Category Archives: Canada Bed Bugs

Airbnb, the site where people rent apartments and houses to strangers, is lobbying for its cause in Washington, reports Slate's Matthew Yglesias.

The site has an edge over hotels in that it draws tourists to smaller cities that may or may not lack big chains. But not every city's OK with this:

"One reason those neighborhoods dont have hotel beds is that in most cities you cant just slap up a hotel in a residential neighborhood or turn an existing residential property into one," Yglesias says. "Big cities draw a fairly firm distinction between a house and a hotel, but Airbnbs entire business is based on obscuring that line."

For consumers, the real question is whether or not using the site is legal. Here are some reasons renting to strangers on Airbnb might not be smart:

-NYC residents can't rent their apartment out for less than 30 days, according to YM contributor BrickUnderground, though many still do. Fines start at $1,600, reaching up to $5,000 for the first offense, the site says. Check out the state's Multiple Dwelling Law for details.

-Renters and co-op owners can be evicted if the city catches on, at least in New York.

-According to a hotelier in Rome who spoke up on a Quora thread, "it's illegal to rent our space without authorization from the city (comune). It's not easy to obtain this, and in some cases wouldn't be possible at all." The same might apply elsewhere abroad.

-Neighbors could complain, leading the police to fine you and issue a violation, said BrickUnderground. There are also the issues of bed bugs, safety and noise.

Ready for a trip? Check out:

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Here's Why Renting Your Home Through Airbnb Could Be Illegal

LINCOLN, Neb. More than 300 entomologists from the United States and Canada will attend the 67th annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America's North Central Branch in Lincoln June 3-6 at the Embassy Suites Hotel.

Topics of discussion will include new crop protection products for corn, soybean and vegetables, invasive species, integrated pest management, biological control, pheromones, GMOs, beef and dairy cattle, stored-grain protection, insect zoos and museums, endangered species, conservation efforts, allergies spread by insects, insect-plant relationships and insecticide resistance.

A diverse number of economically important insects will be covered, including bed bugs, corn earworm, brown marmorated stink bug, cockroaches, filth flies, stable flies, honey bees, lady beetles, burying beetles, tiger beetles, caddisflies, termites, wasps, ants and aphids.

In addition, the meeting will feature student competitions, field trips, an awards ceremony, receptions and other social events.

The ESA North Central regional branch includes Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Manitoba, Nunavut and Ontario.

The Entomological Society of America is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has more than 6,000 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. Members are researchers, teachers, extension service personnel, administrators, marketing representatives, research technicians, consultants, students and hobbyists. For more information, visit http://www.entsoc.org.

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Entomologists to discuss insect issues at annual meeting

NEW DUNDEE A New Dundee couple has developed an environmentally friendly trap to get rid of some nasty home invaders bed bugs.

The theory behind the trap is it thinks like a bed bug, says Roseanne Weber, who with her husband, David Weber, recently formed Be-Gone Inc., a company that makes the bed bug trap out of their small New Dundee plant.

The trap is made of cardboard and consists of a series of cavities which contain glue. The bugs crawl through the holes, and once inside, they get stuck on the glue and become trapped, David says.

They love cardboard, he says.

The traps are placed under the top corners of a mattress and are changed about once a week depending on the severity of the infestation. They also can be put in linen closets, sleeping bags, drawers, backpacks and luggage.

Used traps are then placed in plastic bags and thrown away. The product is biodegradable, non-toxic and recyclable.

While the incidence of bed bugs is on the increase in Waterloo Region, the pests arent as big a problem as in Toronto or Niagara Falls.

Traditional treatments involve steam and cryonite, which is basically dry ice, but they are costly and labour intensive.

David Weber says their product is more effective and less expensive, and can be used as an effective monitoring system before an infestation occurs. It can be used in homes as well as commercial properties, such as hotels, motels, dormitories, shelters and hospitals.

It is a very inexpensive insurance policy, he says.

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New Dundee entrepreneurs tackle bed bug problem

There are few household staples you have as intimate a relationship with as your mattress. After all, you spend one-third of your life sleeping. Yet you often dont realize you need a new mattress until your back pain becomes chronic. Or one day, you catch an awesome nights sleep in a hotel or someones guest room.

The Better Sleep Council Canada says mattresses begin to show their age after eight years of nightly use.

Whats new?

Gel technology. A new layer in some models adds resiliency; some versions are similar to a shoe gel insert. Gel can serve as a shock absorber or have a cooling effect.

Adjustability. If you insist on using your laptop in bed, there are new versions of adjustable mattresses that are nothing like a clunky traditional hospital bed. A press of a button lifts your head or feet to an inclined position. Good for snorers or acid-reflux sufferers.

Better coil construction. Coils have been designed in stronger alloys such as titanium.

User tips

Pads. Always protect your mattress with a pad to keep it free of stains, rips and dampness. Special encasement pads protect against bed bugs.

Follow directions. Most mattresses today, including pillow-tops, are one-sided and require only rotating. If labelled no-flip, do not flip.

Shop smart

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Nodding approval for a new mattress

AMBLER, Pa., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergy Technologies LLC has signed an exclusive distribution contract with Hospi-Tel, allowing it to represent and sell ActiveGuard Mattress Liners throughout the hospitality industry nationwide.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120312/CG68503LOGO)

Hospi-Tel, a leading manufacturer and distributor of hospitality and healthcare products, will exclusively represent ActiveGuard Mattress Liners to all hotels, motels and other lodging facilities throughout the country.

According to Joseph Latino, Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Allergy Technologies, working with Hospi-Tel represents a significant growth opportunity for ActiveGuard Mattress Liners.

"We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with Hospi-Tel to distribute ActiveGuard Mattress Liners to such a broad spectrum of this audience," Latino said. "Hospi-Tel already sells products to an array of industry segments that represent an ideal prospective customer base for our product. This distribution agreement clearly represents tremendous growth potential for both us and Hospi-Tel; a true 'win-win' relationship."

Hospi-Tel will be distributing ActiveGuard in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and will likely grow pending registration for the product's use in Mexico, Canada, the balance of the Caribbean and other countries.

David Freedland, President of New Jersey-based Hospi-Tel Mfg., Co., is excited about working with Allergy Technologies to introduce ActiveGuard Mattress Liners to new and emerging customer bases.

"We are pleased to be representing the ActiveGuard Mattress Liner. It provides Hospi-Tel with an innovative, effective and novel product solution that we can offer to our customers looking for a preventative and active tool in fighting bed bugs," Freedland said. "We are impressed by the results of the extensive testing Allergy Technologies has done with ActiveGuard and know that it meets our standard of excellence to be a member of the Hospi-Tel family of products we offer. We are confident it will meet with widespread acceptance. We're going to focus on making this the new standard for reasonable care as a pro-active preventative solution within the country's hospitality industry."

ActiveGuard is the only pro-active strategy for preventing a potential bed bug infestation.Distinctly different, and a powerful enhancement to encasements, these liners actually kill bed bugs within 72 hours; even those resistant strains studied!These thin and breathable liners are easily installed onto mattresses and box springs by housekeeping staff, and kill bed bugs and dust mites continuously for up to two years. Extensively lab and field tested, ActiveGuard's ability to keep on killing bed bugs provides continual protection against any adult bed bugs, nymphs or eggs that may be introduced into a hotel room.

About Hospi-TelHospi-Tel Mfg. Co. was founded in 1976. Since its inception, Hospi-Tel has been dedicated to manufacturing shower curtains and cubicle curtains exclusively for the contract market. This focus has led to the expertise necessary to produce products that are designed to meet the rigors of the markets the products are used in, as well as provide outstanding award winning customer service. We are proud to be known as industry leaders and innovators that find solutions to the many unique applications that are an everyday occurrence.

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Allergy Technologies Signs Exclusive Agreement with Hospi-Tel to Distribute ActiveGuard™ Mattress Liners to the ...