs’ exoskeletons after molting,
bed bugs in the fold of mattresses and sheets,
rusty–colored blood spots due to their blood-filled fecal material that they excrete on the mattress or nearby furniture, and
a sweet musty odor.

How do I know if I’ve been bitten by a bed bug?

It is hard to tell if you’ve been bitten by a bed bug unless you find bed bugs or signs of infestation. When bed bugs bite, they inject an anesthetic and an anticoagulant that prevents a person from realizing they are being bitten. Most people do not realize they have been bitten until bite marks appear anywhere from one to several days after the initial bite. The bite marks are similar to that of a mosquito or a flea -- a slightly swollen and red area that may itch and be irritating. The bite marks may be random or appear in a straight line. Other symptoms of bed bug bites include insomnia, anxiety, and skin problems that arise from profuse scratching of the bites.

Because bed bug bites affect everyone differently, some people may have no reaction and will not develop bite marks or any other visible signs of being bitten. Other people may be allergic to the bed bugs and can react adversely to the bites. These allergic symptoms can include enlarged bite marks, painful swellings at the bite site, and, on rare occasions, anaphylaxis.

How did I get bed bugs?

Bed bugs are experts at hiding. Their slim flat bodies allow them to fit into the smallest of spaces and stay there for long periods of time, even without a blood meal. Bed bugs are usually transported from place to place as people travel. The bed bugs travel in the seams and folds of luggage, overnight bags, folded clothes, bedding, furniture, and anywhere else where they can hide. Most people do not realize they are transporting stow-away bed bugs as they travel from location to location, infecting areas as they travel.

Who is at risk for getting bed bugs?

Everyone is at risk for getting bed bugs when visiting an infected area. However, anyone who travels frequently and shares living and sleeping quarters where other people have previously slept has a higher risk of being bitten and or spreading a bed bug infestation.

How are bed bugs treated and prevented?

Bed bug bites usually do not pose a serious medical threat. The best way to treat a bite is to avoid scratching the area and apply antiseptic creams or lotions and take an antihistamine. Bed bug infestations are commonly treated by insecticide spraying. If you suspect that you have an infestation, contact your landlord or professional pest control company that is experienced with treating bed bugs. The best way to prevent bed bugs is regular inspection for the signs of an infestation.

Bed Bugs: Questions and Answers

2013-01-05T08:30:00.002-08:00

Are bed bug attacks a sign of dirty living conditions or living in older homes/building, or is anybody at risk? Infestations of common bed bugs, Cimex lectularius L., are not directly related to sanitation levels. The cleanest living area can have a very large infestation , and improving sanitation alone will not eliminate an established bed bug population. Cluttered conditions can offer the bugs a lot of excellent harborages very near their human blood-meal hosts. Almost anyone is at risk of having an infestation if bed bugs are brought into their home.

Can you get anything serious from a bed bug bite? Are there physical/physiological effects if you are living with bed bugs? According to scientists, naturally occurring populations (infestations) of common bed bugs have been documented to have at least 28 different kinds of human pathogens in their bodies. However, very careful and detailed studies by both entomologists and medical doctors have never shown that those bed bugs could transmit (infect) even one of those pathogens to humans or lab animals. They simply have not been shown to transmit any human disease known so far.

When a bed bug feeds, it injects saliva into its blood-meal host, and that saliva contains several proteins which can routinely cause an allergic response from most hosts. The severity and timing of those reactions depends on the bitten person’s immune response to the salivary allergens, and they can vary greatly from one individual to another.Typical reactions to bed bug bites usually include some level of local reddening, minor swelling, inflammation and itching (which can be very intense, and can sometimes recur without another bed bug bite) at each bite site. A person being repeatedly bitten by bed bugs can be very uncomfortable, develop lots of reddish, itchy welts (at bite sites) and often have difficulty sleeping. The more bugs present, the more bites they inflict, and the worse the problems usually become (tending to be progressive as the bug numbers increase – usually rapidly). Also, some people can be significantly affected by the social stigma of having a bed bug infestation in their home.

If you are a home owner and have an infestation, and you do all the preliminary cleaning and self-help steps, is an exterminator really necessary? Are there sprays/home cures? Most people who work in urban pest control in the U.S. would prefer to be called Pest Management Professionals (PMPs) rather than exterminators. Unfortunately (as stated above), cleaning alone will not usually have much impact on an established bed bug population. Successful programs to eliminate these bugs require detailed knowledge of their biology and exact harborage (hiding) locations determined by thorough inspection. PMPs must also know a lot about the strategies, techniques and products which can be used effectively, safely, and legally to control bed bugs. The vast majority of laymen could not expect to effectively control even a very small and localized infestation; and they probably could not even tell if their efforts had any impact. Under current conditions, the use of some kind of residual (long lasting), properly labeled insecticide is needed to effectively control bed bugs in the U.S., and any practical control effort could not be carried out without use of such a product. The U.S. EPA-approved insecticide products that are currently labeled against bed bugs must still be used properly and applied at the proper sites (in the proper formulations and concentrations) to be effective. No “home cures” I have encountered so far have much affect at all against bed bugs. Regardless of any specific material used, self-help efforts seldom have a noticeable impact because individuals do not have the background knowledge or technical support needed.

Why are the bugs hard to kill? Common bed bugs are small, thin, and can hide deep in very narrow cracks. They are mainly active at night. They will routinely travel as far as a 20-foot radius from their hiding places (and back) in one night to take a blood meal. Bed bugs are very adaptable. They move much quicker, and can pass through much smaller openings or cracks, than most people expect. Even Ph.D. entomologists who work with live bed bugs for the first time are often surprised. Bed bugs can detect (and often avoid) chemical deposits such as some cleaning agents. Adult bed bugs can live longer than a whole year without feeding and most currently labeled insecticides used against them in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia, do not last more than one to three months when applied by a well-trained and competent PMP. In addition, there are reports in older literature that state that certain populations of bed bugs have developed physiological resistance to specific chemical insecticides in past, making these products ineffective. Although such true resistance has not been documented or reported against any currently labeled and commonly used insecticides, it could be developing in field populations and it should be screened for by professional diagnostic labs. Such testing (screening) in North America and Europe has only recently begun and has been very limited, so far.

If you don’t have an infestation in your home, are there things you can do to prevent one? Take steps to try to avoid picking up bed bugs from hotels, hostels or any other sources when you or your family members travel, even to local destinations (e.g., within the same or a nearby city). Do not buy used furniture (especially bedding items or upholstered items), or at least do not bring them into your home until you, or a competent expert, have inspected them carefully for any signs of bed bugs (live or dead bed bugs, their eggs, fecal spots, or cast skins). Also consider covering all of your mattresses and box springs with a plastic cover which you can seal shut to prevent such pests from getting into them (or to permanently trap any already there). Periodically inspect bedding and other places in your home which are typical harborage sites for bed bugs. No control efforts (or products) are needed unless an infestation is detected and verified by an expert. If an infestation is confirmed, it is wise to consider contracting with a properly licensed, trained, and experienced (with bed bug control) local PMP or company. They should help with effective and thorough inspections, to provide you with information you may want, and to carry out any needed control effort under a suitable contract. Be sure to ask any questions you may have before you sign a control contract. Web sites of several Co-Operative Extension offices (at the state government level) and Universities, as well as trade associations (like the NPMA), and urban pests management (often called ‘pest control’) trade journals, currently offer fairly good, informative and balanced fact sheets and additional information on bed bugs. Educating yourself can be quite helpful and re-assuring.

How would one go about avoiding them at hotels? Inspecting fairly thoroughly for signs of bed bugs when you first arrive in a room can be very helpful. Include checking the bedding (especially near any attached type of bed headboard), the luggage holding rack, night stands by any bed (remember to check underneath and inside drawers if possible), closet shelves, dresser drawers, and along carpet edges under and near (e.g., within about 5 feet of) any bed. Report any evidence of bed bugs to the management immediately for their corrective actions. Just moving to a different room may not be the total answer. You should repeat the thorough inspection of any new or different room you are offered. When you pack to leave, inspect your luggage carefully first, and inspect every item as you pack to help detect any bugs or their signs. Laundering most cloth items with typical hot water and detergent followed by drying on low heat for at least 20 minutes (or standard dry cleaning) should kill all bed bugs in or on such items. Sealing freshly-laundered items inside a plastic bag should help keep any more bed bugs from getting in those items later to hide (and be carried back with you). Initially detecting and then excluding the bugs is the usually best strategy.

Bed bugs were almost eradicated years ago – why are they back these days? Many factors probably have contributed to this apparently sudden bed bug resurgence. It is hard to say any one factor is the most important in every situation. A few of the most probable factors include: much more rapid travel over greater distances on both a local and global scale (e.g., flying to or from Europe, Africa, Asia, etc., or any closer destination, in less than 24 hrs.); much less current overall public and PMP knowledge about these bugs, their biology and effective control strategies (i.e., many PMPs in developed countries have only begun trying to learn about and control bed bugs in the last 3-5 years); changes in available properly-labeled insecticides to less toxic, less persistent, chemical active ingredients and formulations; and some construction practices and furniture design choices in hotels, motels, and homes. Grossly ineffective self-help “control” practices which probably help spread infestations include: throwing out infested furniture (without any inspection or treatment to try to remove the bed bugs present) which is often picked up by someone else for their own use; leaving a room vacant for a few days as a means of getting rid of bed bugs present (this does not work and may make them migrate and spread out to find a blood meal); very inadequate partial or spot treatments by occupants of infested rooms or homes (even the use of most kinds of total-release aerosols or “bug bombs” is very ineffective); and placing infested items outdoors in either hot sun (by day) or below freezing temperatures (overnight) to kill infesting bed bugs (both of which are generally not effective).

The story is on 'Dateline' and all over local news all over. It has even been called the “scourge of America.” Is the threat as bad as it appears? It may not be quite as bad as that, but there is no doubt that bed bug infestations are being reported more often and from more and more places world wide.Currently, controlling bed bugs in most situations is certainly not a simple or easy thing to do. It requires considerable time, technical knowledge, and assistance by occupants or property managers for the most competent and best trained and experienced PMPs to effectively eliminate established bed bug infestations. Occupant compliance, especially regarding reducing clutter, making infested spots fully accessible for inspection and treatment is crucial for successful bed bug control. Under the best of situations, at least two separate visits by a PMP should be expected as a minimum. Thus the cost of technical labor, and related overall cost for control, is often higher than expected. Litigation is becoming a significant concern for the hospitality industry in the U.S. and abroad (you can check recent news stories for good examples). Personal discomfort and the distasteful aspect of “being bitten” by these bugs can be very significant on a personal level and must be considered a growing problem for the general public. There are also a few cases of true allergy (anaphylactic reactions) being infrequently reported, and as more people are bitten or exposed to the bugs, those cases should be expected to increase, too.

Do I Have Bed Bugs

2013-01-04T09:40:00.002-08:00

Bed bugs: do I have them? Are these bed bug bites?

What bed bugs (or bedbugs) look like depends partly on their life stage and whether they’ve just had a blood meal or not. You need to know that the adults are about the size of an apple seed, and the youngest nymphs can be the size of a speck of dirt. In other words, very difficult to see. The unfed nymphs are light-colored, whereas a bed bug that has fed will be red, rust, or brown in color.

They also hide well. They can be very thin (like a piece of paper) and can slip into cracks. They may be hiding in places you do not think anything can get into. Though they prefer to feed late at night (around 3-5 am seems to be ideal), they may bite you without your knowledge, during the night or day, in bed or while you sit in a chair or on a sofa. You can be bitten for months and months without seeing an actual bug dead or alive. And bed bug bites can be hard to identify, and can look like several other conditions–and they don’t look the same on everyone.

Here is a photo used with permission from Stephen L. Doggett, Senior Hospital Scientist in the Department of Medical Entomology at the University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital. This is their bed bug site. He’s also the principle author or the Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug Infestations in Australia,which can be downloaded from the same site. We thank Stephen L. Doggett for giving us permission to post this helpful photo!

Where can I learn more?

This is a highly informative PowerPoint presentation by Harold Harlan, a well-known bed bug researcher. You will be able to gain a lot from it even though it is obviously meant to accompany a presentation. Warning, if you click the following link, a PPT presentation will be downloaded. You need PowerPoint, or a compatible program, to view it. Harold Harlan’s PowerPoint.

These are some links to Bed Bug Fact Sheets from university extension services and entomology departments:

University of Sydney (warning: link will open PDF )

Harvard University Public Health site on Bed bugs and Harvard’s environmental services department’s Bed Bugs page (for photos of eggs, bugs and so on).

Armed Forces Pest Management Guide to Bed Bugs (written by Harold Harlan)

Here are some photos from Lou Sorkin–the set includes first instars, youngest hatched bed bugs, about 1 mm in size, feeding.

Other things that might be bothering you

Bed bugs are rapidly spreading right now, but these other closely related species may also be the source of your woes:

Bat Bugs (Wikipedia entry with photo). More bat, bird, rat bug information to come when we find it.

Less closely related are bird mites (U of Sydney page on bird mites) and scabies mites. Many of us are erroneously treated for scabies in the first instance; doctors can test for scabies and you should get them to do this before treatment if at all possible. You’ll be praying it’s scabies anyway, and hey, if you’re lucky, you’ll be right. (I wasn’t.)

It’s worth ruling out fleas (yes, even if you don’t have pets!) This Bedbugger.com FAQ on fleas explains how to detect fleas and gives helpful DIY trap and treatment ideas from some of our pest experts.

This PDF from the University of Kentucky outlines a number of insect and non-insect causes for unexplained itching. Click to load PDF.

Non-insect causes include: allergies to cosmetics, animals, chemicals of all kinds may cause similar symptoms. There will, obviously, be no bed bug feces, bugs, or cast of shells in this case. See dermatologist and/or allergist.

Hot-tub folliculitis: apparently time in a hot tub can lead to a special bacterial infection that also looks a bit like these other conditions. Again, see your doctor.

Delusional Parasitosis is a condition in which people think that insects are crawling on them and biting them, when they are not. Although this American Entomologist article by Nancy C. Hinkle is entitled “Delusory Parasitosis” (click here to load a PDF), it also outlines how very realenvironmental, physical, and other conditions can cause similar symptoms to a bed bug infestation, including itching, crawling sensations (formication), skin conditions and rashes. While it is true that people are occasionally mistakenly diagnosed with Delusory Parasitosis (and later discover their symptoms to have been caused by bed bugs or another cause), it is a common condition.

If you think you have bed bugs but have not got a bed bug specimen, you should take steps to verify whether you do have bed bugs or another medical, pharmaceutical, or environmental cause. Enlist the help of PCOs and entomologists in identifying any insects or cast-off shells you find. You should at the very least see some bed bug feces (which can appear as small black specks or sometimes stains on the bed). Experienced PCOs can often identify the presence of bed bugs by such evidence. In the absence of any bed bug evidence, be persistent about seeing your physician and preferably a dermatologist as well, until someone is able to help you.

Detecting Stealthy Bed Bugs

Many varieties of bed bug monitors are available now to help you (or your pest management professional) determine if you have bed bugs.

Active monitors actively attract bed bugs using Co2, heat, pheromones, or kairomones.

However, those options were quite costly. There are now much less expensive active monitors which still work to attract and trap bed bugs, for detection purposes.

“Detecting Bed Bugs Using Bed Bug Monitors,” written by Changlu Wang, outlines options for detecting bed bugs, including instructions on how to implement a DIY dry ice monitor Wang’s office developed. You can download it for free from the Rutgers website. Keep in mind, the dry ice monitor requires a certain level of knowledge (in handling dry ice) and dry ice can be costly and difficult to obtain.

Luckily, in March 2010, a brand new active bed bug monitor debuted, one which uses C02 like the dry ice DIY monitor mentioned above, but which is much easier to assemble and run, using refillable C02 pellets instead of dry ice. The Bed Bug Beacon, designed by David James (who also invented the Packtite and Bed Bug Blue) is also priced under $50, and you can refill the pellets cheaply for longer or repeated use.

Passive Monitors

You or your PCO may also decide to employ a passive or interceptor bed bug monitor. Right now, the most common are probably the Climbup Insect Interceptors and BBAlert Passive monitors.

Climbup (TM) Interceptors catch bed bugs which leave or climb onto the piece of furniture. You place disks under the legs of beds, sofas, chairs, etc. You can get a set of four for under $22, or a dozen for under $60. (Make sure you get one for every leg of the item you want to use them with.)
They will be a helpful detection device in many cases. And they are great for people who don’thave bed bugs yet, as they would detect bed bugs which come in to feed on you via attached apartments or houses. Note some complaints have come from people using these on thick carpeting, which may cause them to crack more easily.

If you want something to trap bed bugs climbing onto or off of the bed, but the ClimbUp Interceptor does not suit the design of your bed legs, the Bed Bug Barrier may be another option.

David Cain of bed-bugs.co.uk has designed a passive bed bug monitor which is now being marketed as the BBAlert Passive. It is designed to be attached to various types of beds and serves as an attractive harborage for bed bugs. When bed bugs harbor there, you will soon find fecal traces, cast skins, or even bed bugs upon routine inspection of the monitor. It can then be removed and placed in a sealed bag to be shown to a pest professional, landlord, etc.

Finally, canine scent detection dogs are now being trained to sniff out bed bugs. Canine scent detection can be an effective option. They are not 100% effective, but can be better than a human visual search. It is crucial to understand that training methods vary. Canine dog handlers should know how to carefully search for a bed bug or egg in the vicinity after a dog alerts. Otherwise, you have no way of verifying whether you might have a false positive.

If you think you have bed bugs, here are some dos and don’ts

2013-01-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

If you think you have bed bugs, here are some dos and don’ts

If you suspect there are bed bugs where you sleep, don’t begin sleeping in another bed, on the sofa. Do not go to stay with someone else. The bugs may follow you to your guest room or sofa, and then it will be much harder to get rid of them. They may hitch a ride to your relative’s home, and you can cause them to become infested. (All of these situations have happened to Bedbuggers we know.) Also, staying outside of your home means the bugs may become dormant. We’re told they may live without feeding for up to 18 months. When you come back, they can begin biting you again. So staying in your home during treatment, and sleeping in your usual bed, is the way to kill bed bugs. Isolate your bed, and sleep there while you’re getting a Pest Control Operator (PCO) to treat your home. Once you are being treated, you must remain in the bed–you are the bait, attracting bugs to the poison and their deaths. If you isolate the bed, they need not bite you.

Do save any bed bugs you find. Do not part with these– you may need to show them to landlords, pest control professionals, and so on. Entomologists at colleges or science museums in your town may identify these, and a pest control company can too. Pick it up with clear packing tape, and tape it to an index card. Don’t assume you’ll see lots of them, some people don’t.

Do rule out other possible conditions, like folliculitis, scabies, and bites from other insects. Suspected bed bug bites sometimes turn out to be one of these other conditions. Doctors cannot diagnose bed bug bites with any certainty. Be warned, though, that many of us are told by doctors that we do not have bed bugs, and later find they are wrong. Many of them have never seen bed bug bites, or have seen only some patients with them. Bed bug bites can range from large welts to small red bumps, to scabby pimple-type bumps.

Don’t assume you are the only one being bitten. Remember that some people do not react to bed bug bites at all. Bed bug bites are an allergic reaction, and reactions vary from nothing to serious allergic reactions.

Don’t start throwing your bed and other furniture out. You can cover and isolate the bed. (You may wish to wait until a PCO has started treating before covering the mattress in an encasement.) Most furniture, including mattresses and sofas, can be treated by a PCO, and you can ask the PCO if throwing them out is a good idea. And he or she can help you do it safely, so as not to spread the bugs around your home or building, and so that others do not pick up infested items.

Don’t start buying a load of chemicals and treating yourself. Yes, sometimes supplementing a PCO’s work makes sense, but only if you know what they’re doing, and what you should do. Remember, pesticides have different qualities (repellents, contact killers, residual killers, growth regulators, etc.) Bed bugs are probably the most complicated pests you’ve ever encountered at home. If you start spraying pesticides, you may disperse the bugs, and the professionals may have trouble treating them. You may spread them around your home. Get good professional help and follow instructions.

Do not, absolutely do not release a fogger or bug bomb. Do not allow your landlord to do so. Do not allow a so-called exterminator to do so. Bug bombs / foggers do not work for bed bugs, and in fact, will spread them. Your problem will be magnified. Trust me!

Don’t start bagging everything you own. With the exception of washed and dried clothing (according to specific instructions below and in the FAQs), do not seal up everything you own in bags. Some PCOs will want you to inspect, vacuum, and seal all your posessions in bags. Most won’t. Following their advice is crucial, since they know what they’re using on your problem. If you decide to bag things, you may be sealing away bed bugs– and this is only a way of dealing with the problem if you put these items in storage for 18 months, unopened. Instead, most PCOs will vigorously fight your problem, and bed bugs will be attracted out of your posessions and towards poisons which will kill them.

Do start dealing with your clothing and linens. Though you should not simply seal your posessions in bags (as above), it is probably a good idea to start working on clothing and bedding, since the PCO is going to tell you to do this, and it takes time. You should take clothing and other items, wash them in a machine on hot, dry them on hot for 1-2 hours. Remember, driers vary as to their strength and how long they take with what size of load. My personal method is that items should at least be dried on hot for 20 minutes after they appear to be fully dry and very hot. If you want to be cautious, go for two hours on hot. Dry cleaning is okay too. Keep in mind that pillows, comforters, down coats, and other thick items may take longer. Here’s the key: after washing and drying, bag items in sealed, airtight bags, and do not remove them until use.

Don’t assume bed bugs are only in your bed. While bed frames and mattresses and headboards are the most likely location for bed bugs, they can and do often hide out in sofas and other soft furniture, electrical sockets (behind plates), light fixtures, baseboards, floor crevices, and other crevices in the bedroom and living room. Bed bugs are occasionally found in kitchens and bathrooms. This should not make you panic: most cases, especially smaller ones, are quite concentrated, usually 10-20 feet from where people sleep (or where they sit for extended periods). However, if a PCO tells you bed bugs are not found in living rooms, realize that many Bedbuggers have infested sofas, computer chairs, and so on. Don’t believe that bed bugs only bite at night. They prefer a sleeping, stationary host who is fast asleep. But if they’re hungry, they’ll take what they can get. You can be bitten while in a chair, awake.

Once you get a PCO treating your place, don’t assume this will be solved overnight. If your PCO treats and you are still being bitten, this is normal. The bites should decrease and eventually disappear. If you see bed bugs or are bitten, do have another treatment within 10-14 days of the first. Do insist the PCO repeat treatment every two weeks until you feel no more bites, and see no live bedbugs or new signs of bed bugs (like bed bug feces stains in the bed). Do not assume you’ve got a bad PCO because it takes three or four treatments to solve your problem. This, unfortunately, is common, even if you follow all the advice. However, do ask questions, from the first treatment on, and take notes: what is the PCO using? What does each substance do? Make a note of where each substance is applied, and how long the process takes. If a few treatments go by and you are suspicious, post a question here with these details– experienced Bedbuggers and reputable PCOs read this site and may be able to offer advice as to whether you’re getting good service or not. Stay on top of what’s happening, but be honest with the PCO about what you’re doing, and ask what you can do to support treatment. If they are good, they will welcome your involvement. Vacuuming every day in some cases is a good idea, in others, it may sabotage the work of certain substances left down to kill bed bugs. The same is true of bagging everything you own, as above. Never assume that you should do what someone online is doing, since they may be working with a different pest control protocol.

Do consider posting your infestation on The Bedbug Registry.

2013-01-03T15:32:00.000-08:00

FAQ: Do I have fleas or bed bugs?

by NOBUGSONME on NOVEMBER 9, 2012 · 14 COMMENTS

in FLEA DETECTION, FLEA TRAPS, FLEA TREATMENT, FLEAS

Scanning Electron Micrograph of a Flea.

So you think something is biting you but you’re not sure what? Many folks eventually find the culprit is fleas, rather than bed bugs.

Myth: I don’t have pets so I can’t have fleas.

Not true!

Fleas can live in your home even if you don’t have pets.

You may bring them in or may be bitten outside, for example you might encounter the types of fleas that bite humans or dogs in grassy areas like a park.

Here are some more helpful images of fleas.

Dog flea (C. canis)

The dog flea according to this UC Davis factsheet, is uncommon in California, though cat fleas will bite both cats and dogs.

Cat flea (C. felis) full of human blood.

(More flea images, from the CDC.)

These images are highly magnified, obviously — fleas are 1/16″ to 1/8″ long. They often look quite a bit darker.

Fleas leap very high, considering their small size, and you may see them doing this. They move quickly close to a pet’s hairline and are hard to catch with your fingers. They often bite the lower legs and feet.

However, flea bites may look like bed bug bites, and as with bed bugs, to identify them, you need to find visual evidence, rather than relying on what your skin reaction looks like.

How to determine if you have fleas

You can also make your own homemade flea trap. Pest management professional and Bedbugger forums regular Paul Bello outlines the steps as follows below:

Materials:

an old-fashioned desk lamp, the type where you can direct the light with the metal flex arm that extends upward from the base.

a shallow baking tray of about 9″ x 12″ or larger. The kind you might bake lasagna in is fine. White ceramic bakeware is even better as you can see the fleas easier once trapped.

some tap water

1/2 tsp dishwashing liquid

Preparation:

Place the dishwashing liquid into the baking pan.

Fill with about 1/2 to 3/4 inch water and no more. Avoid creating bubbles/suds when doing so.

Place the baking pan on the floor in a room where you suspect flea activity.

Place the desk lamp adjacent to the pan such that you can direct the light downward toward the center of the pan. We want the light to be about 6 inches from the water surface. Turn the light on and leave it on.

Check the trap occasionally to ensure that the water does not evaporate. Replenish the water & soap as needed.

Here’s what happens:

If you do have fleas, they will be attracted to the light and warmth. They will travel over toward the pan and hop in. The water will trap them and they will sink in the water due to the soap which breaks the surface tension and causes them to sink. Without soap they will float and may eventually escape.

If fleas are present, you will catch some in anywhere from 24 to 48 hours.

How to get rid of fleas

Always be sure you confirm the pest before you start treatment. Keep in mind spot treatments for household dogs and cats (if you have any) may play an important role in eliminating fleas from your home, but may not do the whole job.

You may want to involve a pest management professional.

If you would like to self-treat for fleas, the University of Kentucky has a helpful factsheet on DIY flea treatment. UC Davis has some tips on this also in their factsheet on fleas.

You can purchase flea treatment products from pest control firms or online (for example,DoMyOwnPestControl’s product page on indoor flea treatment), but be sure to follow all label instructions closely, and do your research on safe and effective treatment methods before you attempt to apply pesticides yourself.

British bed bug expert Bedbugger forums regular David Cain provides instructions on a DIY and pesticide-free solution to fleas in this forum post. It involves only baking soda or carpet cleaning powder, and is worth a shot, especially for smaller flea problems.

David writes,

Normally unless its literally hopping alive with fleas I would simply suggest using “Shake n’ Vac” [UK powdered carpet freshener marketed by SC Johnson] or a fine powder such as baking soda. The way it is used is as follows, treat the cat with flea treatment. Remove pets and anyone who may have dust issues from the home and sprinkle the dust over the floor so that it has a fine but even coating. Then take a torch or flashlight and zig-zag the beam across the floors covering all areas. Leave the property alone for 1 hour then repeat the use of the flashlight and wait 15 minutes. Then simply clean the dust up and use a plug in flea trap for ongoing monitoring.

Its an incredibly efficient way to physically remove fleas from an area as it relies purely on their physical removal rather than chemical action. The light causes them to jump and they get caught up in the fine dust making them easier to suck away in the cleaner.

Thanks, David!

Got suggestions for improving this FAQ? Have flea photos you want to share? Please comment below!

Oh and, before someone asks,

No posts for a month and then you write about fleas?!?

I know, it’s been quiet around here.

Thanks for your patience and I hope we’re able to give you a lot more to read from now on.

Image credits:

“Scanning Electron Micrograph of a Flea.” Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / Janice Carr (License: public domain/US Gov.; source.)

“flea.” Credit: anonymous Bedbugger.com forum user.

“Dog Flea,” and “Cat Flea Full of Human Blood.” Credit: iStockphoto.com.

New York Times story on how libraries and their patrons respond to bed bug risks

2013-01-03T15:23:00.001-08:00

New York Times story on how libraries and their patrons respond to bed bug risks

by NOBUGSONME on DECEMBER 6, 2012 · 9 COMMENTS

in BED BUGS, LIBRARIES

New York Times journalist Catherine Saint Louis has a new story today about bed bugs in libraries.

The article describes ways various libraries in the US have responded to bed bug infestations or tried to prevent them, and how library patrons are themselves responding to the risk of bed bugs in libraries and library books. (I spoke with Saint Louis a few months back as she was preparing the story.)

Not surprisingly, some librarians are starting to proactively inspect book returns. Saint Louis writes:

Until September, Kuang-Pei Tu, a manager in the circulation department of the Los Angeles Central Library, had not given much thought to bedbugs. Then Nicole Gustas, a regular who borrows three or four books a week, returned several in Ziploc bags, explaining that a bedbug had crawled out of a copy of “True Blood” while she was reading it. After Ms. Gustas complained to L.A. Weekly about the incident, Ms. Tu said she began doing cursory inspections for signs of bedbugs.

Oh, it just had to be True Blood, didn’t it?

The little vampires!

Some libraries (such as Wichita’s system) are teaching library staff to recognize signs of bed bug infestations and others are using Packtites to treat suspect books upon return. The Cincinnati library system, Saint Louis notes, has “48 [Packtites] for its 41 libraries.” Some patrons too, of course, are using Packtites to prevent bringing bed bugs home in books.

Since bed bugs commonly infest chairs in libraries, the article notes some libraries are also vacuuming furniture or using bed bug monitors, such as the pitfall traps which Islip, N.Y. public librarians have installed under furniture legs

Libraries such as Denver’s, which was badly burned by infamous the bed-bugs-in-the-book-drop incident back in 2009, are also also warning patrons who may have bed bugs to take precautions and disclose the issue when returning items, so appropriate precautions can be taken.

Also notable here is the soundbite from Philip Koehler of the University of Florida, who suggests library patrons borrowing popular books (like bestsellers) and hardcover books (with their attractive spine harborages) will be most at risk. John Furman (“KillerQueen” on our forums) and Mike Potter are also among those who were quoted in the article.

It’s nice to see public libraries offering more eBooks — which are another way to reduce the risk of bed bugs being transmitted to and fro.

All in all, this is an excellent read and the first time we’ve seen a nationwide round-up of the “bed bugs in libraries” topic.

Update (12/6/12):

You may be interested in this response to the New York Times story from Reluctant Habits; the author, Edward Champion, noted in his blog post, “The Bedbug Bunk: How the New York TimesUsed Fear and Misinformation to Spread Public Library Hysteria,” that the story the Timesposted late last night was the “the seventh most emailed New York Times story by Thursday afternoon.”

Champion writes,

… Reluctant Habits has talked with many of Saint Louis’s sources and has learned that theTimes article is misleading. Bedbugs are not the major threat that Saint Louis suggests they are. In fact, some of the library directors who Saint Louis spoke with have never had a bedbug epidemic at all. They were merely taking preventive measures in the wake of recent media stories.

I know you’ll want to read the rest here.

My own comment (pending moderation as I write this) posted in response to Reluctant Habits follows (it was rather hastily written, such as it is):

To be fair, Saint Louis noted in the article that the Islip library’s actions were proactive, rather than a reaction to a bed bug problem at the library.

It wasn’t my impression that Catherine Saint Louis misrepresented the problem.

That readers react in a hysterical manner is partly because bed bugs have the “ewww” factor and just tend to elicit that type of response, and also because many people had never thought of bed bugs being in a library before.

Is it very common? Absolutely not, but it HAS happened in many libraries in the past year.

And you have to understand also that a few years ago, people were still being told bed bugs did not infest places like schools and libraries because they’re nocturnal. That’s misinformation and it’s good for people to be aware this is possible.

Should we panic? Absolutely not. But people with bed bugs should think twice about tossing books which may have been exposed to them into a book drop, and everyone should learn to recognize signs of bed bugs (fecal stains, cast skins, bed bugs) in case they ever do encounter them on a train, in a hotel, or in a library.

I would question one note in the article, where Saint Louis says,

John Furman, the owner of Boot-a-Pest, a team of bedbug exterminators based on Long Island, said he has had hundreds of clients buy a portable heater called PackTite to kill bedbug life, baking any used or borrowed book as a preventive measure before taking it to bed.

I know some people do Packtite library books when they bring them home, but I suspect that Furman’s “hundreds of clients” were not all buying Packtites because of fear of bed bugs coming in through this one channel — library books. I can see how this statement might imply that. Hey, I know, let’s ask him!

I’m interested in your thoughts. Do you think the Times story “used fear and misinformation” to spread hysteria?

Please comment and weigh in below!

Image credit: “Biblioteca” by Ismael Villafranco, used under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

How to Kill Bedbugs With Cold or Freezing

2011-11-03T17:15:00.000-07:00

If chilly whether is dreadful for us, how come it is not for bed bugs. The question often arises of how to kill bedbugs with cold or freezing.

To kill bed bugs by freezing,you need a deep freezer in which you can maintain zero temperature for two weeks. Obviously this is a hard nut to crack. To every one’s surprise there are many firms that make this possible, and it is a piece of cake for them. In this article I refer to a new, non-toxic and eco-friendly technology called cryonite.

Cryonite

These days Cryonite is a very popular method used to eradicate bed bugs, especially in Australia and Europe. It is used by a pest control firm known as Stern Environmental. The best part of Cryonite is this it is non-toxic. It kills many kinds of pests using rapid freezing. The Cryonite machine sprays Carbon Dioxide snow at -110 degree Fahrenheit.

Liquid Carbon Dioxide has extreme cooling properties, which effectively kills the pests. It freezes the bed bug to death.

How Cryonite works. Cryonite kills bed bugs with cold or freezing.

Invasive vapor such as pressurized carbon dioxide is very effective and no bed bug can escape it.
Bed bugs die instantly because of the rapid freezing of their cellular fluids.
This product draws energy for the process from its surroundings, even from the bed bug itself.
After use, instant cooling results,causing crystallization of the cellular fluids in the bed bugs, which leads to the rupture of the cells and instant death.
Cryonite particles cling to the pests to ensure death.

Positive points regarding Cryonite

It is non-chemical: therefore, there is no risk of the bugs developing a resistance to Cryonite.
There is no risk of contamination as it is a pure Carbon Dioxide.
It can kill bed bugs at any life stage including eggs.
It is very effective in penetrating the places where most other pesticides can not reach.
You do not have to evacuate your living area.

Areas where Cryonite can be used:

Residences
Homes always welcome poison-free and chemical- free treatments to maintain a bed bug free life. This is because of the reduction in hazards to children and pets.

The use of Cryonite in a residence

Hotels, cruise ships and motels.
Cryonite treatment ensures complete security when offering a room for rent.
Nursing homes and hospitals also use it.

A check on its efficiency

Clothes-moth larvae die at a temperature of about -5 degree centigrade.
At a cooling rate of 3.5 C per second, the time needed to kill bed bug larvae is one minute or less.
Cryonite provides a cooling rate far greater than this, of 800C per minute.

The above mentioned technology is just a taste of things to come. Of course we all are aware that there are people who are not satisfied with this and are in the process of developing more effective technologies to eradicate bed bugs completely.

Now that you have clue about Cryonite why not go for it? Call them up and protect your house from bed bugs rather than just wondering “how to kill bed bugs with cold or freezing”.

How To Stop Bedbugs From Biting You

2011-11-03T17:14:00.000-07:00

Once bedbugs have infested your house, it is very difficult to get rid of them. Instead of being concerned with how to eliminate them, or free your house from bed bugs, the first concern should be how to stop bedbugs from biting you.

Bed bug bite characteristics are as follows

Small, hard, swollen red or white welts.
A rash
Itching – this may last for several days.

The following things not only reduce the chances of getting bitten but also minimize the spread of bed bugs to other parts of your house.

Thoroughly de-clutter and clean all areas (bedding, couches, etc.) where you have been bitten by bed bugs.
When you become aware of a bed bug infestation, it is time to throw away all your clutter. Do not forget to throw things out in sealed plastic bags: bed bugs are very fast at moving from one place to another.
Wash all bedding and clothes in the hottest water possible (at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit). Temperatures in excess of 114 Fahrenheit have been proved to be fatal for bed bugs. Use a hot tumble drier. For drying purposes, make use of direct sunlight if possible. Nothing is better than air drying in sunlight for clothes, mattresses and other bedding.
Always put clean and light colored sheets on bed. Light colors make bed bugs easy to detect.
When removing sheets always roll them off instead of pulling them off. This causes removal of any eggs and bugs attached to them. Use a plastic bag to collect all the eggs and bugs from the sheet and dispose of them in an outside trash can.
You can purchase an easy to use monitoring system that is Eco friendly: ClimbUp Insect Interceptor. It forms a barrier between bed and floor. Its design makes it very effective to stop bed bugs from biting. Bed bugs that try to climb up your bed to bite you climb to the exterior surface of the ClimbUp Insect Interceptor, and fall into the outer pitfall ring. Any thet come from the bed end up in the center well.

ClimbUp Insect Interceptor
Facts about ClimbUp are

It is an insect trapping device.
The center wall is 41/4” in diameter.
The paper tape draped on the Interceptor provides a fibrous surface. This fibrous surface makes bed bugs climb up the exterior surface. You can replace this tape with paper tape available in your local pharmacy.

Place a spacer or risers under legs of the bed to elevate the legs. You can also use a wooden block or plastic pieces. The bed can be elevated like so when the size of bed bugs is too large to fit in the climbUp Interceptor.

Bed bugs trapped in Interceptor
Prevent the ClimbUp from cracking on padded carpet. You can easily do this by distributing the weight of the bed equally.
Apply Vaseline on frame of the bed to avoid bed bugs scaling it to bite you.
Place the legs of bed into a vessel filled with soapy water so that when bed bugs climb up it, they fall into the soapy water and drown.

The legs of a bed in a vessel filled with soap water

Placing boric powder

Make use of talcum powder as lubricant for the ClimbUp surface.

Protecting a sofa from bed bugs with the help of ClimbUp

To permanently prevent bed bugs, treatment by an exterminator is necessary.
These exterminators make use of a combination of insecticides and heat methods.
Discard heavily infested furniture.
Visit pest control companies and follow their instructions as well as that of any professional exterminator visiting your house.
Avoid placing traveling bags and other luggage against furniture.
Some herbs like lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus and thyme effectively repel bed bugs. You can spread them around your bed and other areas.
One very good repellent is black walnut. It is easily available at local by food stores.
Avoid setting bags on beds, floors and against walls.
Checking your vehicles before sitting to detect any bed bugs.
Be observant and do not freak out.
How to stop bedbugs from biting you. Follow this remedy

Soak highly causatic, dry soap in isopropyl alcohol overnight. In the morning, boil the resulting solution in water. Sprinkle this solution on the mattress, carpet and other furniture. Let it dry for eight hours, and vacuum it. Repeat this after a week. This method should kill any existing bed bugs.

Some early bed bug remedies are

Arsenic
Turpentine
Gasoline
Fumigation

Make use of cheapest and most effective insurance policy: safety measures on how to stop bedbugs from biting you.

How To Kill Bedbugs With Alcohol

2011-11-03T17:10:00.001-07:00

The word alcohol comes from the Arabic term al kohl which means “fine powder”. It has proven its value in various usages, but how do you kill bedbugs with alcohol?

To get rid of bed bugs we require a special alcohol. Alcohol always kills bed bugs when in direct contact. The use of rubbing alcohol is advantageous than Clorox or bleach products. Bleach stains fabrics and can also damage other materials. However, alcohol does not to penetrate into the cracks, crevices, fabrics and mattresses. At best, it is just a temporary treatment.

How to kill bedbugs with alcohol. Follow these Steps.

Wash all bedding. Use hot water ( at least 110 degrees Fahrenheit). This temperature effectively kills all bed bugs.
Vacuum the infested area. Even if a few hot spots are not infested, vacuum them too, just to ensure proper cleanliness. Remember dirt is an invitation to these pesky pests.
Provide proper ventilation before using any alcoholic spray as it is harmful for humans.
Spray isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol with a chemical sprayer. Dilute the alcohol in a 9:1 ratio (alcohol: water).

Isopropyl Alcohol

Spray this alcohol mixture on all infested areas and hot spots. These hot spots include mattress, headboards, cracks, crevices, carpets, etc. You can use either a bottle or a spray bottle to get the most efficient results.
You can also rub the isopropyl alcohol on eggs so that when the bugs hatch they will be killed. Alcohol can kill the nymphs.
You can also combine this alcohol treatment with steam cleaning to enhance its efficiency.
Remove the dead bugs with toilet paper and then flush them.
Repeat the above steps every two weeks.

You can also rub this alcohol on your skin to avoid bed bug bites.
Alcohol is highly effective in prohibiting bed bugs. You can even take a spray bottle filled with alcohol while traveling.

Some disadvantages of using alcohol to kill bed bugs

It can damage your furniture’s finish, paint and plastic surfaces.

Use of alcohol in a kitchen

It never kills bed bug eggs.
It is harmful for humans too, so protect your eyes while spraying.
It kills only on contact with bed bugs. So, if you want to kill all bed bugs in your house, you have to catch each and every bed bug andspray on its surface.
It evaporates very quickly.
Bed bugs can easily cross the barrier after the evaporation of alcohol.

Those who wish to seek relief from the bed bug bites must now have the solution to the problem of how to kill bedbugs with alcohol. So do not waste any time in incorporating the above mentioned steps into your lifestyle.

Does Tea Tree Oil Kill Bed Bugs

2011-11-03T17:09:00.000-07:00

The versatility of tea tree oil makes most of us wonder, “Does tea tree oil kill bed bugs?” Nobody wants to drench his or her mattress in chemicals in the form of pesticides. Most of us would rather go for a greener way but are unaware of the facts about these herbs. There are many poisonous natural remedies available. One of these toxic remedies is tea tree oil.

It is not able to kill bed bugs as it vaporizes quickly. Concentrated tea tree oil can kill bed bugs but it is highly dangerous to spray around your sleeping area. If ingested or inhaled, tea tree oil adversely affects the liver.

Points to remember

It is highly recommended by many experts to open your windows: you must have proper ventilation while using it as it is harmful to inhale. It is highly toxic, so never try to consume it.

Preferably, use it in diluted form. The, diluted form of tea tree oil can not adversely affect bed bugs, but does make them smell better.
Spray the diluted form all over your mattress.
You can also apply it on the bed frames and legs to prevent them climbing into your bed and sucking your blood.
Do not forget to spray it under your bed.
Using tea tree oil in concentrated form can cause many problems such as swelling, redness, blistering and itching.
If ingested, tea tree oil can cause diarrhea.

Some advantage of using tea tree oil

It is non-toxic if used in diluted form.
It is a cheaper remedy.
It smells good.
It does not work on its own, so it’s better to use it in combination with other remedies. There are many aromatherapy quality oils available in neighbourhood stores such as Walmart. It is a good deodorizer. You can also disperse this kind of oil in the air to get rid of the pungent smell caused by these creatures.
Always choose the appropriate tea tree oil for your needs as there are many varieties available on the market.
You can combine tea tree oil with heat. For this you can use your hairdryer. Put your hairdryer on the hottest possible setting. Blow tea tree oil sprayed onto your mattress.
You can use it as a repellent by applying it in diluted form on your skin before retiring to bed. This is because bed bugs are nocturnal and are active during night. When you apply it on your skin it will prevent bed bugs from biting you.

Some facts about tea tree oil

It is not made from tea
-it comes from the paper bark leaves. This tree is indigenous to New South Wales, Australia. It is endowed with a rich history as a natural cosmetic and medical poultice.
It is effective against burns, insect bites, mites and lice infestations.
It enhances sweating.
It clears mucus and many other problems.
It can fight acne very effectively.
It is an anti-fungal.
It is toxic to cats.

“Just because the river is quiet does not mean the crocodiles have left.” Being a nature lover does not necessitate choking on poisonous vapors to eliminate these pesky pests. There are many safer ways such as extreme temperatures (both freezing and steaming). Definitely a combination of heat and tea tree oil is an effective yes to the question “Does tea tree oil kill bed bugs?” Otherwise it is strongly disapproved of.

How To Kill Bed Bugs In Luggage

2011-11-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

Provide double dose of fun to your holidays by eliminating almost all the bed bugs from your luggage. For this you must be aware of how to kill bed bugs in luggage itself. These bed bugs are always ready to accompany you wherever you go. They love traveling too; they will get into your luggage and hitch a ride to your home. You are in this misconception that you go for a vacation to refresh yourself but unknowingly bring some creepy crawlers with you.

You can easily get rid of this problem by following some trusted tips and tricks. The following points will make you aware of how to kill bed bugs in luggage.

• First look for the bed bugs in your luggage. Look for those brown, tiny critters crawling, shredded skin, black secretion, feces and stinky smell.

• If you suspect bed bugs with the clues left by above things then take out the luggage out of your room immediately.

• Empty the luggage. Remove all the items including clothes from your luggage. Put these items into a plastic bag and seal it tightly.

best way to keep luggage in hotel room

• Remove every bit of bed bug with their debris by vacuuming it. Vacuum sucks up every bed bug from your luggage. Collect it in a plastic bag and seal it tightly so that bed bugs can not move out. Throw this plastic bag in an outside trash can.

• Put your luggage, clothes and other items from your luggage under sunlight for a day at least. You can also wash the clothing in hot waterto get rid of all the bugs.

• If your place lacks sunlight then there is another method. You can also put your luggage in hot, soapy water. Brush it thoroughly so that you can reach every crevice, seams, pockets and other places of luggage where there is a possibility of bed bug harborage. Rinse it properly and check it thoroughly. Make sure there is not even a single bed bug residing there then let it dry.

• You can also keep your infested luggage for two hours outside if outside temperature is below freezing. Keep it for at least two weeks for complete removal if temperature is below freezing.

• Place the infested items in hot automobile.

• Why not make use of technologies if affordable/ One such technology is PackTite heat treatment. It uses heat to kill bed bugs. It can thoroughly heat your items such as suitcase and other luggage that is proven to kill not only bed bugs but also eggs. It can kill bed bugs at all stages of their life cycle and the best part is it do not even damage your stuff.You have to simply place your suitcase or other infested luggage on the rack inside PackTite and it will disinfect it completely.

PackTite oven

• Infuse some herbs in water which you will use for washing infested clothes. With these herbs you can easily free your clothes from these creepy crawlies.

• First take a look on these tips to use essential oils.

1. Wear gloves before using it as concentrated essential oil can penetrate your skin and it can be dangerous.

2. Even diluted form of essential oils has proved fatal to some cats. So always keep your kitty away from it.

• Home made bed bug spray recipe on how to kill bed bugs in luggage

• Whisk together 1 cup water, 10 drops each of eucalyptus essential oil, rosemary essential oil and lavender essential oil and three drops of clove essential oil. Place all the above in a fine mist spray bottle. Shake it well before spraying it on your luggage.

• Keeping sachets of herbs inside your luggage can not only kill all the bed bugs in your luggage but also provides a restriction for the bed bugs to move into it. You can tuck them into your suitcase and inside the pockets of the bags.

• Sachet recipes:

Keep these two mixtures either together or separately in 10 to 12 muslin bags. You can easily get these muslin bags from the local stores.

1. 10 large cloves, ½ cup dried rosemary, 1 cup dried Eucalyptus leaves and ½ cup dried lavender buds.

2. 2 bay leaves, 1 cup loose-leaf black walnut tea, ½ cup each of dried eucalyptus leaves and lavender buds and ¼ cup dried thyme.

• The scent by the above herbal sachets keeps a bed bug free environment.

• Keep an alcohol filled spray bottle along with you while you are on vacations.

• Keep an insecticide bottle with you and spray it in your luggage whenever you notice any crawling creature.

So this time be far more organized and let your luggage only carry your stuff not the bed bugs. Do not spend your short life in reasoning “how to get rid of bed bugs” or “how to kill bed bugs in luggage” but think of the solutions.

How to Kill Bed Bug Eggs

2011-11-03T17:07:00.000-07:00

“How to kill bed bug eggs”. This question is concerned with the danger yet to come. If there was a positive answer to such a question then there might have been no problem like it exists now. In fact there would have been no bed bug species.

Bed bugs belong to the orderHemiptera . Others that belong to this order are scaled creatures, aphids and cicadas. Bed bugs are true bugs.Hemiptera have mouths with beaks capable of piercing tissue and sucking blood. This beak is also used for piercing the female abdomen and ejaculating into the body cavity.

Female lays one to five eggs per day after male genital pierces the female during mating. Over 10 months, one female can produce up to 200 eggs.
Female Bedbugs lay 1 to 12 eggs per day. Eggs get adhere to the substrate by means of a sticky substrate coating on them. They are white and 1/32 inch long.

Bed bug eggs

They deposit these eggs in protected places such as crevices, cracks or near the hosts’ sleeping quarters. Most commonly eggs are placed inside a box spring, on the mattress, in the coils of a bed, behind peeling wallpaper, near the rug’s edge, in closets and baseboards. Bed bug eggs can be found at similar places to where bed bugs are present. The favorite place to nestle is in the seams of fabric. They can be found in various places. You have to make use of a stiff brush to dislodge the eggs.

a female bug laying eggs

The hatching of eggs largely depends on temperature. They do not need their mother bug around to hatch. They hatch in round about two weeks. Not all insecticides and other chemicals are capable of killing the eggs. Alcohol is also one of those chemicals which are not capable of killing bed bug’s eggs. Bed bugs eggs are hard to detect. Some have the appearance of rice while others of sesame seeds.

How to kill bed bug eggs?

Temperature and time correlation is very important in order to kill both bed bugs and their eggs.
ThermaPure is capable of annihilating entire bedbug population in a single treatment. It works on the principle that 60 minutes in hot dryer heat kills bed bug eggs.
Cryonite freezing can also kill the bed bugs eggs.
PackTite heat treatment is also to kill bed bugs eggs.
Using Alcohol Spray along with other measures such as herbs can dry up bed bug eggs.
Spray some alcohol on the eggs while spraying it in other parts of the house. When the eggs hatches, the nymphs die because of the alcohol present on the egg’s surface.
A green non-toxic Bio Pesticide DIY is also effective in killing bed bugs eggs.
A follow up inspection every 2 weeks is necessary to ensure that they are dead.

Nature has solution for every problem. According to natural food chain there are several predators which feed on bed bugs. These predators are cone nosed insects, American cockroaches, spiders and pharaoh. But our research system is still far from discovering a biological control.

Scientific research is still going on to develop such a control method to kill bed bugs at the egg stage to restrict the danger ahead wih no solution to date. Until such a timem, questions such as how to kill bed bug eggs will persist, or you can go for the above mentioned techniques.

Can Kerosene Kill Bed Bugs?

2011-11-03T17:05:00.002-07:00

Can kerosene kill bed bugs? This query goes back to the 1940s,’ when it was really popular to use it to kill insects. Many are in favor of kerosene as a bed bug killer. It is an old folk remedy. Many people say, however, that it is just a problem detector but can not eliminate it.

It is not at all recommended, as we can not use an electric motor such as in a vacuum cleaner if we have mopped our floor with Kerosene. You should avoid smoking in a kerosene treated environment. Even Pest controllers avoid the use of kerosene. The major reason behind this is safety.

Can kerosene kill bed bugs? Yes if you follow the following tips, though there is a high risk of fatality. Even a little mistake can cause a fire.

You can wipe down the floor, furniture, doorways and wood floors with kerosene to get rid of bed bugs.
Pour some drops of kerosene into the furniture crevices.
Partially fill four tin cans with kerosene oil and place them under each leg of the bed.
Pour some drops of kerosene into the furniture crevices.
Dip a sponge in kerosene. Check your mattress seams and tear out places of mattress. If you find any bed bugs put the kerosene in there with the sponge. Then air the mattress out. Apply some deodorizer to get rid of the kerosene odor.
You can also put some drops of kerosene in hot water to wash your bed sheets. After that do not forget to air it out well to vaporize the kerosene and also deodorize it to get rid of the kerosene smell.

Some popular bed bug destroyers

Mix together half a gallon of kerosene oil, an ounce of pennyroyal oil and a quart of turpentine spirit. This is far less dangerous. These oils are highly poisonous and distasteful to all kinds of insects. Use this mixture to spray around your house especially in the infested places. This is highly effective in getting rid of bed bugs.
Use burning sulfur to clear wall paper and wood work of infestation. Close every door and window so it can work most effectively.
Mix benzene, kerosene oil, turpentine and eucalyptus leaves and leave for 24 hours. Apply this mixture to infested places.

Some disadvantages of using kerosene

It smells and everything which is wiped down will also smell of kerosene.
It is highly inflammable and thus dangerous.
It also produces flammable vapors.
It can kill in large amounts, so start with only a small quantity.

What ever the pros and cons of kerosene, it is highly recommended by many experts not to use it to get rid of bed bugs. Threads like “can kerosene kill bed bugs” only misguides many folks as there are many people who smoke in a house; in such houses it can be dangerous.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Computer and Other Electronics

2011-11-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

How do you get rid of bed bugs in computer and other electronics? This question proves that they can be found almost every where. They can transfer to your body undetected while you are working on your system or playing video games. This takes all the fun out of playing and diverts focus from your work.

This bed bug problem seems to be never ending one. There are people who have cleaned the whole house, washed and dried all the infested and dirty textiles yet are still looking for an effective solution to get rid of them. Obviously, it is frustrating that after all their efforts they get bed bugs in their computers and other electronic appliances like radios, televisions, video games and telephones, to name a few.

The major problem in trying to get rid of bed bugs from electronic appliances is that these items are sensitive to heat, solutions and most other treatments.

So, how do you get rid of bed bugs in computers and other electronics?

This is a tried and trusted trick. Soak a rag in pesticide. Place your laptop, along with this soaked rag, in a plastic bag for 48hours. For this treatment you must take the following precautions:

Close the laptop properly so that there will be no contact with the keys. The soaked rag should be kept far away from the laptop in a single plastic bag. Only the fumes or vapors of pesticides can go inside the laptop.
Thoroughly wipe down your laptop with deodorant to get rid of that obnoxious pesticide smell.

You can also heat up your computer internally by “over-clocking”. You can easily download this tool. Temperatures of over 113 degrees Fahrenheit are fatal to bed bugs.
You can also try moth balls.
You should not spray any liquid insecticide.
You can also go for heat and fumigation treatments but in a controlled manner. Preferably call a pest controller.
Most electronic equipment can handle temperatures of up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the items in a thermal chamber. The temperature should be properly regulated.
Chemicals like sulfuryl fluoride are used in fumigation. This is also one of the effective treatments for bed bug infested electronic appliances. It is highly recommended to call professional for fumigation.
DDVP resin strips can be used. Place it in a plastic trash bag and leave it for 4 days. There is a risk of gas leakage out, so always keep it in a place far from the living area.
You can also use Nuvan Prostrip to reduce bed bugs that have entered in electronic appliances. Take care that Nuvan Prostrip does not come into contact with the items themselves. Seal the items for at least 48 hours to kill eggs, larvae and bed bugs.

Above all, calling a pest controller always helps in reducing as every bed bug infestation from your house. When they get vacate other locations then they will definitely also leave electronic appliances.

How to get rid of bed bugs from the refrigerator

Step 1: Completely empty the fridge, switch it off and unplug it.

Step2: Wash the fridge with vinegar and washing soda.

Step3: Rinse with fresh hot water and wipe it out with a clean rag.

Step4: Use a brush or vacuum to clean the coils.

Step5: Wipe between the gasket and door with the help of rag wrapped around a popsicle stick.

Step 6: replace everything including food properly.

Pest controllers know very well how to get rid of bed bugs in computers and other electronics. So it is highly recommend that you call them, or you can use the above mentioned products and tricks.

How To Prevent Bed Bugs In Your New Apartment

2011-11-03T17:03:00.000-07:00

Bed bugs have the full potential to spoil all your excitement of moving into a new apartment. It’s better to be aware of how to prevent bed bugs in your new apartment rather than converting your new home into hell. Any place with 48 degree centigrade of temperature can be invaded by bed bugs. There is hardly any place left in this world which has not been seized by these tiny monsters.

Be aware!
• Become aware of what do bed bugs look like and where do they come from. These two information are utmost important to identify bed bugs. Proper identification helps you in getting proper treatment to get rid of them or prevent them. There are many similarities in bed bugs and other insects. For example, like bed bugs, there are several other insects which are found near bed. First confirm the pest then only call exterminators.

• You should be aware of the factors which attracts bed bugs the most that is how bed bug get into your apartment. Some are like on luggage, electronics like computer, and other belongings which might have got infested while you were on your holidays. They can also catch a ride on your bags when you visit your neighbor or other place where there is a bed bug infestation. Bats and birds can also introduce bed bugs in your new apartment.

• You should also be aware of the places of apartment which are common to get infested by bed bugs. Such places are cracks, crevices, furniture, heated and moist area, wire /pipe holes, and voids between the walls makes easier for bed bugs to move apartment to apartment. These are the bed bug prone area so always be concern and do some extra effort for the hygiene of these areas.

How to prevent bed bugs in your new apartment

• Whenever you return from a trip do not forget to look for the bed bugs before unpacking the luggage. Similarly whenever you enter hotel’s room check for the bed bugs in that room before unpacking. Leave the room immediately if you see any clue of bed bugs.

• Vacuum off all the bed bugs if you notice any in your luggage or other item.

• Make use of only white bed sheet so that you can sniff bed bug as soon as it infests your room or new apartment.

• Coordination among neighbor is very important as there are only 7 percent chances that bed bugs can move through walls to apartments below and above the infested apartment. A well coordinated neighborhood always work together to get rid of the bed bugs. One should never fight for the payment of exterminator. Participate in bed bug elimination drive and eliminate bed bugs before moving to that new environment.

• Say ‘no’ to second hand furniture. Used furniture such asmattresses and bed frames are one of the main vectors of bed bugs to new apartment. Avoid rental furniture as well. New furniture if transported with the old one can be the source of bed bugs in new apartment.

• Ban clutter! Clutter is one of the best places to inhabit by bed bugs. Bed bugs can very efficiently hide into the clutter and it becomes difficult for the chemicals to kill bed bugs and their eggs.

• Check for the spots left by bed bugs on your furniture and mattress at least after every two weeks.

• Be concerned and careful whenever enter into any of your neighbor place so that bed bug can not get along with you. Do not keep your against wall and on bed. Change your clothes whenever you return from outside to your home and give it for laundry. Make use of Ziploc double zipper big bag to place your dirty or infested clothes. You can also keep these infested clothes into a plastic container with a tight lid. Do not forget to give all such special treatment to your shoes. Like wise check everything which you takes along with you when goes out for vaccation.

Ziploc double zipper

• PackTite heater is also one of the best products to treat your infested items. You can get it just for $ 250.

• Before moving into your new apartment, look for cracks and crevices and if you find, seal them. Make use of bed bug dust productto seal these cracks and crevices present in wall of your new apartment.

• Do not forget to add bed bug dust to the inside of the wall when completing new construction. This acts as an extra layer of protection.

How to prevent bed bugs in your new apartment? Above mentioned suggestions are effective enough to do this not-so-easy task. Prevent them before they take your place in your new apartment!

How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs On Dogs And Other Pets

2011-11-03T17:01:00.000-07:00

To develop a healthier and richer relationship with your pet you have to go the extra mile. I know you have been doing that. Besides protecting yourself from bed bugs, I urge you to know how to get rid of bed bugs on dogs and other pets. Pets are yours to care for.Pesticides and insecticides are harmful for any living being as our liver is not efficient enough to filter the chemicals that we inhale through pesticides. The all-natural Bed Bug Patrol system is recommended by many professional pest control experts. These natural products are absolutely safe for pets and they can efficiently kill eggs, larvae and adult bed bugs.

Read on to find out how to get rid of bed bugs on dogs and other pets.

How to take care of your dog and other pets in case of bed bug infestation?

Get rid of this misconception: bed bugs lives on pets. They never live on them but they feed on pets. When they fill their tummies by sucking your pet’s blood, they move on.
Bed bugs are very efficient hitchhikers. So they can hitchhike on your pet’s fur or on its bedding and clothing to your home.
Ask your bed bug exterminators to use only those pesticides which are not harmful to pets. Preferably make use of a green pesticide. Using the wrong pesticide can make your pets sick.
Make use of the EPA’s search tool on its website to find the right pesticide to get rid of bed bugs.
Do not forget to keep your pets bedding clean. For this launder it at least once in a week in the hottest possible water. Minimum temperature should be 120 degree Fahrenheit.
You can also put the bedding material of your pest in a hot drier. The temperature should be medium to high heat for 10 to 20 minutes.
Never use Permithin to get rid of bed bugs as it is toxic to cats.
You can make use of Nature’s Response™ Bed Bug Killer which is safe to be used around pets. Similarly there are other organic, bio-pesticides and natural products which are safe for pets. Some examples are: Diatom Dust XR bug powder and Contact Killer Spray by Tallman Scientific.

Bed bug infestation is more popular in places where ants and cockroaches reside, so in this case make use of baits to get rid of these pests. This avoids the use of pesticides which are toxic to pets most of the time.
Never use cockroach killer or other insecticide to kill bed bugs as it can be harmful to pets.
Never spray pesticides in area where pets are present.
Dogs or other pets are never the cause of spreading bed bugs.
Bed bugs are incapable of spreading any sort of contagious diseasethough they may harbor a pathogen after feeding on an infected host.

Bed bugs and pets

Do not ignore your dog’s behavior.

video on how to get rid of bed bugs on dogs other pets

Bed bugs generally inhabit the area where dogs sleep.
They also help in detecting bed bugs. There are special dog species available to detect bed bug.
Frothing at the mouth indicates that your pet has ingested pesticide. Take him to a vet immediately.
Some other symptoms which show that your pet is susceptible to pesticides are: vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite.

Some pet-friendly bed bug treatments:

You do not have to spend thousands of dollars to use these remedies.

Steam treatment: This is great to deal with your pet’s bedding to remove bed bugs.
Fruit and vegetable pesticides: Such pesticides composed of Pyrethrins and Canola oil.
Rubbing alcohol: This can kill bed bugs on contact. Though not a definite fix, it is a safe treament with respect to your pets.

These pesky intrusions are the enemies of your pets as well as you. How to get rid of bed bugs on dogs and other pets? Use home made sachets and remedies to get rid of bed bugs. These are safe for pets. Rest there is no substitute to hygiene and taking precautions!

Does Bleach Kill Bed Bugs

2011-11-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

Calcium Hypochlorite orbleaching powder is widely popular for disinfecting swimming pool or drinking water. It is also used for killing household pests and removes moss and algae. Bleach has enough potential to kill most of the insects. The fumes are harmful to both insects and human. Does bleach kill bed bugs?Long exposure of bleach to bed bugs can eradicate it completely. It kills bed bugs only when it comes in direct contact with them.

Chlorine bleach and other pesticides help to cope up the situation but they are harmful for humans and pets as well. Yet there exists different opinions regarding the same thing. Some people says bleach do not work to get rid of bed bugs. Bleach works most effectivelywhen used in high concentration. However, nothing is better than a temperature of 114 degree Fahrenheit. No bed bug can escape this temperature. If bleach is used in combination to this temperature than it can definitely kill it.

How can we use bleach with 114 degree Fahrenheit temperature to get rid of bed bugs?

The very first thing which you have to do is to take out the sheets, pillows, pillow cases, bed spread and blankets. Remember roll them up and then take off from bed so that any bed bug which is cling there get out of it.
It’s better to throw away some old things like mattress pad. Replace these mattress pads with the new one.
Wash all bedding with the hot water. Heat above 114 degree Fahrenheit is highly fatal for bed bugs.

Bleach on Mattresses

Take cautions as you can damage your mattress in the process of killing bed bugs. Bleach adversely affects mattress. It’s better to throw away the most infested furniture rather than treating it with such an extreme means. When you lay on this bleach treated bedding, its fumes can damage your lungs.

How to use bleach so that it works most effectively?

Chlorine bleach can be used to get rid of bed bugs from the bedding. Pour in a cup of chlorine bleach and two cups of vinegar in water. Now put the bedding into this solution. Use your washing machine to get the best result. Wash the bedding again with detergent and chlorine bleach. Make use of hard-bristled brush to remove the bed bugs which get cling to the bedding. Preferably let it get dry under sun.

Though it is said that bed bug can harbor any place, yet keep your place ultra clean. Routinely vacuum and mop the carpets and floors. You can use bleach in your regular mopping of floor. Does bleach kill bed bugs?

Yes, it does but it works best when you use it in the following way:

Sprinkle the bleach on the floor.
Use alcohol mixed with the hottest available water to mop the floor. Bag up everything which is sensitive to any substance such as bleach and alcohol, being used to kill the bed bugs. This should all be sealed in plastic.
Keep the bag with the bleach sensitive items away from the treated area. It is recommended that they are discarded in case of extreme infestation of bed bugs. Bleach sensitive items are bedding, cushions, clothes, food items, bathroom articles (towels, soap, etc.), and so on. The goal must be to protect those items from bleach which come in direct contact with the skin. Bleach is harmful for humans and pets as well.

Kill bed bugs with safety!

I generally keep the bleaching powder in the cupboard with other household products. It releases toxic chlorine gas, so keep it in a place which is away from the reach of children and pets. Place it somewhere which is not used much.
Once I removed some stains on my favorite sofa set with bleaching powder. After few days I noticed a crack had appeared. Bleach harms furniture by destroying the wood tissue. Strictly avoid using it to kill bed bugs hiding in furniture.
Always use a color-safe bleach so that your bedding does not become discolored especially sheets.

The conclusion drawn to”Does bleach kill bed bugs” is – you can eradicate bed bugs with the help of bleach to a large extent, but bleach is a harmful substance so go for substances such as diatomaceous earth if you want something safer. It is possible to get relief with the use of bleach. However, if the bed bug infestation is still uncontrollable then it is highly recommended to call an exterminator to get rid of these stubborn critters.