Category Archives: Bed Bugs Hawaii

After my confession of getting bed bugs myself, I thought I would at least post some tips on how to prevent bed bugs when traveling from the research I did after getting them in Asia.

In the last 10 years, bed bug infestations has quadrupled. Its not just hostels either, as 4-5 star hotels are getting hit with the same problem too. Bed bugs do not discriminate and the traveler is the most susceptible to getting a case of them. Since most countries in the world have outlawed the chemical DDT, bed bugs are coming back in a whole new way!

To be honest, there really isnt a full proof way of detecting bed bugs in a roomI know thats not what you wanted to hear, is it. They can be hiding anywhere, strike anytime and it almost takes a case of them infecting someone before you can diagnose what it was.

Bed bugs can live as long as 18 months without having to feed. Odds are, you might have stayed in a bug infested room already but nothing happened because they werent out on the prowl the night you slept.

That being said, you can still check for signs. A good traveler should always ask to see the room first, but before you go straight to the bathroom once you hit the light, go to the bed first. The bugs are nocturnal and only move around when its dark, so the best time for seeing signs (or one) of them is right after the light is turned on.

Things to look for when inspecting a room:

Tips on how to avoid bed bugs:

What to do if you get infested:

Links to sites with good info on this subject:

See more here:
How To Prevent Bed Bugs When Traveling - Go Backpacking

Visitors from around the world have been sending us bed bugs pictures to help them identify their creepy crawler and over the last 6 years have accumulated an impressive collection we present some of those images below in a slideshow you can control.

You can study all the images you like and still may not find bed bugs, the trick is, knowing what signs to look for, such as the black dots on the mattress which could indicate bed bug fecal matter; they poop your blood which darkens when dried making it look like ink stains on the mattress.

LARGEST COLLECTION OF BED BUG PICTURES! Below is our slideshow of bed bug pictures from around the world. If you pause the show by clicking on a picture, youll be able to advance the filmstrip and select the thumbnail of the image you would like to view or you can just sit back and let it run, its up to you.

Another clue to look for is the sticky white rice looking material which are really eggs. Some of the best pictures of these bedbugs in their natural habitat are the four below which is exactly what you want to look for!

In this close up picture you can clearly see the whole lifecycle, from the eggs, to the bed bug shell casings, to the adult and shells.

What a cute picture of these two bed bugs living the life! The big one shed his shell while the other looks toward the eggs.

Another cure picture of bugs but the little little one appears to be shy and trying to hide. Notice the different sized shells, tells an entire story and helps give an idea of how long they have been hiding out there.

This image is a great example of what youll look for when trying to spot an infestation. Simply lift up the mattress out of the frame and if you see something that looks like this, then you need to act, and fast! Send us a photo if you do!

Top view of bed bug

Image credit: Photograph by: David Almquist, University of Florida

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Bed Bugs Pictures

If you have bed bugs, many pest management professionals and entomologists recommend encasing your mattresses in high-quality encasements that are designed and tested to keep bed bugs in or out. If you do not yet have bed bugs, bed bugencasements may be a good preventive measure for keeping bed bugs out of your box springs and mattress.

The use of bed bug encasements is not without controversy. We are aware of several highly respected UK bed bug experts (namely Richard Naylor of the University of Sheffield and David Cain of Bed-bugs.co.uk), who dont recommend encasing mattresses. However, at this writing (8/2011), I cant think of any North American PCOs or entomologists who generally recommend against bed bug encasements.

The design of beds may play into this: keep in mind that UK beds tend not to have US-style box springs, and that box springs are notorious for harboring bed bugs. And British-style divan beds tend to have wheels attached, which makes them impossible to encase.

The argument for encasement use:

The argument against bed bug encasements:

Click the following link to read discussions tagged as being about encasements on our forums.

My own sense gathered from the input of various experts is that the vulnerability of North American-style box springs means they should be securely encased. (As youll see below, some experts recommend this be done with mattress encasements, which may be better-designed in some cases than those marketed as box spring encasements.)

And while using a mattress encasement does not prevent you from getting bed bugs in your home, if kept intact, it will keep them on the encasement surface and prevent bed bugs from harboring on and leaving fecal stains on the mattress itself and the staining in particular is something many people would like to avoid, especially on a nice or newer mattress.

If your pest management professional does recommend encasement use for your box springs and/or mattresses, make sure you are using ones which have been independently tested to keep bed bugs in or out (more on that below), make sure they are installed correctly and carefully, and inspect them regularly and carefully for tears.

On the other hand, if your pest management professional does not agree with the use of bed bug encasements, and they seem to know what theyre doing, then I would recommend you follow their protocols.

Original post:
Bed bug encasements for mattresses and box springs

Last month I stayed at an oceanfront cottage on the Big Island in the Puna area and it was nice. But here comes the but:

In the morning when I woke up in the cottage, I noticed what seemed like mosquito bites on my arms and legs. I got bitten multiple times almost every night and since I wasn't familiar with bed bugs back then, I assumed there were mosquito bites.

But ever since I'm back home, the bites haven't stopped, even though I have never had a bug problem in my house. So today I finally researched what this could be and I came across bed bug information, a common pest in Hawaii. The bite pattern on my body matches pictures on the Internet.

And yesterday I found a bug in my bedroom. Today after a thorough cleaning of my entire bedroom, I found more bed bugs, including on precious keepsakes, which made me very upset. Also, this problem will keep me busy for who knows how long, since bed bugs are a tricky pest. Now I know that bed bugs are "hitchhikers" who can easily be transferred in luggage and clothing from one location to another.

I read that bed bugs can even be found in 5-star hotels and basically everywhere. It doesn't mean that the place is not clean. The bugs could, for example, have been brought in by someone who stayed there before. And here in Hawaii they have the perfect conditions to flourish and multiply.

So next time you go on vacation in Hawaii and happen to notice bites after sleeping that seem to concentrate in one area of your body and be close together, make sure you thoroughly clean your luggage and clothing before going home and after arriving home, so you don't have to go through the hassle of having to clean your whole house to get rid of a serious infestation.

Read the original here:
Beware of bed bugs in Hawaii - To-Hawaii.com

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugsare parasites that have existed since ancient times. For nearly 50 years, they have been dormant, but unfortunately we are now experiencing a widespread recurrence of bed bugs in Hawaii and all across the United States. They are small wingless insects that are reddish brown, flattened, oval, with microscopic hairs that give them a banded appearance. They grow to about 1/8" in length. Bed bugs are generally nocturnal and feed exclusively upon the blood of humans and warm-blooded animals.

It is important to remember that a bed bug infestation is not a sanitation or housekeeping issue. They are resourceful hitchhikers and are typically transported in or on luggage, clothing, or other belongings unknowingly by individuals as they travel. Current outbreaks have been traced to increased domestic and international travel. Bed bugs are a particular problem for hotels, motels, hospitals and apartments, where the turnover rate of occupants is constant. Infestations can also occur accidentally by bringing home infested furniture, mattresses or used clothing.

Bed bugs will feed on any warm-blooded animal, but they prefer the blood of humans. Fortunately, they are not known carriers of any diseases, but bed bug bites often cause red, itchy welts. Antihistamines and corticosteroids may be given to help relieve the itching. Approximately 50% of bed bug victims do not show any evidence of bites.

Bed bugs are very difficult to get rid of once they have infested a property. Sandwich Isle offers conventional treatments that involve steaming, vacuuming, chemical application, tent fumigation. We begin by scheduling a thorough and detailed inspection of your property to determine the extent of your infestation. With this information, our pest control team will customize a program to your specific needs, treating not only the infested rooms and furniture, but surrounding areas as well.

Due to the complexity of treatment and the time required, bed bugs are generally not a pest many people have success in eradicating without professional help. Beware when purchasing pesticides and other products online as many simply do not work and pesticides can be harmful to people and pets if they are misused or mixed improperly.

Sandwich Isle uses vacuuming and steaming as well as the option of mattress encasements to limit the amount of chemical applied in your home. Our chemical treatments are limited as much as possible to remain effective. With conventional pesticides, we follow very strict guidelines for the use of the product so that it poses no threat to people, pets or plants. All products are EPA registered. Our service technicians will inform you of any specific safety measures that need to be taken prior to service.

Sandwich Isle Pest Solutions is committed helping you as soon as possible. In most cases, we can respond the same or very next day.

If you are not satisfied with the results of Sandwich Isle's Pest Prevention Service, we will provide the necessary service at no additional charge. After 30 days, should your pest problem persist, we will continue to provide service at no additional charge until you are satisfied, or we will refund half of your last regular service payment.

Bed bugs are very difficult to prevent, given their ability to enter the home in a number of different ways. The best thing to do is remain vigilant and be aware of the signs of bed bug activity.

Continue reading here:
Learn More About Bed Bugs In Honolulu, Oahu, And All Hawaii