Author Archives: Pest Controller

World, Bed Bug Registry Map Friday 27th of September 2024 08:39 AM
Max. Incidents:	Hotel Residence Location
Zoom In on the above map using the map controls for more detail, and select an incident by clicking on it for address details.
Use the field below to search for incident reports around an address - it will also auto suggest up to 10 incident addresses as you type.
Latest Bed Bug Incidents and Infestations Incident Radius: 30000 Miles Edgewater Apartments 8525 106a Ave, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5H0K1 (2024-07-24) New Cambridge Lofts 10024 Jasper Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5J 1R9 (2024-06-21) #12 14504 108th Ave Nw, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5N1G8 (2024-04-22) Fern Lodge 460 E Fern Ave, San Bernardino, Redlands, California, United States, 92373 (2023-11-20) 143 Eighth Street, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, MV83C9 (2023-11-20) Underwood Senior Living 4850 Underwood Ave, Douglas, omaha, Nebraska, United States, 68132 (2023-11-02) 550 Westwood Drive South West, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, t3c3t9 (2023-10-29) 125 550 westwood drive southwest, calgary, Alberta, Canada, t3c3t9 (2023-10-29) BOB 550 WESTWOOD, WESTWOOD, CALGARY, Alberta, Canada, T3C3T9 (2023-10-29) 15 Three Mil eLane, Salmon, Montana, United States, 83467 (2023-09-25) We cannot vouch for the truthfulness of any report on this site. If you feel a location has been reported in error, or want to dispute a report, please contact us.

News Links:

bed bug contract | Bed Bug Control

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Pest Controller Click Here For Article

Is he/she your service dog? This is a question I hear surprisingly often while Im out on a property working with Bed Bug Detection Canine, Sade. While Im out working with Sade, at home, a rescued golden/labrador retriever mix named Dusty, is well on her way to becoming a Certified Service dog. With experience in both sides, I can personally speak to some of the similarities and differences between the two.

Service Dogs are a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people with physical disabilities including visual or hearing impairment, mental disabilities such as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), and medical alert for those suffering with diabetes, seizures, narcolepsy and even cancer.

Detection Dogs, or sniffer dogs, are trained to detect substances such as drugs, firearms, mold, currency and of course, bed bugs! Some prisons even have dogs trained to detect illicit cell phones in prisons.

Obviously, the main differences lay in their specific functions, what theyre looking for, actions they must perform and behavior (service dogs must be laid back and calm while you want to see a strong working drive in detection dogs), but little else differs.

Either dog can be bred for their specific purpose by organizations, private breeders or even selected from shelters and rescues. The training it takes to get them there is quite similar, taking six to twelve months either way for a completely certified working dog but the end result is the same, helping humans. Is it really any wonder theyre considered mans best friend?

Alana, Atlanta Bed Bug Control Specialist

See the article here:
bed bug contract | Bed Bug Control

Posted in Bed Bugs New Foundland & Labrador | Comments Off

CimeXa Insecticide Dust – Bed Bug & Flea Control | Do My Own

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Pest Controller Click Here For Article

CimeXa Insecticide Dust is the newest product available in the battle against bed bugs, fleas, ticks and other insects. CimeXa Dust is 100% Silica dust, is very safe, odorless, and will not stain. CimeXa Dust will last up to 10 years when applied to undisturbed areas like wall voids. It is very effective on bed bugs, fleas, and especially pyrethroid resistant bed bugs. It will work on ants, roaches, firebrats, silverfish, spiders, mites, lice, stored product/pantry/fabric/clothes beetles, moths and drywood termites.When pests come into contact with CimeXa, the product clings to their exoskeleton and absorbs the waxy coating, causing death from dehydration.

How to Use Dusts and Dusters

CimeXa Insecticide Dust contains 100% natural silica gel which kills insects by contact. When insects pick up the dust on the exoskeleton, it clings to and absorbs the waxy coating, causing dehydration and eventual death. CimeXa is best applied with a duster to avoid over-application. Because of its mode of action, CimeXa Dust takes longer to kill target pests. However, the natural ingredient has no properties that cause it to change or break down, so the dust is effective for at least 10 years when applied in undisturbed areas.

Ants, Crazy Ants, Cockroaches, Firebrats, Silverfish, Spiders, Mites, Bed Bugs, Lice, Fleas, Ticks, and Drywood Termites.

PESTS CONTROLLED WITH CIMEXA INSECTICIDE DUST:

Ants, Cockroaches, Firebrats, Silverfish, Spiders, Mites, Bed Bugs, Lice, Fleas, Ticks, Drywood Termites. Kills Bed Bug Adults and Nymphs Kills Bed Bug Nymphs Hatched from Dusted Eggs kills Pyrethroid-Resistant Bed Bugs.

CimeXa Insecticide Dust can be used in place of other similar insecticide dusts and used in voids, cracks and crevices for most common crawling insect pests. Because of its stability, CimeXa Dust is ideal for tedious or time-consuming dusting treatments, such as treatments of wall voids or attic spaces. CimeXa Dust is also an excellent dust for bed bug treatments because there is no known resistance to it. CimeXa Dust is completely natural, making it preferable for use in sensitive accounts or locations.

Apply at a rate of 2 ounces per 100 square feet. Use a handheld bellows, bulb, or puffer bottle type duster to apply a light, visible film. A power duster may also be used. Power duster use is limited to cracks, crevices, voids, attics and crawlspaces to insure containment of dust particles. Focus on areas where insects or their signs are seen.

CimeXa Dust may also be used as a spray, paint-on application, or foam. Combine 1 lb of product per gal. of water. Apply approximately 1 qt. of solution per 250 square feet of area to be treated. For injection treatment, add the appropriate amount of foaming agent to the product/water slurry and inject directly into galleries and voids.

A 4 oz. bottle covers approximately 200 square feet. A 5 lb. pail covers approximately 4,000-5,000 square feet.

In and around residential, multi-family, commercial, industrial, institutional, municipal, agricultural, research, daycare, health care, educational, recreational, and office buildings, hotels, motels, garages, transport vehicles, warehouses, theaters, food handling and food processing establishments, Federally inspected meat and poultry plants.

Indoors

In attics, be sure to get dust near the eaves and vent pipes where insects often first enter, as well as around any pipes or potential access points between the attic and the main structure.

The bottom drawers in kitchen and bathroom cabinets can be removed and dust applied into drawer wells. No dust should be left exposed when drawers are replaced.

Cimexa Bed Bug Treatment:Remove bedding and take the bed apart. Treat the interior framework, joints and cracks in the bed frame. Treat the mattress and box spring, paying particular attention to tufts, folds and edges, and the interior framework of the box spring. Remove wall-mounted headboards and treat the back side. Treat picture frames, moldings, hollow furniture legs, cracks and crevices, along baseboards, and any areas with visible signs of infestation, including rugs and carpet. Treat upholstered furniture by removing or lifting (if possible) the cushions and treating the undersurface. Treat the interior framework, cracks and joints of the furniture, and the folds, tufts and edges of cushions and other upholstered areas. Do not treat toys and stuffed animals with product. Treat wall voids by removing electrical switch plate covers to allow access, but dont apply dust directly in electrical boxes. Apply about oz of dust to each accessible void.

Cimexa for Flea Control: Apply at a rate of 2 ounces per 100 square feet. Treat kennels, pet bedding/rest areas, floor and floor coverings (such as carpets), cracks behind molding and baseboards and other areas where pests may harbor. Apply as a light film or light coating over the target surfaces.

Outdoors

CimeXa Dust is not intended for outdoor use.

Most Helpful Q&A's

09/28/2012 Rob from San Diego, Ca

QI have bedbugs and I live in an aparment that has carpet. Do bedbug live in or under carpet? Does carpet need treatment? What spay should be used on carpet?

ABedbugs will hide wherever there are places for them to hide. In most situations you will not be required to spray all of the carpet for bedbugs because bedbugs will not sit out in the middle of the carpet. Usually you will concentrate your treatments up under the lip of the carpet. A dust insecticide such as Cimexa Dust would be a great choice because it stays active for a every long time.

06/23/2012 Anna from Waynesfield, Oh

QAre there advantages to using CimeXa Insecticide Dust versus the Alpine dust?

AThere are two main advantages. Cimexa is 100% Cilica, which is basically ground up sand. It is 100% natural and green. The other advantage is that in undisturbed areas CimeXa can last up to 10 years, whereas other dusts including Alpine will typically only last 1 or 2 years at the most.

08/05/2013 Karen from Massachusetts

QCan CimeXa be used together with Diatomaceous Earth?

AYes, these two dust are completely compatible and can be used mixed together to provide extra control.

06/01/2015 Ann

QI have read to not have children around when applying Cimexa. I have not seen it addressed that children will ultimately be on the carpet or touching items/toys that have cimexa on it, breathing it, transferring to face etc. can you address residual for children?

AChildren should not be allowed back in the area until theCimeXa Insecticide Dust has settled. You are normally applying it to cracks and crevices and wall voids.CimeXa Insecticide Dust should not be applied to kids toys or carpet where they may be putting the item in there mouths.

11/13/2014 Donny from Nashville

QCan breathing in Cimexa hurt you

AAlthough, Cimexa contains 100% natural silica gel, we still do not advice breathing it in. It could be harmful to you. You may want to consider wearing a Respirator mask when making your application.

Most Recent Customer Questions

01/13/2018 Cayla from Lagrange, Ga

QIs CimeXa Insecticide Dust like a puff of smoke enough?

A littleCimeXa Insecticide Dustgoes a long way if used as directed, applied with a dust applicator such as a B&G Bulb duster. We would suggest a couple of puffs aroundeach electrical outlet/light switch plate and other cracks and crevices. You want barely to see the dust (no need for heavy applications). Please take a few moments to review ourarticle on dusting for additional information.

01/08/2018 Irene from Philadelphia, Pa

QWhat is the best way to apply CimeXa Dust to my bed sheets? I am trying to apply CimeXa on the lower edges of my bedsheets so when the bed bugs come to feed on me, they'll have to crawl through the CimeXa. How thin of a layer should I apply?

CimeXa Insecticide Dustis not labeled for application to bedding at all and should not be applied directly to bed sheets. Per the product label, for bed bug treatment: "Remove bedding and take the bed apart. Treat the interior framework, joints and cracks in the bed frame. Treat the mattress and box spring, paying particular attention to tufts, folds and edges, and the interior framework of the box spring. Remove wall-mounted head boards and treat the back side. Treatpicture frames, moldings, hollow furniture legs, cracks and crevices, along baseboards, and any areas with visible signs of infestation, including rugs and carpet. Treat upholstered furniture by removing or lifting (if possible) the cushions and treating the undersurface. Treat the interior framework, cracks and joints of the furniture, and the folds, tufts and edges of cushions and other upholstered areas. Treat wall voids by removing electrical switch plate covers to allow access, but dont apply dust directly in electrical boxes. Apply about oz of dust to each accessible void.Please take a few moments to review ourHow to Get Rid of Bedbugs treatment articlefor more helpful tips on treating your home for this pest.

01/06/2018 Liam from Las Vegas

QHow do I remove excess CimeXa dust? Hi, I went pretty overboard with Cimexa due to the fact I was extremely stressed out by a bed bug infestation. It feels like it's impossible to get rid of Cimexa. Do you know the best way to remove it from fabrics?

To removeCimexa Dust,you can simply vaccum the area and then rinse with soap and water. You should launder any fabrics that you think may have gotten the dust on them. Be sure to wear gloves while cleaning. Please call us at 866-581-7378 with any questions. Keep in mind that dusts like CimeXa should be use only accorrding to the product label as a crack and crevice or void treatment. You can use a damp paper towel to pick up excess dust during or after application.

11/16/2017 Deidra from New York

QI have baseboard radiators and have bedbugs. Can I dust the radiators with CimeXa Dust?

You can use CimeXa Dust in the cracks and crevices around or under the radiators, but we would not recommend applying it direclty onto any heating or electrical components.

11/09/2017 Joe from Los Alamitos, Ca

QWhat is the longest lasting dust I can put in walls before closing it up with drywall? Mainly for roaches Mainly for roaches

Cimexa Dust would be the longest lasting at 10 years when applied to undisturbed areas such as wall voids.

10/09/2017 Dave from Kingwood, Tx

QIs it ok for Cimexa to be in contact with wood prior to insulating?

CimeXa Insecticide Dustcan be applied to voided areas and cracks and crevices. We recommend that you insulate first and then treat with a dust applicator so the dust does not get disturbed during the insulation installment process.

10/02/2017 William from Mesquite, Nv

QIs CimeXa Insecticide Dust safe to apply to dog bedding?

Yes, CimeXa Insecticide Dust can be applied to pet bedding and rest areas. Apply as a light film over target surfaces.

09/23/2017 Gail from Nv

QIs CimeXa Insecticide Dust safe to use in my home with pets?

Yes,CimeXa Insecticide Dustis safe for use in your home if used as directed. Be sure to keep pets out of the area while you are applying the dust. Once the dust has settled, pets can return to the area. This is generally within 1-2 hours.

09/21/2017 Pinocchio from Tahlequah

QCan I put CimeXa Insecticide Dust in my shoes?

It is not recommended to applyCimeXa Insecticide Dustin your shoes. Shoes can be placed in a suitable plastic bag that isat least 2 mm thick whenusing a Nuvan ProStripor heat treated in the dryer (using a dryer rack).

08/25/2017 Manny from Austin

QHow well does CimeXa Insecticide Dust work on German roaches? How well will it be if used in kitchens?

CimeXa Insecticide Dustis a great addition to a roach control regimine. It is applied in the wall voids and under baseboards and in cracks and crevices. It will last for up to 10 year in a wall void that is undisturbed. If you are treating for roaches, this is not the only product we would recommend. Please take a look at our Roach Control Kits that have insecticide, bait gel and an IGR.

Please take a look at our Roach Guide for tips on how to treat and prevent roaches in the future.

See all 95 questions

See the article here:
CimeXa Insecticide Dust - Bed Bug & Flea Control | Do My Own

Posted in Bed Bugs Oklahoma | Comments Off

North Carolinas misguided Landlord/Tenant Bed bug …

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Pest Controller Click Here For Article

The North Carolina Senate will be considering a bill in 2012 that would have a huge impact on how landlords and tenants deal with bed bugs and who pays for treatment in the state.

H721, also known as the Landlord/Tenant/Bedbug Liability bill, passed in the North Carolina House in June. I have some concerns about its provisions.

The bill would prohibit landlords from renting a unit known to be infested by bed bugs. However, if the landlord gets an inspection from a licensed inspector, prior to leasing the unit, with a written report stating no bed bug evidence was found, then the landlord wont be liable if a problem is discovered later.

If the landlord does not get an inspection before renting the unit, and then a tenant complains bed bugs are present within 60 days of renting the unit, the landlord must hire someone to treat within five days of this complaint. All neighboring units must also be inspected.

Landlords must also provide educational materials about bed bugs to new tenants.

The bill also requires tenants to refrain from knowingly introducing bed bugs to the unit, stating: tenants shall not knowingly or recklessly introduce onto the premises any person or thing infested with bedbugs.

Tenants must notify landlords in writing within five days of suspecting they may have bed bugs.

If the landlord got an inspection before the tenant moved in, or if more than sixty days have passed since the tenant moved in, the tenant must pay all costs of bed bug treatment hiring a firm within seven days.

This tenant would also need to cover any fees charged by the licensee [PCO] and any damages associated with the presence and elimination of bedbugs from the premises and any attached units and spaces.

[Emphasis added.]

My concerns:

Heres just one way this could go horribly wrong:

The instinct behind the bill to make things fairer for landlords, and to force both landlords and tenants to work together to fight bed bugs is not a bad one.

I understand the need for landlords and tenants to share the burden of eliminating bed bug problems. It isnt fair for landlords to shoulder the entire costs of bed bug problems which are invariably brought in by tenants, guests, or maintenance workers, or which come from an attached building owned by someone else.

On the other hand, it also isnt fair to create a system in which responsibility can be evaded as simply as this, or where an inspection holds more weight than is due.

It really is not possible for inspectors to sign off on units with 100% certainty theyre clear.And tenants who dont report problems promptly but instead put up with the problem for a while will be rewarded when their neighbor gets bed bugs and reports their own problems, then becoming liable for the costs of treatment for all units.

You cant really legislate who pays for bed bug treatment based on the blame game. Blame for bringing bed bugs into a particular structure is just far too difficult to discern in many cases.

This bill was dreamed up by people who dont know a lot about how bed bugs operate, or how difficult it is to determine with 100% certainty whether theyre present or not. Not surprisingly, it was initiated by a rental housing industry group.

Because posts about legislation under consideration often cause confusion to readers, I stress that this bill has not been made into a law, but be warned: it will come up for consideration in the North Carolina Senate in 2012.

You can download the full text of H721 from the North Carolina General Assemblys website (PDF).

Original post:
North Carolinas misguided Landlord/Tenant Bed bug ...

Posted in Bed Bugs North Carolina | Comments Off

Kill Bed Bugs in Wyoming WV Best of 2018 – chinanews-jp.com

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Pest Controller Click Here For Article

Pest Management Company | Wyoming, WV

FREE PRICE QUOTE, CALL NOW!

Kill Bed Bugs in Wyoming WV is a full-service Pest Control & Management company that many people throughout Wyoming-land have come to call first. Our highly skilled and trained specialists have the know how to handle anythingfrom a Big to small.

When it comes to Fumigation and Kill Bed Bugs in Wyoming WV emergencies, nearly every homeowner has experienced one. Your phone call will be answered by a trained expert who will handle your matter quickly and set up a time at your convenience. Were highly rated by local residents. We have achieved many Wonderful Service Awards over the years. Feel free to check out some of our kind words from some of our many customers online.

Get the Finest Wyoming Goodwin Pest Control within your Budget

Shopping around and having to pay to get prices doesnt need to be hard or priced too high if you have got the best resources. By using your our local contractors near you in Wyoming you could save time on your next visit from Pest Control!

Fumigation is the most commonly used method for pest control and elimination in Wyoming, WV. It involves the use of pesticides or pest retardants in gaseous form, referred as fumigants, to poison pests in a residential area, business complex or public space that has been infested. Fumigation is also used in agriculture or grain produce to prevent the soil being infected or during import and export of goods to get rid of insects, worms and organisms that might be transported from place to place. While excessive use of chemicals in any form is to be avoided because it may harm human life or structural buildings, the process is not entirely effective in pest elimination, it merely prevents the pests making their presence once again in the same area.

The fumigation process is usually done in a phased manner. As a first step, Pantry Beetles, the entire area that needs fumigation is sealed off or covered. Next, the area is fumigated, i.e. the chemicals are released in the covered space which may be a home, an office, a warehouse or storage complex, underground cellar, ship cargo containers, etc. In the third phase, the fumigant is allowed time to completely fill the enclosed space and kill the pest itself (woodborers, termites) or pest infestations (eggs, larvae). Finally, the area is ventilated with fresh air and sunlight so that no trace of the chemical or gas is left behind. Once this process is completed and thorough inspection is done, the area is certified pest free.

Until the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty signed in the late 1980s to protect the Ozone layer of the atmosphere from depletion, was signed the random use of many chemicals was widespread. The widely used fumigant at the time was Methyl Bromide; its production and use were restricted later.

The list of fumigants in use includes:

Formaldehyde Phosphine Chloropicrin Sulfuryl Fluoride Methyl Isocyanate Hydrogen Cyanide

Broadly, fumigation methods and Bed Bug Control can be categorized into surface and sub-surface. Surface treatments refer to fumigation done on exposed surface areas. Sub-surface refers to treatments where gases or chemicals have to be applied into spaces like soil, cargo containers and storage tanks etc. Sub-surface fumigation methods are:

Tubing Trenched Short Probe Long Probe Combination Recirculation

The methods adopted for surface fumigation depend greatly on the situation, circumstance and the nature of pest and pesticide. For homes, the Tenting Method is used, where a rubber tent is placed to seal off the area. In larger structures like entire buildings, Goodwin Pest Control Wyoming Wyoming County other options that take into account the size of the building and infestation come into play.

Fumigation in the Wyoming County area has to be done in an extremely non-hazardous manner and the agency or operator who carries out the process has to be a certified authority with knowledge of the chemicals and how they can be used so as to ensure maximum safety to life and property. The area of knowledge comprises the proportion of fumigant to be used in relation to the area, type of fumigant, time duration for fumigation to take effect and complete ventilation post-fumigation.

Many pest control and pest service companies in Wyoming WV place great emphasis in defining and following eco-friendly pest control and fumigation methods that do not harm or endanger the environment in any way. Newer and advanced practices of pest control follow the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) method that focuses on three standard principles. These are:

1. Pest Control Education It is the onus of the pest control agency to educate customers on the nature of pests, their behavior and enlighten them on preventive measures to protect homes, offices and other buildings from being infested in the first place, which is very vital to the pest control process.

2. Proactive Pest Prevention this is a three-way process.

i. Eliminating food source of the pest e.g. unwashed dishes in the sink, garbage, unsanitary home conditions

ii. Remove water sources wet and soggy conditions in home areas or buildings, stagnant or still water sources like ponds, fountains, tanks, dry leaf clusters in gardens etc.

iii. Destroy shelter areas holes or crevices in walls, pipes, roof tops, ceilings, ground, basement etc. Also tree branches that extend towards the house should be chopped off so that they do not touch the building; use of window screens and meshes are also useful.

3. Environmentally responsible selection of material to use as fumigant should be extremely low-risk or nil-risk.

Container fumigation helps in treating commodities with a view to minimizing or even eliminating risks of disease and pests. This is a method that can also be used to solve various disease and pest concerns including bed bugs, pest infestations of food products, oak wilt disease, salmonella and more. In fact, this method is very effective and it can virtually fumigate anything though before using this method, be sure to check label restrictions that dictate which commodities can be fumigated and which cannot.

Container fumigation is different to in transit fumigation because it requires that to fumigate the container the latter should be stationary until the process is completed. This means that the container needs to be parked before it can be fumigated.

Fumigation will only be effective if proper fumigants are used. These are chemicals that at normal temperatures take a gaseous form. Being very toxic, these fumigants can prove to be very effective in killing pests and by rapidly penetrating through grains as well as various commodities they can do a very effective job. However, these fumigant gases will diffuse (during fumigation) in various ways. This is why before using fumigants it is important to thoroughly understand each fumigants properties and also what kind of results can be expected.

Fumigation means using a process in which a fumigant is added to a fumigation enclosure with the specific intention of killing off all pests. The best fumigation practices are those processes that provide desirable results by ensuring that people doing the fumigation are not harmed and that all people around the fumigation area are also kept safe from harm.

The fumigation enclosure is, in the case of container fumigation, the container which must be properly sealed and be gas tight to hold the fumigation gas toxic concentration long enough for it to kill the targeted pests during a given period of time called the exposure period.

The technician is entirely responsible for conducting proper container fumigation. In case of failure or problems the technician will be held responsible. Therefore, before entrusting the container fumigation task to a fumigator be sure to deal only with a fumigating company that offers effective, safe and proper fumigation services that will cure all manner of pest infestations.

Another issue about getting a container fumigated is finding a company that will do the fumigation properly and also deliver quick results to help save management time and ensure compliance with applicable safety and health legislation. The technician must be able to carry out fumigation of containers at any time including during shipping.

The technician also treats both export as well as import containers and which does the fumigation through use of phosphine. This kind of fumigation is legal and conforms to the standards set out by the International Maritime Organization as well as the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.

Remember also that preventing pest infestations in a container will help in removing avoidable costs and so it is a good idea to get container fumigation done for every container being handled by you or by a company in Wyoming West Virginia.

Continue reading here:
Kill Bed Bugs in Wyoming WV Best of 2018 - chinanews-jp.com

Posted in Bed Bugs Wyoming | Comments Off

Think you have bed bugs? Some dos and donts

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Pest Controller Click Here For Article

If you think you may have bed bugs, these are the essential dos and donts. Make sure you also look at the photos of bed bugs (and signs of bed bugs) and photos of bed bug bites, and the FAQ on detecting whether your problem is bed bugs, or something else.If you suspect there are bed bugs where you sleep, dont begin sleeping in another bed, on the sofa. Do not go to stay with someone else. The bugs may follow you to your guest room or sofa, and then it will be much harder to get rid of them. They may hitch a ride to your relatives home, and you can cause them to become infested. (All of these situations have happened to Bedbuggers we know.) Also, staying outside of your home means the bugs may become dormant. Were told they may live without feeding for up to 18 months. When you come back, they can begin biting you again. So staying in your home during treatment, and sleeping in your usual bed, is the way to kill bed bugs. Read our FAQs and sleep there while youre getting a Pest Control Operator (PCO) to treat your home. Once you are being treated, you must remain in the bedyou are the bait, attracting bugs to the poison and their deaths. If you isolate the bed, they need not bite you. (The FAQ on isolating the bed talks about the pros and cons of doing that).

Do save any bed bugs you find. Do not part with these you may need to show them to landlords, pest control professionals, and so on. Entomologists at colleges or science museums in your town may identify these, and a pest control company can too. Pick it up with clear packing tape, and tape it to an index card. Or put it in a clear sealed ziplock or jar in the freezer. Dont assume youll see lots of them, some people dont.

Do rule out other possible conditions, like folliculitis, scabies, and bites from other insects. Suspected bed bug bites sometimes turn out to be one of these other conditions. Doctors cannot diagnose bed bug bites with any certainty. The FAQs may help. Be warned, though, that many of us are told by doctors that we do or do not have bed bugs, and later find they are wrong.

Dont assume you are the only one being bitten. Remember that some people do not react to bed bug bites at all. Bed bug bites are an allergic reaction, and reactions vary from nothing to serious allergic reactions. Research released in 2010 by Dr. Michael Potter suggests 70% of people do react, and 30% of people do not react to bed bug bites.

Dont start throwing your bed and other furniture out. As per the FAQs, you can cover and isolate the bed. (You may wish to wait until a PCO has started treating before covering the mattress in an encasement.) Most furniture, including mattresses and sofas, can be treated by a PCO, and you can ask the PCO if throwing them out is necessary. It usually isnt necessary or recommended because tossing furniture and other items out can just lead to spreading bed bugs as well as emptying your home of furnishings. If there is a good reason to get rid of something, your pest management professional can help you do it safely, so as not to spread the bugs around your home or building, and so that others do not pick up infested items.

Dont start buying a load of chemicals and treating yourself. We have FAQs about choosing a good pest control firm and about why doing your own pest control in lieu of a PCO is not a good idea. Yes, sometimes supplementing a PCOs work makes sense, but only if they are fully on board with what youre doing. Remember, pesticides have different qualities (repellents, contact killers, residual killers, growth regulators, etc.) Bed bugs are probably the most complicated pests youve ever encountered at home. If you start spraying pesticides, you may disperse the bugs, and the professionals may have trouble treating them. You may spread them around your home. Get good professional help and follow instructions. Some pros wont treat a home if you have already done so.

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

Dont start bagging everything you own. With the exception of washed and dried clothing (according to specific instructions your PCO gives you), do not seal up everything you own in bags. Some PCOs will want you to inspect, vacuum, and seal all your possessions in bags. Most wont. Following their advice is crucial, since they know what theyre using on your problem. If you decide to bag things, you may be sealing away bed bugs and this is only a way of dealing with the problem if you put these items in storage for 18 months, unopened. Instead, most PCOs will vigorously fight your problem, and bed bugs will be attracted out of your possessions and towards poisons which will kill them. We have a FAQ on this also: How do I prepare for pest control treatment? Should I put everything in bags?

Do start dealing with your clothing and linens if the PCO requires this. Though you should not simply seal your possessions in bags (as above), it is probably a good idea to start working on clothing and bedding, if the PCO instructs you to do this. Note that some reputable pest control operators do not require most clients to treat all their clothing and linens. If your PCO does not require it, then I would skip it. You should take clothing and other items, wash on hot and and dry them on hot. Remember, driers vary as to their strength and how long they take with what size of load. Dont stuff the machines. My personal method is that items should at least be dried on hot for 20 minutes after they appear to be fully dry and very hot. Note that if you start with clean items, you only need to dry them on hot: this is a huge savings to time and energy. Starting with clean, dry items, running the hot dryer for 20 minutes should suffice. (You PCO may not be aware of research proving that a hot dryer alone is enough.) Keep in mind that pillows, comforters, down coats, and other thick items may take longer to dry. Heres the key: after washing and drying, bag items in sealed, airtight bags, and do not remove them until use. Our FAQs give more explicit suggestions. Dry cleaning is theoretically a bed bug killer, but impractical since most dry cleaners may not be equipped to deal with bed bugs, and you have to disclose that the items have been exposed to bed bugs.

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

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

Do use bed bug monitors to try and determine if bed bugs are present initially and after treatment. We have a FAQ on bed bug monitors. The beenfit to monitors is that youre more likely to catch a sample or see signs if you are using monitors.

Last updated 3/16/2015.

Comments for this page are now closed. Please post a message on our Bedbugger Forums if you have questions or need support. If you have suggestions for improving this FAQ, or other comments, please contact me.

See the original post here:
Think you have bed bugs? Some dos and donts

Posted in Bed Bugs New Mexico | Comments Off