Daily Archives: December 28, 2013

What Are Bed Bugs?

Many people think of bed bugs as no more than part of a cute bedtime cliche: Sleep tight. Dont let the bed bugs bite! But they are quite real, and far from cute. Bed bugs are small, brownish, flatinsects, no bigger than a pinhead, or even undetectable by the naked eye.

They feed on the blood of animals, including humans. Their name comes from their tendency to live between mattresses and feed on bed occupants at night. Bed bugs dont fly, but move quickly over floors, walls, and ceilings. Female bed bugs lay up to five eggs a day and 500 during a lifetime.

The simple answer is yes, it is possible to eliminate a bed bug infestation in most situations particularly if the bed bugs are detected shortly after they have been introduced into the environment. The longer bed bugs exist without being detected, the greater their opportunity to disperse within the environment, making it harder to find and eliminate 100% of the population. Another factor which plays a major role in how readily a bed bug infestation can be eliminated is the amount of available harborage for bed bugs to use as a safe haven from control efforts. Crowded and/or cluttered conditions, as well poorly sealed baseboards, chair and/or crown moldings, window frames, door frames, paneled walls, etc. offer an environment with virtually unlimited harborages. Choose a qualified pest control company for your bed bug service needs will help to ensure that your bed bug infestation is eliminated. Johnson Pest Control has gone above and beyond what is required of pest control providers, and has obtained the Bed Bug Centrals BedbugFREE designation provides our customer base with the assurance that our staff has been trained by the bed bug leaders of our industry. The BedbugFREEdesignation along with our QualityPro, QualityPro Schools and GreenPro certifications establish Johnson Pest Controls strong commitment to be the best in our industry at every level for both our current and future customers.

Bed bugs are believed to have originally traveled to the United States from Europe in the 17th century. Efforts to control them after World War II dramatically reduced the occurrence of U.S. bed bug infestations. But recently, as you have heard in the news, bed bug infestations have made a big comeback. Five or six years ago, pest control companies reported one or two bed bug service calls a year. Now, we are getting calls daily. And the National Pest Management Associations member pest control companies have reported 50 times more bed bug service calls than usual in the past few years.

Bed bugs are flat, wingless and oval shaped (although young bed bugs can be too small for the naked eye to spot). They are often mistaken for ticks or small cockroaches. Distinguishing characteristics include:

Mahogany to rust brown/red color Six Legs Short, golden body hair Two antennae

If you suspect bed bugs in yourhome, contact Johnson Pest Control to schedule a free, in homeconsultationtoday. Offering bed bug services in Knoxville, Sevierville and East Tennessee.

The rest is here:
Bed Bug Control | Bed Bug Exterminator Knoxville and ...

This excerpt is from the University of Kentucky and mentions many of the things being talked about here. I think it's interesting that they say checking your hotel room for bed bugs was "a common practice in the past." I don't ever remember that as a child when we stayed in hotel rooms, but maybe we didn't know better? I think the important thing here is that we don't become part of the problem, transporting bed bugs to our homes and beyond.

"Concerned travelers may want to get in the habit of checking their bed for signs of bed bugs, a common practice in the past. This would entail examining the bed sheets and upper and lower seams of the mattress and box spring, especially along the head of the bed. Some professionals also suggest removal and examination behind the headboard, a frequent hiding place for the bugs in hotel rooms. Headboards are heavy and cumbersome, however, and untrained persons should not attempt removal themselves. If bed bugs are discovered, travelers can request another room, preferably in another area of the building. Vigilant travelers may also want to elevate suitcases off the floor on a luggage stand, tabletop or other hard surface. Should travelers experience itchy welts suggestive of bed bug bites during their stay, it would be prudent upon returning home (before unpacking) to place all clothing in disposable plastic bags and directly into the washer and/or dryer. Inspecting or vacuuming luggage upon arrival home is less useful since its hard to spot bed bugs inside a suitcase. The suitcase itself can either be treated or discarded.

The incidence of bed bugs in the United States is increasing to the point where vigilance by all is a prudent practice. Familiarity can help to avoid infestation, or at least prompt earlier intervention by a professional."

Read the original here:
Bed bugs in PF? - Pigeon Forge Forum - TripAdvisor