Category Archives: Bed Bug Remedies

Did you know that mosquitos, ticks, and termites pose the most significant threat to people in the United States? All pests can be annoying, but some can cause health issues as they carry diseases. If you have failed to get your pest problem under control, you need to consider some helpful methods.

Read on to learn about the top ten ways of handling annoying pests.

One of the first things you can do to avoid pests getting into your home is sealing up any openings, especially cracks. You may be unaware of cracks in your home, so check out your windows, screens, and doors.

Any cracks or holes should be caulked up or repaired. Weatherproofing your door is a pest control tip to get rid of annoying pests and keep out drafts. Even the smallest of openings should be taken care of as this is a portal for insects to get in.

If you have a pest problem, it could be due to a dirty kitchen. If you often splurge with a late-night snack, chances are, bugs are doing the same.

Pests enjoy many types of food like dried pasta, flour, cereal, baking mixes, nuts, dried fruit, and spices. Specific pests like ants will go for the sweeter things.

Because bugs can get into things that are not stored well, you need to patch up openingsasyou did with your doors and windows. Tightly sealed containers are the way to go when it comes to food storage.

Rodents and cockroaches, among other insects, enjoy a dirty floor and counter because they often have food crumbs. If you store your pets food in the kitchen, be sure to wrap that up too.

If you find yourself still having issues in the kitchen after a good cleanup, you can hire a pest control service who has more wisdom to provide at this link https://affinitypestcontrol.com/2020/04/10/the-ultimate-guide-to-eagle-pest-control/.

Before looking up pest control near me, try drying out damp areas in your home. Pests seek water as they seek food. In fact, some pests prefer living in damp areas.

To ensure wet areas are not an issue for you, fix any leaks you may have from pipes, faucets, or drains. You should also make sure machines like the washer and air conditioner are working correctly.

If you have an attic, check to make sure it is dry. If you own a basement, these areas are normally damp so you should run a dehumidifier in it.

If you are not already cleaning enough, it could result in a pest problem. Always ensuring you are sweeping in places where crumbs can accumulate.

Your cleaning routine should also include emptying the trash, vacuuming weekly, and cleaning out the drains. You should also avoid having stacks of boxes, newspapers, and magazines that cockroaches enjoy hanging out in.

The inside is just as important as the outside when you are worried about rodents, cockroaches, or other pests. Bugs can hide in firewood or compost bins that may get taken inside. If you bring these items into your home, check them for bugs first.

Killing bugs may not be in your wheelhouse, but this is an important step if you dont want to have a huge pest problem. Some products can help you with this including baits and aerosols. Some products have become safer for kids and pets by using essential oils in their products.

Dust mites can cause a pest problem without you knowing it. Because they are too small to be seen with the naked eye, no one sees them around.

These pests love skin flakes and warm places so your bed is where they prefer to be. This is why washing your coversoften is essential. Although they dont bite, they can cause allergies, and no one wants to sleep with bugs.

Adding a few teaspoons of eucalyptus oil with your laundry detergent will clean those dust mites right off. You can also substitute this oil for tea tree oil if you dislike the smell.

There are home remedies you can try if you prefer not to use store-bought products. Cockroaches especially can be eliminated with easy home remedies.

Chopping one onion and adding it to a teaspoon of baking soda can eliminate these annoying pests. Use this mixture to cover the corners of your home. You canuse this mixture every day.

If flies are one of those pests you cant seem to get rid of even with all of the cleanings in the world, you can resort to creating a fly trap. This simple method involves filling a jar with an inch of apple cider vinegar and drops of dish soap.

Cover the jar with plastic and tape it shut. Then, poke holes in the top of the plastic wrap. The jar should be placed in the problem area where it can attract the flies and trap them.

This one may sound a little odd, but using your hairdryer when you are having bed bug issues actually works. Bed bugs can be one of the more difficult pests to get rid of. Most people resort to throwing out their furniture.

However, bedbugs and the eggs they make die off when exposed to high temperatures. Your hairdryer can be a useful tool or you can opt for steam clean.

Its time to get rid of those unwanted pests that roam your home. These methods of handling a pest problem should be implemented at the first sign of an issue. If your problem is too major, you need to consider hiring pest control services.

Keep coming back for more articles that can help you with your home issues.

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Our Top 10 Methods to Handling those Annoying Pests in Your Home | Happy Healthy Food & Play It Again Sports - EndZoneScore

Bed bug bites are itchy, annoying, and just plain creepy. Although the bites are generally harmless, it's important to get rid of bed bugs, otherwise they will keep biting you.

Meanwhile, there are a few at-home treatment methods you can use to relieve the itchiness from your bed bug bites. If those don't work, you may want to see your doctor for stronger, prescription medication.

Here's how you can recognize bed bug bites and treat them effectively.

Bed bug bites appear as small red marks on light skin, and could appear as small dark spots on skin that is darker shades, says Sharleen St. Surin-Lord, MD, medical director at Visage Dermatology and Aesthetics Center in Washington D.C.

Usually, they'll appear in clusters of 3 to 5 bites in a zig-zag pattern that reflects where the bug has moved on your body. Although bed bugs can bite anywhere, the bites tend to be concentrated on the abdomen and arms, St. Surin-Lord says.

Bed bug bites tend to be a little smaller than mosquito bites, though it may be difficult to tell them apart from flea bites.

"The difference is that you normally can see the fleas jumping around or the mosquitos, after they have bitten you," St. Surin-Lord says. "Bed bugs are a little more clandestine."

This comparison table can help you diagnose your type of bug bite:

The major symptoms of bed bug bites typically include redness and itchiness.

You can treat these symptoms by first washing the bite site with soapy water to remove any dirt or debris. Then, you can try these at-home remedies:

The itching from bed bug bites can last for up to two weeks, St. Surin-Lord says. That's often prolonged if the infestation hasn't been addressed and the person continues to get new bites.

If you're dealing with severe itchiness despite using the remedies above, you can reach out to your doctor for a more powerful prescription anti-itch cream.

In some cases, St. Surin-Lord prescribes oral steroids to people who have severe itching caused by bed bug bites. The oral steroids can reduce inflammation and itchiness in people who don't get relief from topical creams. They can also help prevent further health complications from the overwhelming itchiness.

"Bedbugs become dangerous when a large part of the body is affected, causing intense itching and scratching, leading to open, wounded, bleeding skin," St. Surin-Lord says. "This now creates a portal for bacteria and skin infections."

Though rare, if you develop a fever alongside your bites, you should check in with your doctor, since that could indicate an underlying infection, St. Surin-Lord says.

Although bed bug bites are generally harmless, they can be very uncomfortable. If you're not getting relief from at-home treatments, reach out to your doctor.

In addition, it's important to treat the infestation and get rid of the bed bugs they will likely keep biting people until they are professionally exterminated.

"No matter what you decide to do, you must rid your home of the bed bugs," St. Surin-Lord says. "If you were at a hotel and feel that you were bitten in their bed and were diagnosed with bed bugs, you should contact that hotel so that they have their rooms treated."

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How to identify and treat bed bug bites - Insider - INSIDER

Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human blood. Since they're less than a quarter of an inch long, they're almost impossible to spot. But they can be found anywhere, from houses to nursing homes and hotels.

"Normally the first signs of bed bugs are bites," says Rick Young, owner of UK-based Young's Pest Control.

The tell-tale sign is small bites clustered in a group or line on your skin.Although bed bug bites are itchy, they're usually harmless.

"In the vast majority of cases, bed bugs are a nuisance rather than genuinely dangerous to health," says Sreedhar Krishna, a dermatologist at TalkHealth London.

Still, most people who have bed bugs want them gone as soon as possible. Here's how to spot the signs of bed bugs and get rid of them quickly and effectively.

Bed bugs usually live in or around your bed, and they commonly hide in the creases and seams of mattresses or upholstery. However, it's rare to actually spot a bed bug.

"Sometimes it can be very hard to tell if you have bed bugs as they remain in hiding places through the day time and only come out at night to feed when we are in a deep sleep," says Young.

Instead of looking for bugs, you should look for signs of a bed bug infestation. These can include:

Treating bed bugs can be complex and time consuming, especially since infestations are usually severe by the time people notice it.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends certain do-it-yourself remedies.

In addition, our colleagues at Insider Reviews have put together a list of the best products to get rid of bed bugs.

You can try these before hiring an exterminator to save money, but you should note that professional extermination is a more effective (albeit costly) treatment.

Exterminators use the same tools heat or pesticides but they have access to higher-quality equipment that can work more quickly and effectively.

"There are a number of home remedies which one can try, but these are unlikely to eradicate the problem," Krishna says. "This is because bed bugs can hide in very tricky to reach areas and so professional help is often required."

In most cases, exterminators will have to come back multiple times to get rid of the bed bugs. The EPA has additional guidance on selecting a pest control company. After the extermination is complete you should continue to monitor for signs of bedbugs for at least two weeks.

If you suspect you have bed bugs, don't carry bedding or clothing into other areas of your house. This can help keep the bed bugs contained to one site, Young says.

Bed bugs are creepy, but they're mostly harmless and there are effective ways to get rid of them. Remembering that can help you stay calm if you notice the signs of a bed bug infestation in your home.

"You never need to panic if you have bed bugs," Young says. "There are qualified people and correct methods of safely exterminating your problem."

Originally posted here:
How to get rid of bed bugs fast and 3 signs you have an infestation - Insider - INSIDER

Hamilton Allen, Ph.D., BCE, Florida regional technical director for HomeTeam Pest Defense, says he sees urban pest management as a social science, requiring both entomological knowledge and emotional intelligence for communicating with clients with clarity and empathy.

By James M. Wilson, Ph.D.

Editors Note: This is the next post in the Standout ECPs series contributed by the Entomological Society of Americas Early Career Professionals (ECP) Committee, highlighting outstanding ECPs that are doing great work in the profession. (An ECP is defined as anyone within the first five years of obtaining their terminal degree in their field.)Learn more about the work ECPs are doing within ESA, andread past posts in the Standout ECPs series.

Hamilton Allen, Ph.D., BCE, is the Florida regional technical director for HomeTeam Pest Defense in Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida. Before working with HomeTeam, Allen served as technical director for Senske Services located in Kennewick, Washington. Allen is originally from Johnston, South Carolina, and graduated from Clemson University with his doctoral degree in entomology in 2017. As a graduate student member of ESA, Allen participated on Virginia Techs and Clemsons Linnaean Games teams and served as the 2014 Southeastern Branch Linnaean Games Student Chair.

Hamilton Allen, Ph.D., BCE

Wilson: Why did you become an entomologist, and what drew you to this field?

Allen: Similar to many entomologists, my affinity for insects surfaced during childhood. I was fascinated with any critter within eyesight; however, ants, particularly fire ants, were my first research interest. My uncles yard was littered with fire ant mounds, which prevented my cousins and me from having a safe play area. So, my uncle made it his goal to get rid of the ants. He tried all of the Southern folk remedies including grits, boiling water, dumping ants from nearby mounds onto one another, and setting the mounds on fire.

The last technique was my favorite because he enlisted me to be his little fire chief, and my job was to ventilate the mounds by stirring them with a shovel. After doing this the mounds would decrease in size yet multiply in number. Throughout high school and college, I continued to think about the resilient fire ants. One day, I took a trip to the library to read about fire ants, and I stumbled onto a few research papers by Dr. Walter Tschinkel and Dr. Sanford Porter detailing the structural characteristics of fire ant nests and the ants responses to disturbance. Finally, I had the answers that I had been looking for, and during those library moments I decided to become an entomologist.

Out of the various research projects you have completed in the pursuit of your degrees, what has been the most interesting part of it to you so far?

The most prominent aspect of research for me is having the opportunity to observe organisms in the environment and attempting to provide reasoning for behavior. Out of all the research projects, my masters thesis was my favorite because I had the opportunity to pursue my dream: I worked on fire ant management in Virginia. In 2006, fire ants were public enemy number one for Virginias Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services due to a recent death related due to fire ant stings and I had the privilege of being the first person to study fire ants within the state.

In his work in urban pest management, Hamilton Allen, Ph.D., BCE, comes face to face with entomological wonders such as this nest of the aerial yellowjacket (Dolichovespula arenaria) that he encountered in Kennewick, Washington.

Your career seems to be focused on managing the interactions between pest insects and people. What kind of skills have helped you to be so successful in this area?

Before entering the pest management industry, I believed that pest knowledge would be the skill most useful to my position as technical director. However, in recent years my skills have changed to include communication and empathy.

Empathy might be the most important aspect. Each day, I have the opportunity to assist a family or business with an issue that is unfamiliar to them. Bed bugs and cockroaches are two pests that can cause mental anguish and depression. Ive learned how to share information in a way that is useful to consumers that explains proper management processes using emotional intelligence techniques to address their concerns.

I tend to think of urban pest management as a social science, because, in addition to having pest knowledge, we must employ a degree of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence allows us to relate to customer issues and to quell our customers fears so that they can sleep better at night.

Your academic career has taken you to two different land grant institutions. How has working under the missions of those institutions helped prepare you for your career?

Go Hokies and Tigers! I was fortunate enough to attend land grant institutions that are known for excellence and innovation in science and engineering. I also learned that service was important from Virginia Techs motto, Ut Prosim, which translates into That I May Serve, and one of Clemson Universitys missions, which is to mold those within her reach to establish a legacy of service.

Both of my graduate advisors served as examples for how scholars can engage in service through extension work and servant leadership. My participation in service ranged from teaching entomology to master gardeners to supplying information to pest management professionals.

I carry these missions forward today by previously training members of Washington States King County Housing Authority on bed bug management and currently working with undergraduate students in the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANNRS) organization to promote pursuing a career in the pest management industry.

Finally, what are your hobbies outside of work?

I am a novice bird watcher and plan on adding a few key species to my life list this year, a total college football fan, and footwear enthusiast. If you happen to see me outside of work, Ill probably be wearing a pair of vibrant, Technicolor sneakers.

James M. Wilson, Ph.D., is the Extension apiculturist in the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech, chair of the Eastern Branch Early Career Professionals Committee 2019-2020, and serves as the Eastern Branch Representative to the ESA Early Career Professionals Committee 2019-2020. Email: keepbees@vt.edu.

All photos courtesy of Hamilton Allen, Ph.D., BCE.

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