Category Archives: Bed Bugs Missouri

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EARTH CITY, MO (KTVI) - Guests at the Extended Stay America hotel in Earth City say their rooms are infested with bed bugs and management isn't doing anything to fix the problem.

"This is absurd. You can't treat people like this" said hotel guest Aaron Scales. "You're taking money from us, you're putting us in difficult situations, you can't just say you're going to do something and then not do it" he said.

Scales has been bitten multiple times by what he says are bed bugs. He has bites on his arms, his waist and his back. He isn't alone.

"I woke up this morning to my arm swelling up in three different places and itching unbearably" said another guest, Zakkery Capps. "I've tried to put different ointments on it and everything and it's not working for me" he said.

Marcus Brooks is one of the guys who has been staying at the Extended Stay for three weeks as part of a training program for work. He noticed bed bugs in his room a few days after checking in. He shot video of the creepy crawlers making their way across his mattress. Brooks says even after being moved to a second room, the bugs only got worse.

"They just keep blowing us off like okay oh well we'll take care of it" he said. "Just keep on going, just lay in the bed bugs it don't matter it's not us" he added.

Fox2 reached out to the property manager of the Extended Stay but have not had calls returned. The St. Louis County Health Department confirms they have received multiple complaints and are currently investigating. For the people who can't stand another night with their unwanted guests, the solution is simple.

"Come through, call the people, get it fumigated so people won't have this problem anymore it's pretty simple" Scales said.

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Originally posted here:
Earth City hotel guests complain of bed bug infestation | FOX2now ... - fox2now.com

The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) has long been a pest feeding on blood, causing itchy bites and generally irritating their human hosts. Bed bugs are not known to transmit or spread disease. However, they can cause a number of problems, including emotional and economic distress from lack of sleep.

There are no state or local laws regarding the presence of bed bugs in rental property. There is no Springfield or Greene County law that forces property owners or landlords to take steps to remove bed bugs. Disputes about payments and responsibilities between renters and landlords are civil matters, not something the city or county has jurisdiction over.

If you are a renter with bed bugs, you have the following options:

Preventing Bed Bugs Bed bugs hitch rides in luggage, boxes, shoes and other mobile objects. They aren't tied to unsanitary living areas, so you can keep a clean house and still get them. You may have no idea they are present because they normally feed when you are sleeping.

Be thorough when buying used home items and if purchasing from rent-to-own stores. Before bringing these items home inspect each item thoroughly. Never take bedding or furniture that has been left on the curb for disposal.

When traveling, survey your hotel room for signs of bed bug infestations, such as red or dark brown spots on bed sheets. Lift the mattress, and other furniture items to look for bed bug hiding places. Elevate all luggage and personal items. Use racks to keep these items away from carpets and beds or place items in the bathtub. Examine all luggage and personal items before returning home to prevent bed bug migration.

Identifying Bed Bugs Bites alone are not a very good method of confirming that you have bed bugs. Its far better to check for the bugs themselves, which are perfectly visible to the naked eye if you know where to look. Adults are brown in color, although their bodies redden after feeding. Full-grown bed bugs move relatively slowly and measure between 4 to 5 mm, with newly hatched bugs being much smaller and white in color. When not feeding, bed bugs like to hide in the piping of mattresses or other small cracks and crevices in and around the bed.

The EPAs website contains detailed information about identifying bed bugs. If you are bitten, there are a number of simple steps you can take to treat the bites.

Getting Rid of Bed Bugs The best and most proven way to get rid of bed bugs is to kill them with high heat temperatures of at least 113 degrees for at least one hour are necessary. The higher the temperature, the shorter the time needed to kill bed bugs at all life stages. Put bedding and clothing in the dryer at high temperatures to kill bed bugs (just washing will generally not kill bed bugs).

Chemicals can be used but typically arent as effective. Additionally there are a number of things to keep in mind:

See the article here:
Bed Bugs | Springfield, MO - Official Website

Introduction

The common name Bed Bug was derived because they hide close to beds and bedding during the day to avoid the daylight and then come out at night to feed on the person or persons occupying the bed. They are considered to be an ectoparasite of humans, but they will also attack other mammals if no food source is available.

Adult bed bugs are about 3/16 of an inch long and are a broad, flat oval in shape. They are amber to reddish brown in color, depending on when they have had their most recent meal. If there are enough of them in one area, they can emit a noticeable odor.

Female bed bugs lay one to five eggs per day and will deposit them in cracks and crevices in walls and furniture. The average maximum per lifetime for one female is 541 eggs. The less often that they feed, the longer their life span. As a nymph they have to molt five times, and a blood meal is required for each molt. A blood meal takes about three to ten minutes. From egg to adult (nymph stage) takes about 21 to 120 days, depending on the environmental conditions. In a perfect feeding and temperature environment, individual bed bugs can live up to 316 days. In some studies they have actually lived up to several years due to prolonged feeding schedules.

While humans are their preferred host, they will also feed on other mammals if no preferable food source available.

When bed bugs feed, their saliva is injected into the host, which serves as an anticoagulant. After feeding, they will detach and move back into their dark hide away. The bite is painless, but about 80% of people bit will have an allergic reaction to the saliva that was injected into the bite. There is usually a swelling at the bite site as a result to the feeding and some people notice a slight reddening.

Bed bugs hide out in dark cracks and crevices during the day, and they come out at night to feed. They are usually found in beds, bedding, furniture, base boards, wall trim, behind loose wallpaper and light switches, window frames and more. They will crawl to significant measures for a blood meal.

Bed Bugs travel place to place by hitching a ride. They find transportation in such places as:

Furniture

Luggage

Vehicles

Boats

Trains

Airplanes

Buses

Anywhere that people travel or lodge is a potential place for bed bugs to dwell. Some clues to a possible bed bug presence are:

Schedule Service Now OR CALL (888) 966-8919 Call before NOON for SAME DAY SERVICE

DIY bed bug prevention measures involve having a watchful eye on your home and everything that comes into it. Check yourself and all others upon entrance in to your home if they have been sleeping elsewhere. Inspect all property brought into your home for bed bugs that may be catching a ride. If you find an area that appears to be affected, call a professional to find out the best form of treatment. Wrapping all mattresses with zippered plastic mattress covers will inhibit future bed bug infestations.

There is nothing that compares to a professional pest control service taking care of your bed bug problem. The expert technicians here at Rottler will treat existing bed bugs primarily with heat in combination with appropriate products. In multi-unit living buildings, it is best to treat any adjacent and neighboring units for bed bugs as well.

Read the original:
Bed Bugs In Missouri | St Louis Bed Bug Control And ...

Bite Back At The First Sign Of A Bed Bug Problem

Bed bugs are a significant threat in St. Louis and Mid-Missouri. A single bed bug introduced into your home or business can turn into a major infestation. One that results in stress, loss of work, loss of sleep and financial burden. Thats why it is critical to combat bed bugs at the first sign of a problem. If you suspect bed bug activity, contact Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions for bed bug services that include K-9 bed bug inspections and highly-effective, yet eco-friendly bed bug heat treatments that can resolve bed bug problems in as little as 4 hours.

Our bed bug treatments are effective in getting rid of bed bugs in apartment buildings, hotels, hospitals and other commercial facilities as well as residential dwellings, regardless of the level of infestation.

If you've discovered bed bugs in your home or business, don't simply toss your mattress out and assume that will take care of the problem. Also we highly recommend staying away from DIY bed bug products as they may make the infestation worse and could threaten health and safety. Instead, let Fern and Barney, our NESDCA certifiedbed bug dogs and the rest of our bed bug professionals take your bed bug worries away. Serving St. Louis, Columbia, Wentzville and all of Mid-Missouri since 1956, we are prepared to partner with property owners who have been affected by bed bugs. Don't let the bed bug bites, contact us!

Schedule Service Now OR CALL (888) 966-8919 Call before NOON for SAME DAY SERVICE

Read more from the original source:
Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In St. Louis And Mid-Missouri With Rottler

Its that time of year, folks, bed bug season!

Sure, bed bugs happen year round, but they do tend to multiply and spread a bit more quickly in the warmer months, due to various factors. This means the pest management professionals are busy, and the consumers are too-often itchy (and hot, which makes itching worse).

Add in the fact thatsummer can be a slow time for news, which meansthe media is doing everything it can to report bed bug stories. If the local news havent got any hot bed bug stories, they will sometimes try and come up with something anyway.

Today we have this example, from the Salem News (in Salem, Missouri): the title, Bed bugs are a year-round problemsuggeststhat were probably not going anywhere new and unchartered.

And the first three paragraphs do not disappoint. They note that bed bugs are nothing new, are found locally, and are a year-round problem.

(Yawn!)

Butwait, here it comes, paragraph four:

The best and easiest way to rid your home of bedbugs is to use a hair dryer to kill the bedbugs in your furniture, [Carol Shipley of Shipleys Pest Control] said. You can also buy spray to kill them, but this isnt always effective the first time. If its a severe infestation, you may have to get rid of your bed and burn it to be rid of the bedbugs.

(Image credit: Conair Pro Style 1200 Blow Dryer by Twitchery on flickr.com, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.)

Wow. Theres just so much going on there!

First, while a hair dryer does emit high heat which can kill bed bugs, the logistics of killing bed bugs with a hair dryer might be a bit impractical, and, depending how you use it,might even be hazardous. I dont think weve heard any experts recommenda hair dryer for treating bed bugs.

A steamer would be a better choice than a hair dryer for killing bed bugs using heat. The back of your hand or a newspaper can bequite effectivetoo.

And, yes, pesticides may require re-application, but thats not a reason to eschew them. It is the reason pros will usually need to come back in 10-14 days and retreat. It stands to reason that do-it-yourselfers arent likely to kill bed bugs in one shot with spray pesticides either.

While we always recommend an experienced and knowledgeable professional be hired to treat for bed bugs if at all possible, if you need to do the bed bug treatmentyourself, please do your research and be sure and get professional advice on using pesticides.

Finally, while experts tell us you usually do not need to discard belongings, keep in mind that if you do, burning your bed is probably not the best or safest way to do that, and I dont know any experts who would recommend that.

I want to note that I dont assume the advice in the article linked above was what was intended by the professionals cited in this story, since we all know that the news media often gets things a bit wrong.

However, its important to set the record straight on what works and to this end, I welcome further input in the comments below from readers (including experts) on the advice given in the Salem News story today.

Original post:
Killing bed bugs with a hairdryer, and other bad ideas