Your Bed Bug Resource

My College Bed Bug Nightmare!

2011-03-20T07:52:00.001-04:00

College life, new and exciting, you are on your way! You get to your new dorm room, home and life and begin to settle in. Life is exciting and wonderful, that is, until you start to notice a rash. You change detergents and soaps thinking that maybe you have become allergic. You wonder if it is poison ivy or if you are just coming down with a virus. You finally begin to put two and two together and find your dorm room is infested with bed bugs. Let me rephrase that, your dorm. These critters have invaded your personal belongings. They are in your book bag or purse, they are in your clothing, they are everywhere. The most disturbing thing to deal with is when you begin to realize that you have visited friends and family over the several months you have been trying to figure out what this mysterious rash was. You friend now has bed bugs, and when you go home for spring break you find them in your bed there. They have spread like the virus mentioned earlier except there is no easy way to get rid of them. The pure expense and physical labor that is involved in eradicating bed bugs is enormous. What was supposed to be the beginning of a bright future has become a nightmare. The mental anguish is overwhelming, your grades start to suffer, you relationships are strained and the embarrassment of the bed bug problem has made you an outcast, after all, you can't risk any more of your friends or relative getting this problem because of you.

Now wake up...was it really a just a nightmare?

Bed bugs are reported to affect one in five Americans. It is a problem that is going to become way worse before it gets any better. Your best defence is a strong offense. Be educated and diligent and use preventative measures.

2011 Bed Bug Summit

2011-01-29T09:51:00.001-05:00

In three days the second Bed Bug Summit is being offered by the US Environmental Protection Agency in Washington DC. Pending snow and ice predicted for my area those days, I plan to be there. I attended the last summit a few years back and found it to be extremely interesting, and as the months and years went by and the ideas that were born at this summit grew, productive. The last Summit was about ideas, a national brainstorming if you will, but this one I hope is a Summit about solutions. We have protocol and procedure in place. We know about the chemical resistance and crazy genes these bugs have. We know about the research and we know about the turmoil these bugs are bringing to cities across the country. Now it is time for action. The government needs to understand we need solutions. We need a relaxing of the rules if you will to introduce effective chemicals to the market. We need research dollars. We need answers.

Bed Bugs For Christmas

2010-12-29T09:04:00.002-05:00

Did you get bed bugs for Christmas? Hopefully not. The reason I ask is because of all the news reports of bed bugs that were found in all the department stores in New York and how these bugs travel and spread on trucks. Think Deliveries. It is a sad day when you have to fear getting bed bugs via presents received during the holidays, but it is a legitimate fear. We need a solution to this epidemic and hopefully we will receive that next Christmas!

Moving Day and Bed Bugs

2010-12-19T10:59:00.003-05:00

Over on my other blog, Pest Control Info, I wrote about a system for moving out utilizing a specially fit out moving truck that is insulated and fitted with commercial heaters. I also spoke of tenting and fumigating the truck to kill the little buggers. The problem that we are facing is the transport of these bugs from place to place. Delivery trucks, moving trucks, mattress delivery trucks, postage trucks, any means of transportation can be manipulated my bed bugs to get from point A to point B without our knowledge. Is there any way to stop this migration? It seems almost impossible. The industry would need to come up with processes and this costs money that they are not willing to spend. It is the biggest catch 22 in recent history. With the ingenuity and money that America has with the brightest minds in the world you would think that we'd have the problem beat by now. Instead we are meeting with agencies like the EPA trying to come up with solutions when what we need is funding and less stringent rules that the chemical manufacturers must follow to come up with safe and effective bed bug killing chemicals.
Just some ranting and raving for a Sunday morning.

Holiday Bed Bugs

2010-10-26T06:45:00.002-04:00

Giving the gift of bed bugs this year? You might be if you are traveling to the many holiday cities that are famous for Christmas time cheer. Cities like New York or Philadelphia are notorious for bed bugs problems, and going to see a Christmas show can leave you feeling in the Christmas Spirit and full of bed bugs. It seems like bed bugs are impacting the economy as many people have already decided not to visit these attractions for just this reason. People are not visiting theaters, they are not going to the movies, concerts, they are even worried about visiting attractions like the empire state building. Aside from that, even if they do go, it is only for the day, because who would stay at a hotel in these bug cities? It seems like these bed bugs are everywhere, when will the government step in and start the ball rolling to get some new chemistry produced to begin the eradication process. Happy Holidays!

Housekeeping and Bed Bugs

2010-10-10T07:57:00.003-04:00

Is your housekeeping service spreading bed bugs? Hotels, businesses, offices, dorms rooms, sea shore houses, they all have housekeeping services. In hotels they have carts that carry all the cleaning materials they need, and as we know bed bugs are notorious hitch hikers. As they cart goes from room to room, it is possible to spread these critters. Same goes with the house keepers that travel from office building to office building. All the supplies they bring with them can be spreading bed bugs from place to place. It is important to have your pest control inspector check these housekeeping supply carts and housekeeping supply closets and be diligent with training the housekeepers of what to look for and report what they find as soon as they see a bed bug. Training and education will be your best defense.

Start Your Bed Bug Fund Today!

2010-09-15T18:13:00.002-04:00

Can bed bug treatments be covered by home owner's insurance? This is the questions that has been asked across the country and the unfortunate answer is no. This is tragic, especially since a basic bed bug treatment can cost close to twelve hundred dollars and if you get a heat treatment for your home you are looking at three thousand or more, depending on the size of your home. This is just the treatment cost. What if you are unsure if you have them and you want a definite yes or no answer? Hire a dog. This service where a dog goes through your home to inspect for bed bugs can run a few hundred dollars. How about mattress and box spring covers at a couple hundred bucks? How about laundry and dry cleaning service? How about the bed bug sequel? Sometimes you need to get another treatment after all the follow up services. After all is said and done, you can wind up spending close to five or six thousand dollars. Yikes!

One thing I have started to do is put money aside in case bed bugs rear their ugly head. It is a good idea to have such a rainy day fund because when bed bugs hit home, you are going to want to get rid of them sooner than later, and you may not have the funds to treat the bed bugs properly. It's a simple message. Invest in your future.

Bed Bugs in the News

2010-09-04T13:13:00.002-04:00

You must be living under a rock these days if you have not seen or read a story about bed bugs. Stories of movie theaters in New York being closed because of bed bugs and the offices at CNN having bed bug problems are all the rage. It makes me think that we've gotten the word out like we have been wanting to and the public are more aware than ever about bed bugs, the problem is, unless they can afford a boat load of money to heat treat their home with thermal remediation or fumigate it, they may be trouble. The raise in awareness has put a spike in the amount of calls that pest control companies are receiving, many of them are just for simple inspections. The public wants to know if they have bed bugs. Can you blame them?
My hope is that all this public awareness will ignite a fire under the EPA to allow for some flexibility for the manufacturers of chemical that might actually work against these little terrors. I guess only time will tell.

Make A Million Dollars With Bed Bugs.

2010-08-10T22:31:00.002-04:00

Let me count the ways.

Bed bug prep business- Clean the clutter, bag the laundry, take the beds apart, take the outlet and switch plate covers off, vacuum. Do the grunt work.
Heat treatment company. Sub out your services to other companies as well as advertise your own services.
Fumigation coordinator. Contract with a fumigation company and a moving company. Pack and load all contents of an apartment, dorm, or entire home onto the truck. The company shoot the truck with gas. Movers unpack the contents back into the home.
Laundry Service. Commercial laundry companies can market to pest control companies and facility management as many standard laundry services will not take infested items. You be the first in the area.
Dry Cleaner Bed Bug Service. You can't launder the suits. Same as number 4.
Bed Bug Dog Inspector. Buy a dog. Get it trained. Make lots of money.

There are many ways that people are making money in the bed bug control industry. If only our chemical manufacturers were doing the same selling the new product that has become the silver bullet for bed bug eradication. Oh wait. That has not happened yet. One day.

EPA versus Bed Bugs

2010-08-10T21:39:00.002-04:00

I'm finally convinced that the EPA must be part of the bed bug conspiracy that is spreading across the USA in epidemic proportions. In a consumer alert presented today by the EPA they stated that pesticides should be limited and even went to far as to say, "Prevention and non-chemical treatment of infestations is the best way to avoid or eliminate a bedbug problem." Talk about being disconnected from reality. Non-Chemical treatment would indicate using heat or fumigation, both which are extremely effective, but enormously expensive. Prevention would indicate moving to a deserted island until the EPA approves and exemption or lightens up on regulating the chemical manufactures to allow for them to come out with some new chemistry. What I say to that is get used to eating coconuts! The EPA needs to start to realize that this is a real problem effecting the mental health and pocket books of people across the country. The reason people are over-using chemicals is because the chemicals the EPA has approved for bed bug control are not working as effectively as they should because the bed bugs are showing such a strong immunity. Can I get an Amen!

Feel free to remove by bed bugs.

2010-08-08T12:49:00.002-04:00

Should you just start accepting the fact that you will be living with blood sucking vampires for the rest of your life? After all, you've tried all the do it yourself bed bug treatments out there, you've reported the bed bug problem to your landlord, you've followed the advice and followed the preparation sheet the apartment complex pest control vendor gave you, you've spent tons of money on mattress and box spring covers for bed bugs and bought those climb up interceptors and placed them on the bottom of your bed legs, you've been a good little boy or girl and fought the good fight, and still you are getting bitten and still you see bed bugs on your walls and ceilings. You are tired of being the outcast and tired of seeing your son's and daughter's sad eyes because they can't invite friends over or go over for play dates any more because heaven forbid you spread the bugs to their friends house. You are tired of meeting friends at restaurants because you can't have friends over for fear they get bed bugs from your place. It's a sad world and you want to scream, "feel free to get rid of my bed bugs!"
It's a sad day in America when we as a people can't get rid of a tiny bed bug. Sure, you can fumigate or heat treat the bed bugs, that is if you have several thousand dollars to pay, but who in America, especially these days, have that kind of money? A regular bed bug treatment where the pest control company comes out to spray can cost you from five hundred to twelve hundred or more dollars. The problem is two fold, one is there is a strong resistance to the chemical that the bed bug exterminators are using, thank you EPA for making the process of bringing back old chemistry or introducing new chemistry so expensive, and two is you have to have complete cooperation from your neighbors and adjacent apartment dwellers, and how does the eight-five year old lady next door do all that prep work the pest control guys wants done? Well that may be why you still have the bed bugs?
So as I said in the beginning, should we as a society just accept the fact that we will be living with bed bugs forever? Should we as a society become hermits so not to pick up a bed bug in the movie theater or on a plane? Instead, let's start to make some noise and get the EPA and other powers to be involved with process and begin to understand that we are being invaded from the inside out and being beaten at the game. Americans rise up!

Preparation for a bed bug treatment

2010-06-26T15:59:00.002-04:00

Let's face it, you are already stressed out enough over having found out that you have bed bugs feasting on your blood all night long. Now the pest control company hands you bed bug preparation list that looks five feet long. The long and the short of it is this. To get the best bang for your buck, you have to take this preparation sheet and own it. Think of this treatment as a new start. Spring clean. Clean out all the clutter in your closets, drawers, and bedrooms. Throw away all those old cloths. Now it's time for the laundry. Bag up all your laundry in trash bags, just enough to throw into your washing machine per bag and remember, do not overload. Now seal these bags. Load up the washer and take the bag outside to the trash. When that wash is done then the hottest setting dryer, now dry cloths into a new bag and the cycle continues until all cloths are washed. Do this for all cloths in closets, drawers, so the bedding, sheets, blankets. How about suits? Dry cleaner. How about sneakers? Bag all the sneakers and shoes that won't be bothers by heat and place in the dryer for an hour. Things like purses and leather shoes can be fumigated with Nuvan Prostrips. Your pest control person can help you get them or they can be bought online at any do it yourself pest control supply website. Usually you seal these items in a plastic bag for 2 weeks. The gas kills the bed bugs.
Now that the laundry is out of the way, move the furniture away from the walls and take off any switch plate and out let covers. Your pest control person should be dusting these areas. If they are not, fire them and do not allow them into your home.
By reducing clutter and doing the laundry, you are eliminating any bugs or eggs hiding and reducing the population. Another thing to do is take down your curtains and run them through the dryer as well. Bed bugs like curtain rods, and they may use the curtains or drapes as a place to rest also. If you have carpet, talk to your pest control person and see if they want you to pull the carpet away from the walls. I would recommend this as the bugs can hide in the area between the tack board and the wall. Any throw rugs should also be put in to the Dryer. Remember, never overload your washer or dryer. You want the heat to be effective and not trying to heat too much stuff.
Good luck and work with your pest control company, not against them.

Help yourself not get bed bugs

2010-05-22T18:12:00.002-04:00

Bed bugs are becoming as common as the seasons, so it only makes sense to start to keep one eye open when traveling and sleeping at hotels and resorts. It is so important to check your room before bringing any luggage or bags into your room and check it thoroughly. GO so far as to taking the head board off the wall, if you are traveling with a partner, ask him or her to grab a side of the headboard and lift it off the wall. If you see nay signs of bug then leave it where it is and go right for the front desk. Checking areas like the mattress, side tables, behind and around the curtains. Check top and bottom and side to side. Am I crazy? No. Take the half hour to do a good inspection or times that half hour by a million and that could be how many half hours it takes to get rid of them at your home after you bring them home with you. Happy hunting.

Bed Bug Procedures fot Group Homes

2010-03-27T20:55:00.002-04:00

Group Homes and Homeless Shelters in the Human Services field are in need of establishing intake and admission procedures to limit the risk of transporting the bed bug from place to place and thus spreading the problem farther and wider than it already is. You need to establish a supply kit of coveralls with attached boots. You should have a set of clothing ready for new admissions. You will need a good working large capacity dryer dedicated to bed bugs. You will need a bare room to act as an admission area and a changing room. When the new person comes to the facility, you should explain that it is procedure to put everything that comes in tot he facility into the dryer. You should wear the coveralls as a precaution and bag all the person's clothing and take it right to the dryer. Ask the new person to change into the clothing that you provide and place those cloths and shoes into the dryer as well. During the intake process, ask directly if there were any bug issues where the person was coming from. All this will help with limiting the risk of bringing bed bugs into a facility. Establishing good program procedures will help to keep bed bug problems from being introduced into the home and to help catch the problem before they become full blown bed bug infestations.

Bed Bug Traps Are Growing

2010-02-19T20:44:00.002-05:00

Bed bug traps are starting to take hold and become more and more main stream as time goes on. Professional and expensive traps like the NightWatch are out there as well as several do it yourself versions where you build your own trap with some dry ice for CO2 and place them around. Another trap that has shown up on the radar is the Bug Dome which is a less expensive and lower profile trap that is retailing for around ninety dollars. I've found these Bug Dome bed bug traps for sale at the Stern Environmental Groups website so far. I am sure they will be popping up all over as time goes on. Now let's focus on killing these buggers.

How about that CO2 bed bug trap

2010-02-16T18:55:00.003-05:00

It's being called the bed bug trap with the pet food bowl, but Wan-Tien Tsai's simple bed bug monitor trap is all the rage. It's a easy as getting gallon water thermos with the flip up dispenser, a pet food bowl wrapped in cheese cloth on the outside, and some dry ice. The idea is simple enough, but should be used with extreme safety in mind and caution. God forbid a child picks up a dry ice cube and freezes his hand off, but this trap is something that can be cheaply put together and used in multiple locations to see what kind of activity is going on in the home. Bedbugs are distressing enough to make people try anything, but if used cautiously, it could be a cheap and useful tool.

What works for Bed Bugs

2009-12-12T18:58:00.002-05:00

As we all know, bed bug infestations have reached pandemic proportions. I wonder out of all the people out there, who has had success with treatments or what is working for people out there with regards to being proactive. Sure kill treatments for bed bugs are non-existent. What are your thoughts?

Do you check you hotel room for bed bugs?

2009-12-06T10:06:00.002-05:00

The first thing I do on vacation when I check into a hotel is inspect. The head board is the first place to look. Slide it up and off the wall as most of them are mounted this way and lay it forward to look on the back. I bring a flashlight with me these days. Then I take the fitted sheets off and look under them and in the seams and buttons, then around the floor legs and night stand. Bed bugs can be found on the luggage racks, and on the areas they give you to hang your cloths. Check in dresser drawers too. Now that you looked. Unpack and have fun, but if you see anything like a bed bug, go straight to the front desk and let them know. Be discreet as they will most likely work with you. They want to fight the battle as much as the rest of us.

Can I Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?

2009-10-25T17:37:00.003-04:00

That is the question of the century. Will I ever be able to eliminate my home or apartment of bed bugs? My thought is that until they come out with a silver bullet, the short answer is no, at least not with any traditional treatments. If you have some deep pockets you can fumigate the home, or bring in a company that specialized in heat treatments, but the regular Joe is out of luck. The products are not working and the nature of the bed bug hiding deep inside of furniture and the structure makes it almost impossible to get product to these hiding places. There are home remedies and professional products, none of which are working as aggressively as needed. I am sure there are cases of elimination that could be found out there, but my guess is that the opposite is true. Hopefully the manufacturers and the epa are working on some products that will kill bed bugs once and for all. Until then people will be using do it your self products and home remedies and in superior products or treatment methods, making the problem worse. Again...the answer to your question is a resounding No.

Bed Bugs, Moving, and not "catching" bed bugs.

2009-10-11T07:48:00.002-04:00

Planning on moving any time soon and worried about bedbugs infesting your stuff from a moving truck? Unfortunately there is no way to really verify that a moving truck is bed bug free. Chances are, the possibility that the truck moved a bed bug infested client at some point along the line is pretty high. Another thing to think about is when you hire a moving company they give you boxes and packing supplies. These are often times "used" or recycled boxes. So what is a bed bug conscience person to do? First thing to do is when you hire a moving company. Ask. The sales representative may take offense, but so what. Responsible moving companies should start to think about bed bug abating controls to assure clients are not affected by secondary infestation. The next thing to do is when they deliver your supplies, ask them to leave them outside and check them before you bring them inside. When you finally move and settle, it would be worth it to bring in a bed bug sniffing dog to do a walk through. If there has been a bed bug invasion, the dog will find it, and finding a problem earlier than later is found to offer greater success in elimination. Good luck with the move, and sorry to add one more stresser to one of the most stressful events in your life.

Bedbug heat treatment

2009-09-05T19:10:00.002-04:00

It looks like heat is going to be the way to go with the treatment option for bed bugs as time goes on. The incredible labor intensive procedures for treating bedbugs the traditional crack and crevice way, and the uncertainty of any success, along with the noncompliance of the customer, leaves no doubt in my mind that we need an overall treatment. Heat is this overall treatment. There is very little disruption to the home, it takes a day, and kills the stages of the bedbug from egg to adult.

Don't bring bedbugs home with you

2009-08-20T21:17:00.002-04:00

Bedbugs are easy to pick up during a vacation if you are not careful and use common sense. Before plopping your suitcase down on the floor or tossing it on the bed, leave them in the hallway and have a look around. Check drawers for bugs, bug pieces, or droppings. Take the bed spread off and look at the sheets. Are there any spots on the sheets? Any blood type smears? Take the sheets away and look at the mattress around the tufts and buttons. Live bugs? Look behind or take the head board off and look at the seams and the sunken screw button. Live bugs or blood spots? Being careful and having an eagle eye can help keep you and your family bug free.

Best Way To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs

2009-07-11T12:26:00.002-04:00

The best way to get rid of bed bugs is not to get them in the first place. With the summer travel season in full swing, it is important to remember that the bed bug problem is raging war on unsuspecting and ignorant families as they vacation. When you travel, whether it be on a plane train or automobile, or bus, or cab, you have to remember that there has been many who have come before you. Bed bugs are the king of hitch hiking and they are spread via trasportation. When you depart with your luggage at an airport or throw your bags under the bus in the luggage area, you are inviting trouble. What you must remember is that you must check your bags when you arrive at your destination, inside and out, for bed bugs. Start to bring a flash light with you where ever you go. Shine the light along the seams, in the pockets of the bag, etc. Look for bugs. When you arrive at your hotel, do the same. Take the bedding off, look for blood stains or spot, look at the mattress around the tufts and seams, and around the buttons of the mattress. Look around and at the head board. I even know people who bring a screw driver with them and take the head board off to inspect. Believe me, it is worth the time and effort to avoid getting a bed bug infestation because once you have them, you might as well learn to live with them, at least until an effective means of getting rid of them is discovered.

How do I know if I have Bed Bugs?

2009-07-04T07:32:00.002-04:00

Is there a way to tell for sure if I am being bitten by bed bugs? There are a few options to help you determine and answer this question. New traps on the market like the NightWatch and the CDC 3000 are good bets for a determination, although very expensive, but I wonder if people will balk at the price when being tortured by phantom bites. Then there is the option of hiring a bed bug dog. This is the probably the most effective way to get a negative or positive for the presence of bed bugs. I think that over the next few years we will be seeing alot of new traps and monitors come onto the market, but for now, our choices are limited.

My neighbor has bedbugs...Now what?

2009-06-28T07:55:00.002-04:00

If you live in a row home or an apartment and your neighbor has bedbugs then you might as well start preparing to get them yourself. One thing you can do to put the odds in your favor is to hire a pest control company to come out and drill holes in between each stud and inject a good pesticide dust into the wall voids. This should be done upstairs and downstairs. If you have wall to wall carpets then it would be a good idea to also pull the carpets away from the wall and and dust between the tack strip and the wall itself. I would recommend putting a mattress and box spring cover on the mattress and box spring just in case, this will save your bed in the event of an infestation. If you have a good relationship with your neighbors it is a good idea to unite and work together to solve the problem, if not, expect a long battle that you may lose.

Catch a movie, and a bed bug.

2009-06-27T10:16:00.003-04:00

Gloom and doom? I think not. Bedbugs like entertainment as much as the next bug, and the fact that you can catch a bedbug at a movie theater is not that far fetched. I am sure that the theaters have pest control measures in place to react to any infestation, but the nature of the bed bug and the fact that they are hard to detect and kill makes them the perfect dark theater predator. Enjoy.

Bedbugs in my Sofa and furniture?

2009-06-13T18:03:00.002-04:00

One question I get is can bed bugs live or bite on or in a sofa or other furniture? The short answer is yes they can. Bedbugs will hide and nest in anything. Was that clear enough. Anything. You could be sitting on a couch and bed bugs can be in the crevices of the couch and when your legs press against the bugs they will suck your blood. Same can happen in a movie theater seat and on a bus or air plane seat. It is important to know this because some people think that because bed bugs have the word bed in it , they simply are found on or around the bed. Not true.

Travel and Bed Bugs

2009-06-06T16:37:00.002-04:00

Getting ready for a bed bug free vacation? Planning a trip and you don't want to bring bed bugs home with you? Can you really pick up bed bugs while you travel? You should answer yes to all these questions, and in order to have a bed bug free vacation you should be as careful and diligent as possible when traveling. If you are planning on having your luggage stored in a separate compartment like a bus or airplane luggage area, you will want to protect the bags with some kind of barrier. There are some products like Rest Easy Bed Bug Luggage Spray from JT Eatons, or another product called the bug zip that allows you to basically wrap the luggage in a plastic cover to keep bed bugs out. Upon getting to the hotel, be sure to check the head boards and mattress. Look for blood stains, spots, and live bugs. If you are going to unpack for a long stay, consider keeping clothing and shoes in zip lock bags. Crazy? Maybe. Smart. Definitely.

Bedbug Control-Ahead of the eight ball

2009-06-01T21:18:00.002-04:00

One of the most important things in the control and ultimate elimination of a bed bug infestation is early detection. Once a bed bug infestation takes hold and establishes itself, the chance of even control becomes almost impossible, but catch the problem early enough, then you have a chance. How do you do this? How do you know? Well if you think you are getting bitten or suspect an infestation, then you should try to contact a pest control company that has a bed bug sniffing dog who will be able to identify the area the bugs are located. At his point you should try to set up treatment as soon as possible. Without the use of a dog or one of the new bed bug detection devices like the Nightwatch, it is almost impossible to find them until the are a problem, unless you are lucky enough to find them out in the open. So be sure to be diligent and remember that early detection is the key.

Bedbugs Bite

2009-05-31T07:38:00.003-04:00

Well not really...bedbugs suck. The phenomenon of bedbugs, I fear, will become on of the worst problems of our time by the very virtue of the fact that there is no silver bullet to kill them completely. The problem is , you can do the most thorough treatment, killing off all but one bedbug, and the problem will resurface again. Another problem is the fact that the chemicals are not working on them to kill them. If you spray them directly, you can kill them, but any residual chemical left behind is useless. So how do you protect yourself? You need to research and learn everything you can about the bed bug. You need to raise awareness of this insect. You need to do regular inspections to catch the problem early. That is one thing the experts agree with, if you catch the problem early enough, the possibility of elimination is greater. So crack open those books and hop on the Internet and go back to school. Bedbugs are here to stay.

Bed bug Dogs

2009-04-26T18:33:00.002-04:00

Bedbug sniffing dogs are the way to go it seems if you need to find out for sure whether you have a bedbug problem or if a problem has been resolved. They can be extremely useful as a proactive measure in hotels to catch an bed bug problem early, which is your best bet for elimination, and can also be very useful in situations where you just can't be sure. I can see a future where bed bug inspection reports will need to be completed before buying a home or apartment, much like the modern day termite inspection. A bedbug dog would be the best use in this case. Cost is an issue, but this can come down if there is steady work. The dogs are expensive because there are only a few trusted schools that train these dogs, so be careful and ask that question if you hire a dog inspection service.

EPA Bedbug Summit

2009-04-18T17:35:00.002-04:00

What a fantastic two days I had early this week at the EPA sponsored bed bug summit. The best brains in the pest control industry were there along with representation from industry across the board. As we all know bed bugs can become a problem for any industry, not just housing, and we all put our heads together to offer our best recommendations to the EPA. The biggest issue that came up was funding, no one wants to pay for research and no manufacturer is interested in new chemistry. The EPA is not interested in bringing back old chemistry that worked, and the chemicals we have today barely work at full strength being sprayed on the bug, but not so much when the chemical is dry and left as residual. So what are we to do? As I always say...education is the key, and this seemed to be the consensus of the group. Public awareness is also a big recommendation. Bedbugs need to become as common as socks and shoes. Raising awareness and education is our best bet for now, catching the bed bugs early is our best bet for control. So go spread the word.

Bedbug Awareness

2009-03-14T10:19:00.002-04:00

It looks like bedbug awareness is rising. Municipalities are coming up with protocol and this month in Washington DC there will be a gathering to discuss the problem that is bed bug infestation. Education, awareness, and determination will be our biggest tools in the parade towards eradication.

Bedbug Video Blog

2009-03-03T18:51:00.002-05:00

Interesting blog with a compilation of Bed Bug Videos.

The bedbug big three

2009-02-15T13:28:00.002-05:00

In my opinion there are three things that the industry needs to be effective in bedbug control.
As of yet there has been no silver bullets that can directly and effectively treat and eliminate bed bugs, which is so unfortunate. The three tools that we would need would be a spray that is formulated using a different chemistry from the ones we presently have. Two would be a growth regulator specific to bed bugs that is potent enough to break the cycle. Three would be for a bed bug specific pheromone trap. These three things would work wonders in a treatment and they are three things we presently lack. I know there is work being done in the field of a pheromone trap, so we will see what the future holds. Hopefully these big three tools will be developed sooner than later.

Importance of bedbug mattress covers

2009-02-15T13:07:00.003-05:00

Bedbug mattress and box spring covers are important tools in the treatment of bed bugs in an overall plan. Products like protect-a-bed for bed bugs help in saving the bed and preventing bedbugs from entrenching themselves in all the cracks and crevices of a mattress and the box spring. These bedbug covers help the treating pest control technician because it eliminates the need to have to treat the whole bed, saving him or her time and saving you money. Even if bedbugs are not a problem in your home right now, I would suggest putting them on, especially if you are more susceptible to getting an infestation, in the even you travel alot or work in environments that have problems.

Bedbug mattress and box spring covers help during an infestation because it allows the technician to treat the appropriate areas, and then seal the box spring and mattress from additional outside infestations and keeps any bugs left behind to perish.

To sum it all up, the investment in a product like protect-a-bed or other hyper allergenic mattress and box spring cover is well worth it.

Bedbugs and laundry

2009-02-14T18:21:00.002-05:00

When faced with a bedbug problem, one thing that your exterminator should require you to do is your laundry. If he doesn't, find a new exterminator. When I say laundry I mean all the laundry. You have to clear out your closets and if the cloths require dry cleaning, then get them dry cleaned. You may be able to get away with simply running the cloths through the dryer for an hour at high heat. This will kill all stages of the bed bug. The same goes for shoes and sneakers. When the pest control person goes into your room it should be clear of any fabric. Bedding, pillows, drapes, curtails, all need the same treatment. This needs to be done for all bedrooms. When the cloths are done in the dryer them reload them in a brand new trash bag and seal tightly shut with tape. This should also be done for any coats or clothing in down stairs closets. Don't forget throw pillows from the sofa and stuffed animals. Sound like a gigantic project. Well it is. If you want to get rid of the bedbugs properly then you have to launder all these items. It will take time, effort, and coordination with the pest control person.

Bedbugs and traveling

2009-02-14T17:08:00.002-05:00

Bedbugs can be picked up anywhere and unfortunately you are most susceptible during travel. Millions of bags go through the baggage system in an airport and hundreds of bags are put into the airplane luggage storage, not to mention the carry on area. This cycle happens daily if not several times a day for that airplane. All it takes is one of those bags to have bedbugs and the possibility of contamination is high. The same goes for trains and buses. You can also pick up bedbugs while simply sitting in a airplane, bus, or train seat after a person with bedbugs have sat there and get them. Same is true for cruises. All those bags are taken and stored and then placed outside your door. Who knows where those bags have been. The unfortunate truth is bedbugs are here to stay and it may turn into a situation where it is not a matter of "if" but a matter of "when" someone gets infested with bedbugs. You can limited your chances by educating yourself about bedbugs, know what and where to look for them after you have checked into a hotel or cruise. How about your bags you ask, well I'm afraid you are left to chance in this area. There are items for sale at online pest control stores that you can spray your bag with, but you have to ask yourself if you want to have your clothing laying in with chemicals. You can buy these products, one of them is a luggage spray made by J. T. Eaton, and spray the outside I suppose. Here's an idea, buy a large enough zip lock bag and place your luggage in this. What we really need is the bed bug silver bullet. Maybe one day we will find it.

Where can you find bedbugs?

2009-01-25T15:40:00.002-05:00

Bedbugs can be found almost anywhere. They are in five star hotels, roadside motels, airports, airplanes, bus depots, buses, colleges, high schools, dorms, grade schools, and laundry mats. Bedbugs can be found in apartment buildings, homes, churches, work places, delivery trucks, outside, inside, theaters, movie theaters, restaurants, take-out joints, rug stores, and department stores. Bedbugs can be encountered just about everywhere. Beware.

Bedbugs 2009

2009-01-04T16:23:00.002-05:00

Bedbugs have made a new years resolution for 2009, and that is to be just as much of a pain in the butt as they were in 2008, if not worse. Hopefully the new year will bring some new weapons to add to the arsenal, like some of the traps that should be coming to market soon. These bed bug traps will be able to help us make a determination of success or not in bedbug treatments. The bedbug traps will also help us in identifying bedbug problems where bed bugs are not physically seen during inspections. Now all we need is a good bedbug insect growth regulator and a knock out chemical to mix up to kick these bugs back to where they came from a generation ago!

Can Bed Bugs Be Stopped.

2008-12-14T12:31:00.002-05:00

Can Bed Bugs be stopped? That is the question. It truly seems as if these bugs have a firm hold and are almost impossible to completely eliminate from a structure, short of fumigating the whole place. It almost seems like until they find the silver bullet, bedbug elimination will need to be renamed bedbug control. Has anyone ever had complete success with a bedbug treatment?

It's time to prepare for a bedbug treatment

2008-11-22T10:51:00.001-05:00

There are steps that must be taken to get some decent results from a bed bug treatment. The preparation can be detailed and take much time, but it is worth it in the end. Step one is get your clothing ready for laundry. Every piece of clothing in any drawers, any clothing or fabric stored in boxes or bags, curtains, blankets, sheets, bed skirts, bedding in general, pillow cases, furniture covers, towels, coats, anything fabric will need to be bagged, sealed, and brought to either the laundry mat or if you think your washer and dryer can handle it, then so be it. The clothing should go through a wash and then placed in a hot dryer for about 45 minutes. With the shear volume of clothing, it is almost worth the money to have a laundry mat handle it. Shoes that can not be put in dryer should be put in zip lock bags, sneakers should be placed in dryer for 45 minutes. If you have other clothing that can not be washed, then it should go through the dryer for 45 minutes, leather coats should be taken to the dry cleaner. The clothing that comes out of the dryer should be put in new bags and sealed, with the old bags tossed away outside. At this point any clutter under your beds and in closets should be placed in zip lock bags. Find a website that sells bulk bags in different sizes as you will need to place alot of things in zip lock bags. At this point all clutter is up off the ground, out of closets, and any loose items bagged. Now it is time to vacuum. Vacuum under furniture, beds, entire carpets, all over, thoroughly. Place some talc powder on the rug and vacuum up to hopefully coat any bedbugs in the vacuum. Now toss the bag in the trash outside of the home.Some theories state that taking up the rug and tossing is good. Some just say that taking the rug back away from the tack board is ok. I guess it will depend on the severity of the problem. This will give access to the pest control professional to treat in between the tack board and the wall. If you feel comfortable taking back the rug then do so, if not the pest control person may do it, either way, make sure it is done. Take pictures and anything hanging off the walls and turn around for treatment. Take drawers out of dressers and night stands. Make sure the drawers and the inside and underneath of these items are treated. If you have any cardboard boxes or paper bags used as storage, take everything out of these items and place in zip lock bags and throw away outside. Eventually these bags will need to be inspected or treated as the pest control person sees fit. Books should be zip lock bagged or tossed. Magazines zip lock bagged or tossed. All electronic items, especially from the bedroom, need to be zip lock bagged and sealed. Be sure you get a tight seal on these bags. If you have an attic or above the house crawl space, make sure the pest control professional treats and inspects this area, make sure vent covers are taken off and treated, make sure the pipe chase covers for bathrooms are removes and treated, make sure outlet and switch plate covers are removed and treated. Once the treatment is done, be sure the pest control person puts a box spring and mattress encasement on both the box spring and mattress. Do not skip this step. You may have to live out of bags for a while as the follow up treatment should be no more than 10 days out. Be sure that you factor in several follow ups. It is worth an inspection contract to be sure they are gone. They are not easy to get rid of. Don't be afraid to follow the pest control operator to make sure everything is getting done. Chances are you will be shelling out a thousand or more dollars for a proper treatment to be done, that's a lot of money and you have the right be sure it is being done the right way. The above may seem extreme, but it needs to be done.

Bedbug covers are cool

2008-11-15T08:34:00.002-05:00

Mattress and box spring covers are both something I strongly recommend in bedbug control. First off they save your bedding, so you don't have to throw it away, and they eliminate all the many hiding places for bedbugs to get into on your bed. There is an industry standard that most pest control companies will recommend which is the Protect A Bed. This cover uses a special locking technique that makes sure the zipper is closed tightly so nothing can get in. So make sure you cover those beds and make sure you cover both the mattress AND the box spring.

Using a bedbug trap like the CDC 3000

2008-11-09T19:00:00.002-05:00

When I think of the possibilities that a trap like the CDC 3000 or the NightWatch bedbug trap can have it gets a bug man excited. It eliminates the need for dogs to verify that bedbugs are there or to verify that a treatment worked. It also can act as a fantastic tool to put in the arsenal of treatment. The traps are expensive, this is true, but I think they can more than pay for themselves. I would place one of these traps under a bed or near it, and surround it by glue boards to expand the traps capacity to catch bedbugs. Now let's get a good bedbug targeted IGR and a new chemistry spray that kicks butt and we'll be in business.

Bed Bug Trap Available CDC 3000

2008-11-09T18:46:00.003-05:00

Finally there is a bedbug trap that is available for sale called the CDC 3000 or the Cimex Detection Case 3000 manufactured by Cimex Science. Use as a follow up tool or an early warning monitor, the CDC 3000 works by mimicking the human body by emitting CO2, heat, and something that smells like body odor. Trapping bedbugs is in the here and now. This trap works in as little as an hour, luring bedbugs out of hiding and catching them. You can bug the CDC 3000 bedbug trap for around five hundred dollars.

Dusting for Bedbugs

2008-11-02T17:48:00.002-05:00

One phase of treating for bedbugs should involve using a decent dust product to take care of areas such as the inside of switch plate covers and electric outlets. There are dust products that come in a can and leave a "dusty residual" to kill the bedbugs. Of course this bedbug dust protocol should be incorporated in with a total integrated bedbug control program that involves vacuuming, steam, a good residual bedbug chemical sprays, dusts, and one day...a good trap.

Community Bedbug Classes

2008-10-22T20:35:00.002-04:00

Education will wind up being the key to limiting the spread of the bedbug problem that is plaguing many of our communities. A bedbug action plan should be developed with the help of the government and classes organized with a strong advertising plan to announce the classes. This, along with a public service announcement plan, could greatly increase the success of a bedbug elimination plan. People need to know what to look for to catch bedbug activity early. The public also should know how bedbugs spread from place to place and how to prevent this from happening as well. A wise man once said, " There is nothing to fear but fear itself" Knowledge is power and there is power in numbers.

Crevice III Phenothrin

2008-10-19T19:17:00.002-04:00

Whitmire's new product called Crevice III Phenothrin is a new product in the fight against bedbugs. This product can be used as a crack and crevice to treat bedrooms for bed bugs as well as treatment to the mattress according to the label. Crevice III Phenothrin , from what I hear, has been kicking butt. You can buy it online I am sure at a DIY website, but as always, when dealing with bedbugs, it's best to hire a professional.

Bedbugs and public service message

2008-10-12T19:25:00.002-04:00

I wonder if starting a public service program would help to raise awareness for the problem that is plaguing society. If folks knew what to look for, how bedbugs could be transported, how to avoid introducing them into your home, then maybe we would be able to help curve the increase alittle. Knowledge is power. It's how we will win this war.

Fumigate the bedbug on a truck

2008-10-11T08:01:00.002-04:00

I am faced with a bed bug infestation in an apartment environment that is very severe. An example of the intensity is the fact that although not needing an inspection because they were clustered in the corners of the ceiling, a bedbug was also found in a matchbook. This brings one obstacle to mind. Clutter. I almost think the best way to treat an apartment or dorm room setting is to put on a full body tyvek suit, move everything out into a tractor trailer, fumigate the truck, while in the mean time treating the empty apartment unit. This would kill anything in the clutter and furniture, and also a thorough treatment in the unit will kill the ones inside. Next, put on you mattress and box spring covers, and place it all back. Follow up in ten days with another treatment. Good luck.

The best way to get rid of bedbugs

2008-10-03T19:53:00.004-04:00

The best way to get rid of bedbugs is not to ever get them in the first place. Easier said than done. How horrible is it that a family on vacation can come home with memories that will last a life time and the way things seem to be going now, a problem that could last just as long. One big problem is resistance to the chemical formulations. A product like catalyst might work wonders on bedbugs, but it is not labeled for them and these days it's taboo to use organophosphates. What we need is a chemical that is formulated differently to break the cycle of resistance. The problem is it takes a million years to get a chemical to market for the pest control industry. In fact, most of the chemicals we use today are the leftovers of the agriculture industry. I believe that the new trap that is on it's way to being brought to market, the NightWatch, will help alot, but we need a home run. A growth regulator specific to the bedbug would be great. Now get to work...the first one to the finish line is a billionaire.

Bedbugs on the bus.

2008-09-28T10:00:00.002-04:00

The bedbugs on the bus go up and down...up and down...up and down. A little play on the children's song that has an erie twist. We have to be aware that bedbugs can be picked up anywhere. Airplanes, movie theaters, schools, laundry mats, dry cleaners, and buses. Think about it, bedbugs love to travel in suit cases and where do the suitcases go when you are traveling? They go under the bus in the luggage compartment. This allows for bedbugs to transfer from suitcase to suitcase, so even if you were lucky enough to escape a hotel stay without getting bed bugs you still have the chance to catch them in transit. Be diligent!

Bed bug trap and hotels

2008-09-24T20:30:00.003-04:00

The new NightWatch bed bug trap that should be hitting the market in November sounds like it will be the thing we've all been waiting for. While this bed bug trap promises to be an expensive investment, the peace of mind it can bring to a consumer is invaluable. The NightWatch bed bug trap will be able to tell someone if there are in fact bedbugs in a room or not. Right now the only tool we have to do this is the bedbug sniffing dog. NO doubt the NightWatch will be hard to keep on the shelves once it is brought to market. Fingers crossed.

NightWatch Bedbug Trap

2008-09-21T10:21:00.002-04:00

Will November 2008 be D day for bedbugs as Bio Sensory unveils it's revolutionary bedbug trap called NightWatch. Combining a 7-part kairomone lure, CO2, and heat, this bedbug trap promises to be a fantastic monitoring tool to tell you for sure if bedbugs are present, and also a great tool to tell you the progress of your treatments. In Bio Sensory's field tests the bed bug trap caught one thousand bedbugs in one night and over ten thousand bedbugs during the entire test. Very exciting news indeed!

Freezing Bedbugs with cryonite

2008-09-15T21:43:00.002-04:00

There are many ways to kill bedbugs, or so it seems. You can vacuum them, spray them, fumigate them, heat them up and freeze them to death with cryonite. There is a treatment out there that uses a carbon dioxide snow to freeze the little punks. Some features include being able to treat electrical sockets and areas where moisture an not be because it is a dry freeze. You also do not have to evacuate the premises for this treatment. The draw back from what I understand is that cryonite has no residual, so you have to come in contact with the bedbug to kill the bedbug. I'd chalk this up as a tool to add to the tool chest and not a complete rid all process. Still a very interesting idea with lots of options.

Is heat and bedbugs the next big thing?

2008-09-02T20:57:00.002-04:00

Companies like Therma Pure and others are promising big things for those who are suffering from bedbugs with a treatment that uses no chemicals. They are using heat to kill the little bedbugs and their eggs. It a process that can become very popular in cluttered places like apartments or dorm rooms who are experiencing a bedbug infestation. It is perfect because you can basically treat the area with little to no preparation. You have to remove easily melted objects like candles and the such, other than that it is a fry fest. This treatment is costly and finding the contractors to do it can be tougher than calling your local pest control guy, but it's worth the trouble.

Get bedbugs out of your dorm.

2008-09-01T18:01:00.004-04:00

Get bedbugs out of my dorm, how's that for a statement easier said than done? So just how are people getting this result and killing bedbugs so as not to transport then back home when they visit mom or from dorm to dorm? The products that have been on the scene are the old standards like Phantom, Bedlam, and Sterifab, but what about the some more off the wall techniques like steam and heat? There are companies out there that heat the room up to a temperature that kills the bedbugs and eggs which is a process that the healthy for the environment. There is also a technique using steam which needs to be incorporated into a complete bedbug treatment, this won't stand alone as a treatment unto itself. The toolbox is starting to fill up finally with the right tools, we just have to start to to implement the techniques.

Bedbugs are here to stay

2008-08-29T15:15:00.003-04:00

How frightening of a comment is that. Bed bugs are here to stay. For now I would venture to say that bedbugs are back, but here to stay, I don't know. If anything can be said for the pest control industry it is that we are a group of smart people who are full of ingenuity. My bet is that we will come up with a successful growth regulator for them or a powerful pheromone to trap them. We will succeed, no doubt, the question is when.

Bedbugs going to college.

2008-08-25T17:51:00.002-04:00

It seems these days that bedbugs are going back to college so to speak with reports of these stealth critters infesting dorm rooms and the like. So what's a college student to do when faced with the bedbugs in the dorm? First thing's first. Report the problem immediately to the college, don't be embarrassed or scared, the faster this problems is revealed the easier it is to treat. Some questions have been asked about what products college students can get to spray in their dorm rooms for these bedbugs. I wouldn't recommend this, there is a product that you can get online called the Bedbug Luggage Spray by JT Eatons. This would be the perfect product to try to avoid transporting the bedbugs from college dorm room to your parent's home, and I stress try. Bedbugs are notorious hitch hikers and many times this is the cause of the problem in the first place. So when faced with the problem of bedbugs who have returned to college be sure to report and retreat!

Bed Bugs in Dorm Rooms

2008-08-24T22:26:00.003-04:00

Back to school and the battle begins. Many students are going to find themselves up against the toughest obstacle to get over besides passing grades, and that is bedbugs in the dorm room! This pest will get into the minds of students as they move back to the dorms of colleges across the country unfortunately and the news articles will hit the newspapers and the stories will appear on the news stations and the government will do nothing but sit by and watch the crisis continue. This problem needs to have research with strong funding behind it to come up with a silver bullet in eliminating this problem from our civilized world. If a bedbug spread malaria or west Nile virus like the mosquito does then the government would be throwing all kinds of money at it. Instead the college students of the world and the apartment dwellers and the hotel travelers and the home owners all have to suffer. Is that a bed bug bite or a flea bite? That is the question, a question that is becoming ever more easier to answer in today's day and age.

Why are bed bugs so hard to kill?

2008-08-19T19:22:00.002-04:00

Why does it seem almost impossible to get rid of bed bugs? For one thing they are stealth fighters. They use gorilla tactics. They are also very hardy pests. Unfortunately, many of the bed bugs infesting our homes and apartment buildings are resistant to the insecticides we have today. So we are experimenting with different products and combinations to try to get a modicum of relief. Bedbugs are resistant to synthetic pyrethroids, which most of our insecticides are. Some products like Phantom are not, and this is why it is one of the good guys. Alcohol based products like Sterifab is another good product for contact kill. Bedlam has also been known to work well. Most of these products are not available to the public unless bought through a pest control products website like epest supply or DIY pesticides, other than that, you have to hire a professional. Be careful how much money you spend on all the sensationalism that is being sold out there. You'll go broke trying to fight a survivor until the pest control industry comes up with a silver bullet, which they will, eventually.

Get rid of bed bugs

2008-08-17T10:04:00.002-04:00

Eliminating bedbugs can be a tricky procedure. Bedbugs are hard to find let alone getting rid of them. Most times people don't know they have bedbugs until they start experiencing bites, even then they are not sure if the bites are bedbug bites or flea bites or some other kind of bite.
So some signs of a bedbug infestation would include bite marks on the body, blood spots on your sheets, actual bugs. The best place to inspect is behind the head board, the mattress, under the box spring.
Exterminating bedbugs is a job of precision. You must be thorough. Arm yourself with a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment. Bedlam has been proven to kill adults and eggs, and a product called Phantom. These are all professional products and you must use extreme caution and follow the label which is the law. You may also want to pick up a good dust like drione dust. The last product to buy would be enough mattress and box spring covers for all your beds. Protect A Bed is the best product out there to cover your bedding. Now let's begin.
Depending on the level of infestation will depend on how involved the treatment will be. If it is a bad one you will need to consider laundering all your clothing, emptying the drawers to give access for treatment. If you have carpets they will need to be pulled back to reveal the tack boards to treat this area. Treat from top to bottom, all furniture, first using the vacuum to get all visible adult bed bugs. Now treat the cracks and crevices of the room and furniture with a product labeled for this. Be sure to take the electric socket covers and light switch covers off. Dust these voids, using caution. Next take the bed apart and vacuum all live bugs. Take the dust cover of the bottom of the box spring. Treat the bed per the label of whatever product you use. Next let dry. Put the box spring cover on and then the mattress cover on.
Now repeat for each bedroom, then the rest of the house. You will need a friend to help. Some precautions to take would be to put on foot covers, and a tyvek suit. After the treatment be sure to vacuum up some dust and then toss the vacuum bag. This is very important. As you can see eliminating bed bugs is an all day or sometimes a two day process. This is why it is so expensive to hire a pest control company to do it, and it is why to be sure that if you do call in a pro that they don't charge you a small fee and say it should only take an hour or two. These companies have no idea how to help you. SO good luck and hopefully you will have success in eliminating your bedbug problem. Be sure to follow up with a treatment in about 10 days.

Bedbug Monitoring trap

2008-08-07T20:50:00.003-04:00

As of now there is only one way I know of to determine if you have bedbugs or not. The use of a bedbug sniffing dog. Even using this method they recommend bringing in a second dog to verify the first one's findings. The human eye just can't beat the nose of a dog. One thing I found out about this week in a Bedbug seminar offered by PCT that I attended was the bedbug monitoring trap that will be coming down the pike soon. You place the device in a room for 24 hours and if there are bedbugs in that room they will be attracted to this device and trapped on a glue board. This is great news. It will let people who have mystery bites know for sure if they are bedbug bites of not, they will tell people who had their homes treated if the treatment worked or not, it will most of all give people piece of mind. Look for soon.

The Future of Bed Bug Control

2008-08-02T20:35:00.002-04:00

Bed bug control will soon be as regular and easy as treating for roaches or fleas I believe. This bug affects the multi-billion dollar a year tourist industry and hotel industry and they, along with the pest control industry, will not sit by and be out smarted by bedbugs. I think you will soon be seeing several bed bug monitoring traps come into market, bed bug pheromone traps, bedbug growth regulators like we have for fleas, and a more effective adulticide with a active that works by a different mode of action. We may be behind the eight ball with these critters, but don't count us out yet.

Bedbug Encasements

2008-07-03T08:30:00.002-04:00

Bedbug encasement or mattress covers are one of the best ways to battle bedbugs at the source. The mattress cover will prevent bedbugs from entering the cracks and crevices on the mattress or the box spring where they hide and multiply, and the mattress cover will also trap any bedbugs that are already on the mattress or box spring. This encasement allows the homeowner a option other than throwing away their beds. It is much less expensive to buy a mattress cover on a website than it is to toss your bed. Be sure that when you order your mattress covers to get the right size and to buy one for the mattress and one for the box spring. It must zipper and be specific to bed bugs or dust mites. These can be bought on any mattress cover website or most DIY pest control products sites.

Bedbugs and buying a home

2008-06-21T08:15:00.002-04:00

It is law that a home can not be sold without a termite inspection...along with termite inspections some real estate agents offer home inspections, radon inspections, mold inspections, home inspections, but why not bed bug inspections? How do you know if the family that is moving out did not or are not experiencing a bed bug infestation? This question is especially important when renting an apartment unit. Apartment complexes are notorious for bed bug problems and there is no way of knowing that the tenants that left were not experiencing a bed bug problem before they moved out. The excitement of your new place can be ruined overnight without looking into this. Literally. Why not ask for a bed bug inspection before you move in. The rental agent or the real estate agent might think you are nuts, but it is your right to know.

Bed Bug Evidence Photos

2008-06-14T10:24:00.001-04:00

Do I have bedbugs?

2008-06-14T10:16:00.003-04:00

The question of bed bugs or not comes up often and can drive people crazy. People get bumps that can be bed bug bites, flea bites, scabies, bird mites, poison ivy or plant rash, a viral infection. How can you determine if you have bed bugs?
Here is a good bed bug inspection to perform to help pin point the fact of having or not having bed bugs. Use a strong flashlight. You are looking for live bugs, bug casing or pieces, spots or many blood colored or brown spots clustered together, eggs.

Take all the bedding, sheets, mattress covers off the bed and look for bugs running first.
If none are found then look in the mattress buttons, pull back the tufts around the mattress, cover each inch. Inspect every nook and cranny.
Flip mattress over and do the same.
Take mattress off the bed and do the same for the box spring.
Take the fabric cover off of the bottom of the box spring and look.
Inspect the bed frame.
Check the bedding, sheets, and blankets for blood spots.

You can see some pictures of this evidence in my post Bed Bug Evidence Photo

If nothing is found and you are still not convinced then the best way to put your mind at ease is to hire a bedbug sniffing dog to come in and inspect. Dogs can be trained to sniff for explosives, termites, mold, and now bed bugs. Happy hunting.

Kill Bed bugs dead with PuraCleenRX

2008-05-24T08:17:00.002-04:00

Looking for a bed bug control product with some teeth? Q Based health care is offering a bed bug product with an actual guarantee to kill Bed Bugs Dead. The product is a bed bug spray called PuraCleenRX that works on the exoskeleton. As always you have to take all things into consideration when dealing with a bed bug problem, but this product sounds like something that would be worth putting in your bed bug arsenal. Happy hunting.

Bed Bug Seminar

2008-05-23T20:44:00.002-04:00

My motto is, "education is king". It is very important to learn everything you can about your enemy, namely, the bed bug. Coming up in the next few months will be a very important seminar for pest control professionals with the topic being our favorite, bedbugs and their control. I have added the link to this bedbug seminar to look at.
http://www.bedbugseminars.com/hotel-info.html

How not to transfer bedbugs in a move.

2008-04-20T16:02:00.003-04:00

So you decided to move, but you are afraid that you will bring the bed bug problem with you to the new place. First thing to tackle is getting your entire house treated along with bedding and furniture. You have to also worry about smaller personal products. Several of your large pest control companies offer a fumigation chamber where they can load the contents of your house onto a truck or some other kind of chamber and fumigate it. This will penetrate and kill the bed bugs that are sneaking around in things like your bedside clock radio or a small table. Other companies offer the same kind of chamber except they use heat. I personally like the heat method better. Either way, you will have to treat the home and contents to be sure that you'll make a clean break from your problem. Good Luck.

Eaton's Kills Bedbugs spray

2008-04-05T12:04:00.000-04:00

JT Eaton's Kills Bed Bugs spray has come up with a sequel with it's product "Kills Bed Bugs 2". This follow up is a water based chemical that is more user friendly in that is won't stain as easily. The first Eaton's Bed Bug Spray was an oil based chemical that people complained about. The new product is water based with a 0.03% Deltamethrin that kills up to sixteen weeks. It can be used on bedding and other areas. As always be sure to read the label before use.

Electronic bedbug control

2008-03-30T08:17:00.003-04:00

A good question came across my desk with regards to those sonic pest repellers and if they would work in the case of bed bugs. First of all...I think that they could be the worste thing to place out if you have a bed bug problem. A few reasons for my non-support of electroci bed bug control is the fact that if those devices did work, all they would do is drive the bed bugs either to another part of the house or apartment. This could also drive them deeper into hiding as they try to get away from the devices frequency. Seek and destroy is your best bet.

Bed bug bites.

2008-03-29T18:47:00.002-04:00

I remember how the mention of fleas would drive people to scratch and squirm. Now the question is am I getting bitten by fleas or am I getting bitten by bed bugs? Bite marks are hard to identify either way often times. You can figure out your questions by a process of elimination to help in your determination. First question is. DO you have a dog or cat? Are your bites on your legs only or are they showing up on the torso and arms? If you have animals then the possibility of fleas bites are strong. If not then you may have bed bugs. If you have bites only on the ankles then they may be fleas. If they are across your chest and in a row then you may have bed bugs.
Did you travel and stay over night in a hotel lately? You may have brought home more than your luggage. Does any of your friends or colleagues have bed bugs? Maybe they passed them onto you. Does anyone at your child's school have them? Did you recently bring anything new or used into your home? These are all questions you can ask yourself to narrow down the possibilities. Good Luck.

Bed Bug Bites

2008-03-22T18:09:00.003-04:00

Just like any kind of bite, bed bug bites are hard to really say for sure what they are. Some characteristics to look for would be a symmetrical line of bites as the bed bugs like to line up to feed. Some folks want to know if they have bed bug bites or flea bites. You can eliminate the possibility of fleas by a process of elimination. Are there dogs or cats present? Are the bites only on the legs. Do you see the fleas? Are you only getting bitten at night? Fleas will bite any time of day, and they are easy to detect because you usually feel the fleas biting you. I would recommend asking a doctor if you are not certain and also arrange for a pest controller to inspect the property.

Bedbugs in your cable box?

2008-03-15T09:25:00.002-04:00

Is it possible to get bedbugs from a cable box? The short answer is yes. Think about it, if you have a cable box that is in a heavily infested home and they decide to cancel cable, they drop the box back off at the cable company. The cable company doesn't throw them away, they recycle them. We all know how hardy bed bugs are and even if they sit for months in that cable box on a shelf at the cable company and then brought into your home the next time you order cable, you now have bedbugs. Be sure to always check anything new that is brought into your house, new or used, from an outside source. The item may not have had bedbugs, but the truck it was delivered on may and now you do. See the trend. Be vigilant.

Best Bed Bug Spray

2008-03-09T19:47:00.002-04:00

One thing that people want to know these days is what is the best bedbug spray to get rid of these bugs and and where can they buy the best bed bug spray? It is hard to say that any one spray is better than the other because a bed bug job should incorporate multiple disciplines. There are several bed bug sprays on the markets that could do the job for a quick knock down of bed bugs that are found, but a professional job is your best path to elimination. TO find these sprays you can look to specific websites that sell these bedbug control sprays or many of your do it yourself pest control websites will sell bed bug sprays. It really all depends on your situation and the severity of your infestation to determine what the best spray would be. I would keep the bed bug spray in your arsenal and call a professional to assist in elimination. Good Luck!

Bed bug luggage spray

2008-02-18T20:08:00.003-05:00

A great product that is manufactured by the J T Eaton company is it's new JT Eaton Rest Easy Bed Bug Spray for Luggage. This water base 0.50% Permethrin with residual action keeps killing for four to six weeks! Travel is one way that people transport bed bugs back to their homes and this product is a great way to prevent this. Just spray the inside and outside of your bags and it will give you protection from hitch hiking bed bugs.

Bed Bug Mattress Covers

2008-02-17T10:03:00.003-05:00

So what's the story with mattress covers? Good, bad, or indifferent? In my opinion I would have to say that if you presently are bed bug free then I would invest in mattress and box spring covers for the simple reason that if you happen to pick up bed bugs in your travels then it will save you some money with regards to treating the beds and possibly having to throw the bed away. If you have a bed bug problem then I would say to treat the box spring and mattress and then cover them in the cavers to keep the bed bugs in and new ones out. In general I think they are a good idea any which way you look at it. Of course if your bedding is in such bad shape that it has to be tossed then do so, but if you can save a grand by putting a hundred dollars worth of coverings on your bedding then do it. It is important to pick the right mattress covers. They should be specifically for bed bug control as all mattress covers are not created equally. Do your homework and choose wisely.

Bed bugs...Is it time to panic?

2008-02-03T08:29:00.001-05:00

In a world besieged by bed bugs it is no wonder there is a sense of panic falling over the good citizens of the United States. In the big cities especially there is a ever present possibility of contracting a bed bug infestation. Something as simple and enjoyable as going to the movies with your family can be enough to be exposed to bed bugs. Taking the bus to work or taking the train to the city? Watch out. How about getting a furniture delivery. This is a great service the furniture company provides where they take away your old furniture and bring your new in and set it up. How are you to know that the house from the day before wasn't infested with bedbugs and for this very reason they replaced their furniture. Now they are on the truck and could have already infested your furniture before it has even entered your house. Same thing and even more possible with mattress delivery services. Bed bugs can infest schools, hospitals, and hotels. If your child goes to school it is possible that by simply putting their school bags in their locker can be enough to pick up bed bugs. Going to dinner for your anniversary? Checking your coats at the coat check? Better hope that the coat that your coat is hung next to does not have an infestation at home! If they do then chances are good that it won't be just the two of you returning for a night cap that evening. Have a dentist appointment. Hopefully the person sitting in the waiting room chair before you wasn't infested, because you could be numb to the dentist's drill but you won't be numb to the pain of a bed bug infestation. It is easy to see that the possibility of picking up a bed bug infestation is a simple task these days. With the problem expanding at a rapid rate and the fact that there is no real positive treatment for them as of yet, I would have to predict that the problem will become worse before it gets better. The only way to even start to battle these parasites is to educate the public and get past the stigma of bed bugs as a dirty problem. Unite and defeat!

Don't forget your vacuum in bed bug control!

2008-02-02T08:27:00.001-05:00

With all the info out there about bed bugs and their control there is one thing that is overlooked! There is one thing that people neglect to think about and do when trying to get rid of bed bugs. They prep their houses for the treatment and hire a good pest control operator and after everything is said and done and every area from head to toe has been treated there is still a safe haven for these bugs to thrive! It's the vacuum cleaner! Using a vacuum cleaner in bed bug control is an important tool for pest control professionals, but after they leave the customer neglects to pay attention to their own vacuum cleaner. They forget that the months that preceded the treatment they had bed bugs. It is safe to say that they did some house cleaning during these times and the vacuum was involved. What they succeeded in doing was vacuuming up live bed bugs and possibly eggs. Now in the safety of the vacuum bag they can continue to live and be troubling to the poor folks that are battling the bed bugs. Here is how to attack it. Sprinkle some corn starch con the floor and vacuum it up. This will coat the breathing mechanism of the bug that might be hanging on outside the bag. Then take the bag out and throw it away outside. If you have a canister vacuum then empty in a trash bag slowly to avoid the dust from flying everywhere and clean out the canister with some bleach and spray down with a product like Steri-fab. If you have a hose attachment on any of these kind of vacuums then use the corn starch method throw the hose as well.

Bed bug detection with dogs

2008-01-12T08:37:00.000-05:00

The most crucial point when dealing with bed bugs is their detection early on before they become a problem. The problem is that bedbugs are experts in hiding until they need a blood meal which is when they come out to feed and then at that point they go back to their hide out. If you think you might have bed bugs or if you simply want to put your mind at ease you have a resource. A bed bug detecting dog. Dogs have been successful in detecting termites, mold, bomb material, and now bed bugs. This inspection can be ordered from pest control companies that offer this service or by home inspection companies who offer this service.

Tell Me Your Bedbug Story

2008-01-09T18:27:00.000-05:00

have an interesting bed bug story? Do you have a success story? A story to top all stories about how tough it is to get rid of bed bugs? A story of how or where you got them? Tell me your story in the comment section and get it off your chest.

New bedbug book! Bed bugs beware!

2008-01-06T15:21:00.000-05:00

It's fresh and it's new and it finally shipped! The new Bedbug Handbook: The Complete Guide To Bed Bugs and Their Control has hit the shelves and I have to say that it is worth the money! It is written by two of the hottest experts in the pest control business, Larry Pinto and Sandy Kraft, and it has the most up to date information about this topic you can find. If you are having a bed bug problem, I would recommend it if only to get a better grasp on what to expect from your situation and the best way to proceed getting rid of it. If you are a professional, your library should not be with out this book. I have to give it five stars out of five!

Face Bedbugs head on with Policy

2007-12-22T08:40:00.000-05:00

Bedbugs are becoming increasingly harder to control which is becoming a problem for apartment dwellers, group homes, hotels, and any other building that houses more than one person.
Developing a solid policy to deal with bed bugs is something that the government should start to think about implementing to help stop the spread of these bugs. Bed bugs are in fact an epidemic at this point and it should be treated as such. It is too easy for someone who contracts a bed bug problem in an apartment setting to leave that unit and move into another apartment building. These folks think they are escaping the problem, which is a blatant ignorance of the problem, when in fact they are spreading the problem to a new building. The government needs to go full force into an add campaign to educate the public and start to face this problem head on.

Fantastic Bedbug Control

2007-11-27T17:10:00.000-05:00

One of the best tools int he control of bedbugs that will eliminate a good percentage from you home immediately would be a vacuum. An efficient hand held vacuum can do wonders for the control of bed bugs when used correctly. Start by identifying the area where the bedbugs are being seem the most. Now it is time to start by going from one side of the room inspecting every nook and cranny, vacuuming as you go any bedbug you come across. Behind picture frames, in drawers, in cracks and crevices, in the mattress tufts and buttons, under the bed frame, on the bed frame. When you are finished with your inspection there should be no live bedbugs to be found. Now take your vacuum and puff some talc powder and suck the powder up to clog the pours of the bedbugs and kill what you can in the bag. Now take the vacuum bag and throw it away. After this procedure a good chemical application will give you a good one two punch and give you some decent control over this horrible problem.

Bedbug bites or Flea bites?

2007-11-23T19:52:00.000-05:00

The biggest mistake pest control technicians make is to try to determine if a client has bed bug bites or flea bites. This is by all means a job for a doctor. The only one who can determine bite marks would be to have your doctor or dermatologist to have a look. If you think you have bedbugs or fleas then your pest control person would do better trying to find the insect itself rather than try to figure out what kind of bites the person has on them.

How to eliminate bed bugs

2007-11-07T20:29:00.001-05:00

Eliminating bed bugs can be as easy as one two three, in the world of your dreams! Bed bugs have become one of the toughest pests to fight in the pest control industry. Bedbugs are closing ocean front hotels, hospitals, dorm rooms, cruise ships. They are incredibly durable. I would recommend a good mail order flame thrower, if that is out of your price range than the products you can buy online at a good do it yourself pest control product superstore will help you at least keep them under control until they find something that works!

Are bedbugs really that bad?

2007-10-27T09:56:00.000-04:00

Just how bad are bed bugs? If you were able to at least get the problem under control and were not over run with them, could it be acceptable? People have all kinds of bugs that are nasty like fleas, roaches, stored product pests. Fleas will bite. What if we just learned to live with them? Ok...that is a crazy question and an insane thought.

Raising bedbug awareness

2007-10-01T20:02:00.001-04:00

The importance of raising bedbug awareness should be rated very high among college dormitories and multi-family dwellings. The problem is that bed bugs can spread like wild fire in these living quarters and if the folks that live in these kinds of residences were made aware of what to look for and how to avoid becoming a victim of these bedbugs then I think the problem of spreading them would be diminished enormously. Bed bugs should not be a taboo subject, it should be spoken of as matter of fact as how to avoid the flu and how to avoid spreading a cold. A bedbug is just as covert as the flu bug and should be spoken about openly so we could start to get this problem under control. Just a thought for the evening.

Flea or bed bug bite

2007-09-29T17:11:00.000-04:00

FLEA BITES
BEDBUG BITES

The most frustrating thing it seems when faced with a possible bedbug infestation is determining if the bites you are experiencing are in fact bed bug or flea bites. Without actually seeing either bug it is tough to tell the difference between a bedbug bite and a flea bite, but there are some characteristics to look at to try to help with the diagnosis. For one, bedbug bites are often in a row. It looks like the bedbugs were marching along the bed and stumbled upon your body and just started feeding. Flea bites are often sporadic and most times are on the leg. I have found that fleas are easy to see and you usually can tell if you have a flea problem because the fleas present themselves pretty regularly. Bedbugs can be more elusive and without seeing them first it is hard to tell you have them. The best thing to do is get your doctor involved.

We all hate bedbugs

2007-09-29T08:51:00.001-04:00

The title of this post is so true on so many levels. Bedbugs are becoming public enemy number one faster than a pig runs to eat. So how do you avoid becoming prey to these bugs that infest beds? Your first defense is knowledge. Learn as much as you can about the bug and the way to control them. Research, research, research. Then become proactive. If you are traveling be sure to inspect the room before you bring your bags in and accept the room as ok. Inspect the bedding thoroughly. If you have a child in school then check out the schoolbag every day. Do not buy used bedding of any kind, in fact, do not buy any kind of used bedroom furniture. I would even go so far as to say do not buy any used furniture at all. This is a very common way to invite bedbugs into your home! If you get a delivery of bedding, ask to check out the mattress or box spring before they bring it in. If you think you see anything that might resemble a bedbug then refuse the delivery. It's easier to fix a delivery problem then it is to fix a bedbug infestation. Being diligent and knowledgeable will cut the chances of become a victim in half, so start your research and become empowered!

Bed Bugs Close Pediatric Rooms

2007-09-22T10:40:00.000-04:00

How about them apples. You can't even escape them in the hospital. It turns out that three rooms in the pediatric area of a hospital in Canada had bedbugs infesting chairs that family members sleep in while waiting for their children. When will the insanity end? Why is it that we can travel to the moon, have televisions that hang on the wall, can grow organs in laboratories, but can't find an effective treatment for bed bugs? We have growth regulators for other insects. Why not bedbugs? I know the pest control industry will come up with an answer before long, the only question is when.

Even rock stars can have bedbugs

2007-09-17T20:06:00.001-04:00

Collaborating on a farm, bedbugs attacked the singer Miles Kane of the band the Arctic Monkeys as they slept. This goes to show that bedbugs have no preference and will attack street people or rock stars. Hopefully soon we will find a cure for this dilemma, as for now it is just a wait and see attitude and a search and destroy mission when people go and travel. Happy hunting!

Bed bug spray and lawsuits

2007-09-16T19:13:00.001-04:00

Bed bugs are no doubt a horrible problem and it has become evident that they are not easy to get rid of. With the problem of bed bugs being so bad it is easy to over treat or over spray for the problem. Whether the over spraying is being done by the consumer or the professional, it is still a very real problem that has to be monitored. The case of the WSU student who developed tumors on the lungs is thought to be as a result of over spraying for bed bugs. This has yet to be proven, but it is easy to do when faced with bugs that such the blood from your body and leave welts on the body. The point is that there is a procedure to follow when treating for bed bugs and it is important to always follow the label when using any kind of chemicals, whether they be consumer products or professional. Use caution.

Bed Bug Blogs

2007-09-15T18:16:00.000-04:00

Bed bug Blogs have become all the rage in today's epidemic. It's a great resource for public to get information about bedbugs and their control. Bedbug blogs are also a great way for the public to have a voice in this war. Home owners and apartment tenants who have bed bug problems can voice their misery and network as a support group through these blogs. Bed bugs have become such a hot topic that if you Google bed bugs you get a ton of hits and there are just as many blogs that have been popping up as well.

bedbug treatments and sprays

2007-09-13T07:39:00.000-04:00

There are plenty of products out there that claim to treat bed bug problems. The following is a list of bed bug treatments and sprays that have made their way to the market.

Bedlam
Eaton's Bedbug Spray
Suspend & Kicker
Sterifab
Thwart
Phantom
Mattress Covers
P800-HTR (Heat treatment for bed bugs)

This is just a short list of bed bug treatments available on the market today. The fact is there are no real sure shot treatments yet. With a combination of bed bug sprays and other treatments integrated in I think that success can be had in treating a home or apartment for bedbugs.

My Bed Bug List

2007-09-07T07:46:00.000-04:00

Planes, trains, and automobiles. Bedbugs are everywhere. Dorm rooms, hotel rooms, motel rooms, school rooms, bedrooms, hospital rooms, cabins, cruise ship cabins, expensive hotels, cheap motels, resorts and group homes. They can be found in movie theaters, plane seats, train seats, rental cars, mattress delivery trucks, used furniture, flea market products, televisions, radios, sofas, chairs, shoes, socks, and tables. This is a list of bed bug locations and it brings one thing to light if anything. There is no place you can hide.

Disposable Mattress Cover for Travel

2007-09-05T21:20:00.000-04:00

There is a new tool for the traveler who worries about bringing bed bugs home from a trip. It's a disposable mattress cover by a company called Muse International. They sell a product called Sleep-Safe Disposable Travel Bed Sheets and Pillow Cases. When you buy them you get two pillow cases and two sheets sent in a shrink wrapped twelve by seven inch package that is perfect for travel. I think this is a fantastic idea for the traveler and for fourteen bucks you can't beat it.

Buy Bed Bug Control Spray

2007-09-03T08:34:00.000-04:00

You hear about all these great products that people are trying out to control their bed bug problem, but where can you buy products like Suspend or Phantom? The following are some do it yourself websites that can help you in your journey to a bed bug free existence.

diypcstore
pestmall
pestsupplycentral
diypesticides
doyourownpestcontrol

Check out these online stores for the product of your choice to start on the path to a restful night sleep without any bed bugs!