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The Best Exterminators and Pest Control Services in NYC 2024 – Curbed

March 16th, 2024 by admin

New York Magazines own Yellow pages, containing exclusively excellent places.

Photo-Illustration: Curbed; Photos: Getty

To find the exterminators on this list, we polled a dozen savvy New Yorkers, including a city-rat scientist and a hairstylist. We found services that use ecofriendly pest-control methods and have a flawless track record of ridding apartments and buildings of pigeons, bedbugs, and mice. One highly recommended exterminator even has a board-certified entomologist on staff.

Arrow Exterminating Company, arrowexterminating.com; 917-935-4932

Arrow was named our Best Exterminator of 2007 for its careful handling of poison pellets and noxious gasses and for its science-based methods. It makes an inventory of a homes residents before it starts a job (no matter what others tell you, some substances arent kid- and pet-friendly), deploys nature-based methods when appropriate, and, when not, uses pesticides judiciously to keep customers safe, we wrote. Best of all, it relies on real science to get the job done: A board-certified staff entomologist teaches workers how bugs behave so they can devise tactics that actually work. Behavioral science? No wonder the citys Department of Transportation has relied on it to keep the Queensboro Bridge pigeon free. It is still open, and though it no longer handles the bridge, Michael Deutsch, who worked at the company for more than a decade and is now brought on as a consultant, says that during the pandemic, we were the ones chosen to monitor all the emergency tents for pests. Weve been there four times a week, doing monitoring, trapping. It has been pretty exciting.

Black Widow Termite & Pest Control, blackwidowpest.com, 212-933-1834

A carpet-beetle infestation reported by the board president of a Park Avenue building; a major mice issue plaguing some high-profile residences near Central Park these are a couple recent jobs taken on by Black Widow Termite & Pest Control, which we first heard about from a noted city-rat scientist (he asked to remain anonymous but named Black Widow as one of the top companies he makes referrals to). Black Widow was founded in 2003 by Rita Bonamo-Geiger, a woman unafraid to stare down basements that even supers dont want to go in, according to her son Nick, who now helps manage the business. The company will field requests from individual tenants (for a base rate of $225), but Nick prefers to work with co-op boards or management companies because, as he puts it, I cant really solve the problem if I cant get to the surrounding units.

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Timothy Wong, founder of M&M Pest Control in Long Island City

Illustration: Pete Gamlen

Say theres a pest in your apartment. What should you do?Find the access points and seal them with caulk or steel wool. Exclusion is most important. But most people dont find all the entry points because theyre hidden behind cabinets and appliances. Thats why our exclusion experts are also carpenters they know where the holes are.

Do home remedies work for deterring pests? The majority dont. People talk about essential oils keeping pests away, but no consumer would be able to buy a concentration high enough to matter. And there are a lot of gimmicks out there, like ultrasound devices. Pests dislike the high-pitched sound they make, but they get used to it. If rats and roaches were scared by loud noises, they wouldnt be in the subway.

How worried should I be about rats coming out of the toilet? It can happen. A lot of old residential buildings in New York City have cast-iron pipes. Over time, when they corrode, they crack, and it creates an opening. Every year, we get at least one or two calls that a rat came through the toilet.

Is there such a thing as a humane trap?Well, what do you consider humane? Some argue that releasing rodents is best, but New York State has a law that if you catch an animal, you cant release it too far from its habitat. If you release a mouse thats been living in your walls into Central Park, there are predators there that hes not used to and hell die within days. To me, killing them quickly is most humane, and snap traps provide the fastest death.

Katie Arnold-Ratliff

24/7 Pest Control NYC, 247pestcontrolnyc.com; 646-661-7415

In the midst of a mice outbreak in her Bushwick townhouse, hairstylist Jessica Gillin Googled to find 24/7 Pest Control NYC. Frank texted me back 15 minutes later, Gillin says. Frank, the companys owner, sent over an employee to seal up holes with foam throughout the three floors of her space, along with the basement (for a total of $1,200; prices start at $250). When the mice proved to be persistent and kept finding ways to get through, Frank himself showed up at the townhouse free of charge. He put metal grates around all the pipe holes for my appliances on the back wall, Gillin says. And she hasnt seen any mice since.

MMPC, mandmpestcontrol.com; 212-219-8218

When Chlo Sevigny finds a pest in her kitchen, she calls up MMPC, as do Neil Patrick Harris and Ellen Barkin. MMPC which, like Black Widow, is a certified M/WBE specializes in ecofriendly services and methods, from cryonite rapid freezing to canine bedbug inspections, many of which are performed by technicians who happen to be trained carpenters, too. According to one Upper East Side client, a finance worker who spoke under condition of anonymity, the company was able to eliminate a bedbug issue that a previous top-rated company had failed to even diagnose as the bugs were only biting one of her children, rather than the whole family, the clients case was trickier than usual. After a series of fumigations of both the apartment and the familys tented belongings we never saw another bedbug, the client says. She continued to have MMPC monitor her apartment monthly and set up interceptor cups to prevent any recurrences. This was all very disruptive and expensive, she notes, but we wanted to have 100 percent success and move on. (MMPC charges $175 and up, and its service includes free pest ID-ing and entomologist service, in which the pests are analyzed in a lab.)

Evergreen Eco Pest Control, nycpest.com; 718-762-1820

We recommended Evergreen Eco Pest Control previously called Green Apple Pest Management in 2015 for its tendency to home in on the breeding source before dousing a pest-infested space with chemicals. This is still very much the case. One recent client had a rash of fungus-feeding beetles on the basement floor. Evergreen discovered a hatch under an old area rug that led to a crawl space the client didnt even know existed the crawl space had an old-fashioned drain with running water going into gravel where gnats and beetles were breeding. The tool we pride ourselves on most is understanding the etymology of the insect, says owner Jesse Scaravella. (From $300.)

Thank you for subscribing and supporting our journalism. If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the March 11, 2024, issue of New YorkMagazine.

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The Best Exterminators and Pest Control Services in NYC 2024 - Curbed

MSNBC staffers flee bed bug infestation at 30 Rockefeller Plaza ahead of Super Tuesday – Washington Times

March 7th, 2024 by admin

MSNBCs headquarters in Manhattan this week experienced bed-bug sightings that led to a swift evacuation of staff as the network prepared for its Super Tuesday coverage.

A memo reviewed by The New York Post revealed on Sunday that an unidentified insect prompted concern in Studio 3A, which recently underwent renovations and serves as the production site for election specials and The Rachel Maddow Show.

Located within the iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the studio swiftly became the focal point of remediation efforts.

They are scrambling, an NBC source told The Post. Theyve already been borrowing an unused local studio for some shows in recent weeks. So studio space is tight.

Out of heightened caution, additional facilities on the third floor were temporarily closed. The decision was made to ensure the safety and comfort of personnel and guests alike, according to internal communications.

To address the infestation, professional exterminators were contacted to thoroughly treat the affected studio, including surrounding green rooms and the control room. Ensuring a comprehensive approach to the problem, an environmental K-9 detection team was scheduled to assess the success of the extermination effort and conduct further inspections throughout the third-floor newsrooms.

In a follow-up to the days disturbances, a network insider indicated that the communication about the situation was part of a broader notification process. They assured that the studio reopened an hour or so after the memo went out and the inspection was complete.

Staff can be reached at 202-636-3000.

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MSNBC staffers flee bed bug infestation at 30 Rockefeller Plaza ahead of Super Tuesday - Washington Times

TikTok Confronts New Threat: Bed Bugs The Information – The Information

February 24th, 2024 by admin

TikTok has hit a snag in its efforts to bring employees back to its New York City office: bed bugs.

The discovery of a bed bug in the office last December, where hundreds of employees are based, has sparked a frenzy among workers fretting about the risks of transmitting bed bugs to roommates and pets, not to mention creators and other business partners. Employees this week asked for the office to be temporarily closed, after one staffer wrote on LarkTikTok parent company ByteDances internal messaging systemthat theyd heard a colleague had brought bed bugs home from the office.

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TikTok Confronts New Threat: Bed Bugs The Information - The Information

The 20 Worst Cities for Bedbugs in the U.S., New Data Shows – Best Life

February 6th, 2024 by admin

Despite their small size, few pests strike fear and dread quite like bedbugs. Part of the problem is that the hard-to-see bugs could be practically anywhere, regardless of where you live. But now, new data shows which U.S. cities are the worst for bedbugs.

On Jan. 22, pest services company Orkin released its annual "Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List." Locales are ranked using the number of commercial and residential bedbug treatments carried out by the company in each metro area from Dec. 1, 2022, through Nov. 30, 2023. This year's results revealed that the top city has remained unchanged for the fourth year in a row.

In a press release, Orkin says more travelers are concerned with encountering these pests, especially after the large infestation Paris had a few months ago. Orkin also notes that it's crucial to be able to identify these bugs in either international or domestic hotel rooms, so you can avoid bringing them back home.

"Bed bugs are extremely resilient, making them difficult to control. As travel plans ramp up, it's important that Americans know how to protect themselves through pest identification and proper control," said Ben Hottel, Orkin entomologist. "While bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, they are excellent at hiding. Involving a trained professional at the sight of a bed bug introduction is recommended."

"Second-hand items such as clothing and furniture are also common bed bug hiding places, allowing pests an opportunity to hitch a ride home with new consumers," Hottel adds. "Examining any new items before they enter your home will help to catch a bed bug infestation sooner, rather than later."

With all that in mind, which metro area topped the list? Read on to see the 20 worst cities for bedbugs in the U.S., according to data.

RELATED: 7 Easy-to-Miss Signs You Have Bedbugs, Experts Say.

Ranking change from last year: +7

The first of four cities from Ohio to be in the top 20 is Youngstown. This city moved up seven spots from last year.

Ranking change from last year: +6

St. Louis is another city that should be concerned about bedbugs. It climbed up six spots from 2023 and is now 19 in the ranking.

Ranking change from last year: +25

Greensboro is a heavily populated city that is having major bedbug problems in 2024. This city saw a monumental change, climbing up 25 spots.

Ranking change from last year: +9

Richmond's bedbug problem has gotten worse, based on the jump this city had from last year. It climbed nine spots, now placing it in the top 20 worst cities for bedbugs.

RELATED: 5 Things You're Buying That Bring Bedbugs Into Your House, Experts Say.

Ranking change from last year: -8

The largest city in Maryland also happened to see the most significant drop in the ranking. This year Baltimore is eight spots lower than it was in 2023.

Ranking change from last year: None

Denver, Colorado remains in the top 20 worst cities for bedbugs but had no change from the previous year.

Ranking change from last year: -2

Grand Rapids, the first of two cities from Michigan to make the top 20, is seeing improvement in 2024. They moved down two spots from last year.

RELATED: The 7 Bugs That Are Most Likely to Bite You While You're Sleeping.

Ranking change from last year: +3 ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Atlanta's bedbug infestation isn't going away. Unfortunately, this capital city ranked 13 in the top 20, with an increase of three from last year.

Ranking change from last year: +1

Cincinnati is still struggling with bedbugs. It's one spot higher on the list than it was in 2023.

Ranking change from last year: -1

Ohio's capital city moved down a spot in the rankings this year. And with that improvement, it has officially dropped out of the top 10.

Ranking change from last year: +1

The bedbug problem in Champaign, Illinois has gotten worse. This city moved up one slot in the rankings and secured a spot in the top 10.

RELATED: 8 Signs of a Bug Infestation You Should Never Ignore, Exterminators Say.

Ranking change from last year: +5

Charlotte is the most populated city in North Carolina and it also has a big bedbug problem. This city jumped five spots from last year and is part of the top 10 for 2024.

Ranking change from last year: -1

Indianapolis is making an improvement on its bedbug problem: The Indiana capital slid down to number eight.

Ranking change from last year: +2

Things may be headed in the wrong direction as far as bed bugs are concerned in our nation's capital. The District moved up two spots from last year's rankings.

Ranking change from last year: None

Motor City is at least not getting worse when it comes to bedbug infestations, as it had no change from 2023.

Ranking change from last year: None

As the second-largest city in the U.S., Los Angeles remains a top contender for the worst bedbug problems.

RELATED: 6 Bugs You Should Never Kill, Pest Experts Warn.

Ranking change from last year:None

The Cleveland and Akron metropolitan areas may have to start getting proactive about their bedbug problem. The Ohio locale had no change from last year and its bedbug problem was enough to keep them in fourth place.

Ranking change from last year: None

The City of Brotherly Love is still in the top three worst places for bedbugs in the U.S.

Ranking change from last year: None

With more than 8 million residents, it might be easy to assume that New York City would top the list of places with major bedbug issues. But the Big Apple has managed to avoid the top spot againstaying in second for two years in a row.

Ranking change from last year: None

For the fourth year in a row, the Windy City has managed to hold the top spot as the worst in the U.S. for bedbugs. Unfortunately, Chicago's pest problems aren't limited to just blood-sucking insects: It also recently ranked as the city with the worst rat problem in the nation, beating out New York and Los Angeles.

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The 20 Worst Cities for Bedbugs in the U.S., New Data Shows - Best Life

New York City ranks #2 on Orkin’s list of worst U.S. cities for bed bugs – New York Daily News

January 24th, 2024 by admin

New York City is the nations second-most bed bug-infested city, according to pest control company Orkin.

The Big Apple maintained its No. 2 spot after surpassing Philadelphia on the annual list last year.

Orkin meanwhile ranked Chicago No. 1 on its list of treatment data from Dec.1, 2022 through Nov. 30, 2023. Its the fourth year in a row the Windy City has claimed the top spot.

Elsewhere on Orkins list of 50 critter-riddled cities, Buffalo dropped 13 spots to the No. 42 position, after coming in at No. 29 in 2023. The biggest jump, however, belonged to Greensboro, N.C., which climbed a whopping 25 spots to reach No. 18.

Illinois was the only state to land two cities in Orkins Top 10, with Champaign just making the cut. Heres a rundown of that list:

Bed bugs are extremely resilient, making them difficult to control, said Orkin entomologist Ben Hottel in a press release of the companys findings. While bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, they are excellent at hiding.

Orkin says bed bugs are typically 3/16 inch long, red to dark brown in color, and are known to survive for months while waiting for their next fix of human or animal blood. A female bed bug can lay up to five eggs a day and as many as 500 in her lifetime, Orkin explains.

While WebMD says bed bugs arent known to spread disease, their bites do cause skin irritation. Scratching bite marks could lead to an infection. People who develop an allergic reaction to bug bites should consult a physician.

To avoid bed bug infestation, Orkin recommends inspecting homes for places where bed bugs hide during the daytime, such as mattress tags and seams, electrical outlets and picture frames. Thoroughly examining secondhand furniture before bringing it home is also a good idea.

Pest control specialists may recommend pesticides or heat treatments that temporarily make insect hiding spots too hot for survival.

Read more here:
New York City ranks #2 on Orkin's list of worst U.S. cities for bed bugs - New York Daily News

The Bed Bugs in Paris: Here’s What We Know So Far – Cond Nast Traveler

October 16th, 2023 by admin

Heres a sentence I never thought Id write: bedbugs have taken over the city of Paris, and we are now faced with the prospect that the outbreak could travel overseas. The infestation began just before Paris Fashion Week (yes, these bugs have good taste), when reports broke of increased sightings of the insects in homes, cinemas, trains and even hospitals. Now, questions are being asked about the safety of traveling to and from Paris; what we can do to prevent the spread, and whether the critters are already settling in our mattresses. Below, we answer all your questions about travel and the bedbug spread.

Bedbugs typically reside in mattresses and bed frames.

The city is no stranger to travelersParis is the worlds most-visited city with 44 million tourists in 2022. Nor is it a stranger to bedbugs: between 2017 and 2022, more than one in 10 French households reported bedbug infestations, according to ANSES, the French health and safety agency. But ANSES reports that the upsurge in bed-bug infestations in recent years has been due in particular to the rise in travel and the increasing resistance of bedbugs to insecticides. In other words, these particular bedbugs have mutated to become superbugs: they have evolved to create defenses and adaptations against certain chemicals typically used to destroy them.

The insects typically reside in mattresses and bed frames, lying in wait for humans to go to sleep before they crawl up and suck blood for their tea. But they can also travel via humans, hitching a ride on clothing, suitcases and hand luggage to travel the world and explore horizons new.

Yes. Paris is a big city, and while the infestation is being widely reported, it isn't everywhere. You can check with your hotel or property prior to arrival to ensure they dont currently have an infestation, and ask what measures are in place to help guests. There is no guidance on the US government website to suggest that traveling to Paris is currently unsafe. Keep reading for top tips on how to check your hotel room for bedbugs and how to avoid taking them home.

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The Bed Bugs in Paris: Here's What We Know So Far - Cond Nast Traveler

Bedbugs arent just in Paris. Theres a global resurgence. – Vox.com

October 16th, 2023 by admin

On a brisk morning last month, the deputy mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grgoire, stood in front of a French TV camera with a serious look on his face and said: No one is safe.

He wasnt talking about the threat of climate change or some frightening new virus. He was talking about bedbugs.

For the blissfully unaware, bedbugs are small wingless insects that bite humans and feast on our blood, often at night. They find us by sensing the carbon dioxide in our breath and our body heat. While bedbugs can carry a large number of pathogens, they dont seem to transmit diseases to humans, though they do produce itchy welts.

In recent weeks, viral videos showing insects that look like bedbugs on the Paris metro and trains, and sightings of bedbugs in movie theaters and at the airport, have fueled fears of a widespread outbreak across the city. People have been panicking. These little insects are spreading despair in our country, a French politician told Parliament earlier this month, urging the prime minister to act. (She brought a vial of bed bugs with her into the chamber, presumably in an effort to strengthen her point.)

Elevating these concerns is the looming Summer Olympics, which will take place in Paris just 10 months from now. Millions of people will descend on Paris for the Games. And you know what likes millions of people? Bedbugs.

The extent of the current outbreak isnt clear, and most of the sightings have not been confirmed. Videos, news reports, and memes have almost certainly made the problem seem far bigger than it really is (go figure!).

But this isnt exactly good news. Paris certainly does have bed bugs. So does Chicago, New York, and every other major city in the world. These bloodsuckers are, unfortunately, everywhere.

It gets worse: Over the last two decades, theres been a global resurgence in bedbugs, according to a recent scientific review, following lows in the mid-20th century. The resurgence has been widespread, affecting virtually every sector of society, the authors wrote.

Scientists say this surge is unlikely to wane anytime soon. So for now, its a bedbugs world. Welcome.

No matter how potent the threat of bedbugs may feel today, I promise that it used to be worse. These insects have been gorging on our legs and arms and crotches for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Egypt long before the invention of chemical pesticides.

In the 1800s, some London hotels were so infested that lodgers were advised to become half-drunk to obtain some sleep, according to the recent scientific review. Entire buildings would be burned down in order to stamp out an infestation. It was the golden age of bedbugs (at least from the perspective of a bedbug).

The tables turned in the 1940s, when the chemical DDT was popularized as an insecticide. During World War II, militaries sprayed DDT to control mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, as well as body lice. It was also shown to be highly effective at killing bedbugs. Along with other newly developed pesticides, DDT helped wipe out bedbug populations. By the 1960s, bedbug infestations were rare, at least among wealthy nations, according to the review.

For the next few decades, citizens in the US and Europe enjoyed evenings largely free of bedbug bites, even after DDT was banned in the US in 1972 (for its harmful impacts on humans and wildlife). But the reprieve obviously didnt last.

Around the turn of the century, the parasites began reentering peoples homes and beds in droves, according to reports from the UK, US, Australia, Japan, and a handful of other countries. In Australia, for example, infestations of bed bugs rose by an estimated 4,500 percent between 1999 and 2006. There isnt clear data on the number of infestations in the US, though in 2010 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency issued a joint statement, warning of an alarming resurgence of these pests.

That brings us to today. Bedbugs are back. Why?

There are some obvious reasons. More people live in cities now, and bedbugs love densely packed warm bodies. Were also traveling more than ever before, giving bedbugs an opportunity to spread (see: horror stories of bedbugs in Airbnbs).

But the main reason why its boom time for bedbugs, according to the review, is that theyve evolved resistance to many pesticides, our main line of defense. Indeed, these critters are now resistant to most of the major classes of insecticides, the review states, including pyrethroids, which is still one of the most commonly used insecticides. Theyve also developed resistance to DDT, which attacks insects in a similar way to pyrethroids.

Insecticides, especially the use of pyrethroids, are useless, said Chow-Yang Lee, a professor of urban entomology at the University of California Riverside and a co-author of the recent review. That will never get rid of bedbugs.

Theres also some evidence that powders like diatomaceous earth which is designed to kill the bugs by drying them out no longer work either. At least some of the insects have evolved resistance to desiccation, Lee said.

That doesnt mean bedbugs are impossible to destroy. High temperatures, around 113 degrees Fahrenheit and above, kill the insects, and research suggests that they arent likely to evolve heat tolerance. So do extremely cold temperatures. Fumigation using highly toxic chemicals and insecticide combinations can work too, Lee said, especially when theyre used repeatedly.

But these effective options come with a very important caveat: Theyre expensive.

Low-income communities often cant afford these eradication methods, Lee said, which can cost several hundred to thousands of dollars for a single apartment. Large complexes might hire an exterminator, but he or she may only spend a few minutes in each unit spraying chemicals that dont work, he said.

These communities may also be home to elderly folks who cant easily vacate their apartments for treatment; the exterminator has to work around them, so theyll undoubtedly miss some spots. These less-affluent communities are considered reservoirs that can spread bedbugs throughout a city, Lee said.

The biggest challenge when it comes to treating bedbugs is cost, Lee said.

While its hard to eradicate bedbugs, its relatively easy to avoid them.

Heres a tip: When you enter a hotel or Airbnb, immediately check the mattress for reddish-brown blood stains, Lee said. After bed bugs feast, he said, they defecate, and their poop includes some staining hemoglobin (sorry). You can also look for the bugs themselves, which are visible to the naked eye; theyre roughly the size of an apple seed.

Lets say you do end up staying somewhere with bedbugs. When you get back home, Lee said, dont bring your luggage inside. Take out your clothes and put them in the dryer for at least 30 minutes (or wash them and then dry them). Then, use a garment steamer to heat-treat your luggage outside. That should kill any eggs.

Now lets say youve found them in your home. Immediately call for professional help, Lee said. Do not attempt to treat it yourself, he said. If the infestation is small, an exterminator may treat your bed or furniture with a hand-held steamer, though if theyre everywhere, the exterminator may want to fumigate or place your furniture into a heat chamber thats when the costs will go up.

Finally, a word from Lee for all of you thrifters: Be very wary about taking anything off the street, especially in cities like New York and Chicago. If you plan to take in any furniture especially sofas, chairs, beds, and mattresses you should have it heated first.

Books, too, should be treated. Do not bring them directly into the house, Lee said. If its the middle of summer or winter, you can leave the books outside for a day or two the heat or cold will force the bedbugs out or kill them. Or you can simply put them in a sealed plastic bag and place them in your freezer for a few days.

These solutions will help you avoid bites or a home invasion. Yet until cheaper effective options are available or the cost of heat treatment is subsidized for low-income communities its unlikely the bedbug problem in the US and elsewhere will be eliminated. According to the EPA, financial assistance [for bedbug treatment] is not generally available.

In the meantime, well have to learn to live with the threat of bedbugs.

We have not seen the light at the end of the tunnel, Lee said. Until we come out with some method that is affordable to everyone, we will remain in the tunnel.

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Bedbugs arent just in Paris. Theres a global resurgence. - Vox.com

Bed bugs in NYC: What renters need to know – 6Sqft

October 16th, 2023 by admin

Everyones social media feeds have been flooded with startling images and videos of Paris streets filled with discarded mattresses amid a citywide bed bug infestation. New York City is no stranger to bed bugs, which faced a major outbreak a decade ago and currently ranks second on this years Orkins Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List. And now with reports that the infestation could spread throughout Europe and land in the Big Apple, New York apartment dwellers should know the best way to deal with the blood-sucking insects, from how to prevent an infestation and your rights as a tenant to the legal responsibility of property owners.

Paris is in the midst of an unrelenting bed bug infestation brought to the worlds attention by travelers posting photos and videos of the insects in the citys public transit system, on high-speed trains, and at the Charles de Gaulle airport. The news is especially troubling since Paris is set to host the 2024 Olympics, which will bring thousands of visitors from across the globe to the city.

No one is safe, Emmanuel Grgoire, Deputy Mayor of Paris, posted on X. Faced with a bed bug infestation, coordinated measures are needed that bring together health authorities, communities and all relevant stakeholders to prevent the risk and act effectively.

The city has until July 26 to get the infestation under control before visitors arrive for the Olympics.

Bed bugs are small insects commonly found in large metropolitan cities. Adult bed bugs have flat, brown oval bodies and are similar to the size of an apple seed. Younger bugs are incredibly small with translucent or whitish-yellow bodies.

They prefer to hide in small crevices found in mattresses, such as under mattress seams, inside mattresses, and in the cracks in box springs. Bed bugs are most active at night and feed on blood to grow and reproduce.

While they cant spread disease, bed bugs inflict itchy and painful bites on their victims that can sometimes lead to allergic reactions. Bed bug bites are usually clustered and aligned in a linear or circular fashion. The most common locations for bites are on the face, neck, back, chest, arms, legs, and around the crotch, according to Orkin.

There are a few ways to confirm if you have bed bugs. First, bed bugs undergo a molting process in which after feeding on blood, they shed their skin. These sheddings, which are usually the same shape and size as the bugs themselves, are indicators of an infestation. Molted skins can typically be found along mattress seams, behind headboards, along baseboards, and stuck to personal belongings, according to Virginia Tech.

Another way is to look for fecal spots, that is, the excreted waste bed bugs leave after feeding. These spots are black in color and are usually seen in groups of 10 or more. However, if the infestation is small enough, there can be as little as one or two spots.

Spots can be found along mattress seams and on the tag, on the wood frame of box springs, behind the headboard, along the tops of baseboards or the edge of carpeting, on electrical outlets, and in curtain seams close to the rod.

Tenants need to alert their landlord or building manager as soon as possible and ask them to seal any cracks and crevices to prevent more pests from entering their homes. For those who think they have bed bugs, immediately wash and dry your clothing on high heat for 30 minutes, or store them in a tightly-sealed plastic bag until you can wash them.

The citys Department of Health recommends that New Yorkers experiencing a bed bug infestation should take these measures:

You can call 311 or click here to file a bed bug complaint online.

New York City building owners are required by law to address and solve any bed bug infestations at their properties. In the five boroughs, tenants have the right to a bed bug-free home under the citys housing maintenance code, found in Subchapter 2, Article 4, which lists bed bugs as a Class B violation and considers them hazardous.

After being notified of an infestation, property owners have 30 days to correct the problem and are mandated to make sure none of the previously affected units get infested again. To eradicate the infestation, owners should hire a professional pest management service and let tenants know about the planned use of pesticides in advance.

If your landlord refuses to address the infestation or is unresponsive following the first filed complaint, tenants may file another one with the citys Department of Housing Preservation and Development by calling 311.

If a landlord blames their tenant for the infestation or continues to neglect the problem, tenants can escalate the issue by filing a complaint with the states Division of Housing and Community Renewal (for rent-regulated tenants), or by taking the property owner to housing court in an HP action, according to the Met Council on Housing.

In most cases, landlords are only responsible for covering the costs of property damages and out-of-pocket fees in situations where there is proven negligence to solve the issue on their part. If a tenant proves that the original infestation or an ongoing infestation is the result of a landlords lack of care, then tenants can make a claim for compensation to cover the costs.

For disabled or elderly residents who are unable to move furniture or clean clutter, tenants must make a request to their landlord in writing, explaining why they need their landlord to help complete these tasks. Adult Protective Services may also be able to help elderly tenants with cleaning work. More information on that can be found by calling 311.

Property owners are also required to provide their tenants with a written bed bug history notice that discloses any infestations that have occurred in their building within the last year.

To be proactive in preventing future infestations, property owners should inspect their units after a vacancy and make sure they are clean and free of pests before a new resident moves in.

Besides taking these immediate courses of action, property owners should provide their tenants with helpful information on how to identify and prevent bed bugs. They should also encourage tenants to file a report as soon as possible, and inspect all of the apartments across, above, and below the affected unit.

Landlords should also assist tenants in moving furniture or getting rid of clutter if they are unable to themselves.

The chances of bed bugs hitching a ride on you while traveling are low, but not impossible. Bed bugs have the potential to latch onto clothing and luggage, especially in places where travelers sleep.

Here are some easy steps you can take to prevent unwanted guests on your next vacation:

More recommendations from the citys Department of Health and Mental Hygiene can be found here.

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Bed bugs in NYC: What renters need to know - 6Sqft

Paris’s bedbug problem is probably no worse than other major cities – New Scientist

October 16th, 2023 by admin

Common bedbugs dont spread diseases, but they are an itchy nuisance

blickwinkel / Alamy

If you are a light sleeper like me, you can definitely feel it when bedbugs crawl on your skin.

My brief encounter with these ravenous insects in a prestigious manoir near Paris last year left me with long lines of red wheals down my back, arms and legs, and an itch so unbearable and relentless that I had to take prescription-strength antihistamines for more than a week.

Fortunately, I knew the simple, immediate steps I had to take to keep the apple seed-sized bugs from coming home with me. Many others havent been so fortunate. As it prepares for millions of visitors to arrive for the 2024 Summer Olympics, the city of Paris is battling a significant resurgence of these blood-sucking bugs, in the words of Emmanuel Grgoire, the deputy mayor.

Not only are bedbugs now in peoples homes, they are also in hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, cinemas and public transportation systems and are rapidly spreading throughout France, says Grgoire. He is urging the countrys federal government to act immediately to rein in the crisis, starting with financial assistance so that lower-income families can afford effective treatment for their homes. Professional extermination usually requires several house calls, costing well over 900.

But the state of panic has been fuelled by social media posts and international news coverage that exaggerate a much less serious problem, says Arezki Izri at the Sorbonne Paris North University. There is no scientific evidence of any increase in infestation rates this year, despite all the media attention.

The only existing survey of bedbug infestations in France showed that 11 per cent of French homes were infested between 2017 and 2022. Izri thinks rates in 2023 are probably about the same and are roughly equivalent to rates in other major cities in Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.

People are going crazy over a media buzz, he says. I had a woman call me in a panic today threatening to jump out a window because shes terrified she brought home bedbugs from a trip. What we need is better education about these bugs.

Common bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) and tropical bedbugs (Cimex hemipterus) are two of about 90 species in the Cimex genus that consume human blood, with the other Cimex species mainly targeting bats and birds. They can harbour up to 40 kinds of bacteria, fungi, parasites and other infectious agents, but so far there is no evidence that they transmit any diseases to humans.

Still, their saliva causes mild to severe allergic reactions in up to 90 per cent of those they biteand can bring about secondary skin infections and sleep deprivation. They can also lead to psychological issues, mostly related to the stress of getting rid of the bugs and social stigma, even though studies show socioeconomic status and cleanliness have nothing to do with infestation rates.

Humans and bedbugs have been cohabitating ever since they both lived in caves 11,000 years ago and probably before. Eighty years ago, potent insecticides like pyrethroids began to be used wipe out large populations of the bugs in industrialised nations. Entire generations of people came to know bedbugs as something almost folkloric.

That was until 1990, when bedbugs started making a comeback, as mutants that survived insecticide treatments gave rise to lines of genetically resistant bugs. Despite news reports suggesting a sudden epidemic, Paris has actually been hosting a gradually growing population of bedbugs for decades.

The strong revival of tourism following the end of covid-19 lockdowns could, in theory, have increased the risk of infestations in Paris especially given that France is a hotspot for tourism and that French people tend to travel a lot, says Izri. That equates to millions of tourists swapping beds as they move luggage that could be unwittingly carrying parasitic passengers from hotel to Airbnb to overnight train couchette, then back home.

While the bugs cant fly or hop, they are adept crawlers that can easily run from one apartment to the next in the same building, and they can travel on used furniture as well as on peoples clothes and bags wherever they go.

Importantly, though, this doesnt mean France is exporting bedbugs across the planet. On the contrary, says Izri, it is possible that many of the countrys bedbugs are imported from the UK, the US or any other country with its own resident bedbug population.

To reduce risks, travellers should check mattress seams for tiny black waste stains, keep luggage closed and up high or in the bathroom and immediately hot wash and dry clothes once back home. If an infestation occurs, people should act quickly and without panicking to place clothes, pillows and blankets in -20C (-4F) freezers for two hours, and have other items professionally heated to 180C (356F). Chemical treatments should be avoided, as they contribute to insecticide resistance, pollute the environment and generally give a false impression of being effective, says Izri. If you experience an adverse reaction to bedbug bites, consult your doctor.

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Paris's bedbug problem is probably no worse than other major cities - New Scientist

Bathroom bedbug warning sent to all Brits following outbreak – Glasgow Times

October 16th, 2023 by admin

As a result, experts are saying now ismore important than ever to wash your sheets andtowels thoroughly.

Recent reports have foundthatfreshly washedtowelscontain190,000 counts of bacteria increasing to17 millionafter justone dayof use, and soaring to as high as94 millionafter aweek.

Bathroom experts atShowers to You have conducted their own research which claimed to find thatover1 million UK residents only wash their bathroomtowels once a year.

While guidance shows thattowels should be washed after three uses,2,200 UK residents were surveyedand found that many were using theirtowels for much longer before giving them a freshen-up.

However, its not all bad news for the nationsbathroom hygiene, with almostone in five(38%) respondents stating they wash theirtowelsonce a month, almosta quarter(24%) washing theirtowelsonce a weekandone in 20(5%) health conscious residents washing theirtowelsevery single day.

Martin Smith, the founder ofShowers to Youcommented: The bathroom should in theory be one of the cleanest rooms in the home, however, our research shows that many people across the country could be ignoring a key step in ensuring proper bathroom hygiene.

While its encouraging to see the data shows the majority of respondents are keeping up with regularly washing their bathroomtowels, everyone should ensure they are ensuring a regular routine of washing theirtowels in line with guidance from health professionals, especially for those who only give theirtowels an annual wash.

If you are worried or think you may be infested by bedbugs, these are some key signs to look out for according to theNHS.

If you have bedbugs you will need to contact your local council or pest control service.

Wash your bedding, curtains, and clothing in hot water and dry them on the highest dryer setting. Put stuffed animals, shoes, and other items that can't be washed in the dryer and run it on high for 30 minutes or more.

Use a stiff brush to scrub mattress seams to remove bedbugs and their eggs before vacuuming.

Excerpt from:
Bathroom bedbug warning sent to all Brits following outbreak - Glasgow Times

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