Pest 1/11/17 – gtg Bed Bugs

Squirrels

Squirrels are usually identified by their soft, dense fur, uniformly colored, gray above and white below. Their tail is bushy at the base, black in the middle and tipped with white. The adult is about 380-525 mm long and weighs 300-713 grams. There is no difference in the colors of the sexes. Young are paler and more grayish than adults. They have a long, graceful and bushy tail (which is used for balance, as a parachute, or to protect the animal from the sun or cold).

Habitat

Squirrels are diurnal and usually active from early morning to late evening in both summer and winter. Squirrels can really be a nuisance because of their propensity to chew on various edible and inedible objects. They often cause power outages and are known to cause structural damaged because of their tendency to borrow.

Diet

The food of gray squirrels is principally nuts, eaten according to the cycle of nut reproduction which generally peaks in the autumn. Squirrels cannot digest cellulose and must rely on foods rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fat.

Reproduction

Squirrels start mating when they are a year old. It takes about six weeks from the time the squirrels mate until the baby squirrels, called kittens, are born. Twice a year, in the spring and at the end of the summer, the female squirrel has two to five kittens.

Raccoons

Raccoons can cause severe damage to crawlspaces and attics. This is one pest that most insurance agencies cover due to the severity and health related problems they cause. Raccoons’ agenda is the same as most pests that live among people. They become fairly familiar with us and realize that we are not a common threat. Once they breach our homes they will create a den or nest to give birth to their pups. It’s vital that raccoons are immediately dealt with because of the concentration of feces and urine in the area they nest. Over time this sanitation issue will cause several respiratory health problems. If you are experiencing what you think is a raccoon problem do not hesitate and call for help.

Birds

During specific times of the year different birds will try relentlessly to gain access into our attics to raise their babies. They pose limited risk to our health, but do carry bird mites that can often look for new hosts once the birds are gone. They gain access into the Bird Blocks or soffit vents below the roof line. These areas of intrusion are likely due to the type of screen the builder used when constructing the home. It’s very common for them to almost use a screen door type screen. These are easily breached by birds and until they are secured properly you will have unwanted visitors for years. Starlings are the most common bird that causes the most irritability to us once in the attic. Typically the noise starts at an area and is consistent around sunrise. Once the babies are born it’s an agonizing chirping that does not stop. Prevention of this is always recommended. But in the meantime if you are experiencing birds in your attic, Call us for a free inspection to give you a clear idea on how we can solve this problem.

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Important Bed Bugs Symptoms and Treatment You Need to Know

We all know what bed bugs are. From the name you can easily guess that they are mostly found in your bed mattress. These are small parasites; they live on blood of humans, mammals and birds. Itchiness is one of the prominent bed bug symptoms and treatment may not be necessary unless the bump becomes an open infected wound caused by scratching. 

Are the bed bugs easy to locate? Sometimes you do not think of bed bugs as the culprits. The mark is similar to other insect bites, reddish and itchy. But if you think that you have acquired the bite during your sleep this should incite curiosity on your part. You will have to look into the mattress, pillows, bed sheets, headboards, bed frames and box spring. They can also be found in furniture situated in areas where people use to sleep or sit. You will not immediately recognize bed bug symptoms and treatment of bites may not really be necessary. The evidence of the bite which is itchy welts manifest after a few days after being bitten. The bites are a nuisance but are not alarming for possible diseases. Bed bugs do not transmit diseases, but infestation of the pests needs to be controlled as soon as possible. The pests can easily multiply.

Bed bug symptoms are felt and seen. Once the presence is ascertained, you can immediately step up to end the infestation. If there is huge infestation or plenty of bugs, you may easily find these pests as they are large in number. But if not, what you see are signs or slight bed bug symptoms and treatment is not called for. The symptoms are reddish bumps that are itchy. There are a number of signs that bed bugs are present. The bugs are releasing sweet musky odor that is typical of them. The smell is a kind of chemical released by the bug to communicate with other bugs. Another evident symptom of bed bug infestation is red or brown stains on the sheets, mattress pads, pillows or other sleeping paraphernalia. You will also find exoskeletons of dead bugs, eggs and feces. You have evidence of the presence because of these bed bug symptoms and treatment for their elimination may be your immediate course of action.

Treating non-serious bites

If there is no serious reaction to the bites or infection due to resulting wounds, there is no need for medical treatment. As soon as you discover that you were bitten by a bed bug, you just have to wash the red mark with soap and water. This will reduce itchiness and may prevent any infection. If the bite persists to itch, you can apply a thin layer of mild corticosteroid cream. This topical cream is available over-the-counter or without prescription from a drug store or pharmacy. The bed bug symptoms and treatment will last for a few days to a week.

Bed bug bite treatment for severe reaction

Normally, the itchy welts will disappear in a few days. If you cannot stop from scratching, the itchy bumps can develop into open wounds. Scratching incessantly, the wound can become infected. You may need medical attention if the bites are too numerous or when they develop into blisters. You may be prescribed with antiseptic to prevent infection. The blisters can erupt and turn into infected wounds that ooze puss. If you have too sensitive skin, allergic skin reaction may develop hives or swollen skin. Going to the doctor due to severe allergic reaction, you may be given a shot of antihistamine or high dose corticosteroid. If the bite is infected, you will be prescribed with antibiotics. Bed bug bites can be intensely itchy and scratching them, you may suffer skin infection so you need to seek medical attention. There are rare instances of severe reaction characterized by breathing difficulty, irregular or forceful heartbeat, fever, swelling or anemia. These are complicated bed bug symptoms and treatment is very urgent.

Step by Step Method to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Yourself

Use rubbing alcohol and a brush to kill and get rid of the bed bugs yourself. You apply the alcohol to the brush, and scrub away all the visible bed bug eggs. The alcohol will kill the new and old eggs that are visible. As the alcohol seeps into the mattress it will effectively kill bed bug eggs embedded in the fibers of your mattress.

You may also use ammonia, alcohol and moth balls by mixing them together. When you mix them together in a spray bottle they create a special solvent which will aid you being able to get rid of bed bugs yourself. Once these items are mixed, if the bed bugs are in your bed or any furniture item, take all coverings off. You spray down your bed with the mixed substances in the bottle (including corners, and the underside of the bed).

While undertaking the task of getting rid of bed bugs, you want to make sure you take the proper precautions. A box of disposable gloves and a mask are essential items before you should attempt to get rid of bed bugs yourself. When doing this process, make sure to wear a mask. Ammonia is a very strong chemical. If you inhale too much ammonia, you can get ammonia poisoning.

Separate the items that may be exposed to bed bugs (clothes, sheets, etc.) and wash them in extreme hot water. Bed bugs perish in hot environments. They love body temperature. That is why they are mostly found in beds and sofas, because they are attracted to your body heat.

By exhaustively steaming your clothes, comforters, and sheets, you can get rid of bed bugs yourself. Also make sure to steam any stuffed animals. All these items have areas where these bed bugs can hide. They may like body heat, but any heat more than that kills them or does not attract them.

Another way to get rid of bed bugs yourself is vacuuming all mattresses, walls and carpets. Make sure all corners of the mattress are vacuumed for bed bugs since they may be hidden in the seams and edges.

Steaming your carpets after vacuuming can also be used as a way to get rid of bed bugs yourself. Care must be taken to get the corners and edges of walls. Properly seal any cracks in your floors and walls. If you live in an apartment, bed bugs can move from one apartment to the next through seals and cracks.

To completely ensure that you did get rid of bed bugs yourself, empty your dressers, inspect your sofas, cushions, pillows, and chair arms to closely check for bed bugs or their eggs.

Bed bugs love to come out at night, so if you feel a bite, be sure to have a flash light at hand. When you point the area where you were bit, the bed bug usually tries to crawl away because of the light. Look in the direction of where it is crawling back, but before he fully gets away, make sure you kill it.

If when you are inspecting your furniture and you still see more bed bugs, you are either not doing the process properly or you may need to throw away the furniture infested with the bed bugs immediately.

Based on this process, you will be able to get rid of bed bugs yourself. Yes, it may take time, but it works. The thing about bed bugs, is when one area is being cleaned out, they move to other spots, so be sure to spray places that aren’t even infested with the bed bugs.

You may be a bit skeptical about using the ammonia, but if you do use the process including the ammonia, be sure to stay out of the area of which you use the ammonia for about an hour. That way you cannot inhale it. You may even leave your house for a couple of hours. Remember, the ammonia is mixed with alcohol and moth balls and it isn’t just being sprayed without anything. That may decrease the risk of getting ammonia poisoning.

Note that this process can take some days and will not completely get rid of the bed bugs in one day. Because this is a DIY method and a natural process you must be patient but by following these tips, you will benefit in the end in your decision to get rid of bed bugs yourself.

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Get Rid of Bed Bugs

• Someone’s bed & home is infested and will be expensive to fix

• The home is dirty.

• It is contagious.

Those who assume these ideas may turn their nose up at a person who is exposed to bed bugs. In fact, most of these assumptions are myths. When hearing the word “Bed Bugs”, do not automatically assume those misconceptions.

Bed Bugs can come from many places. One assumption as to where do bed bugs come from can be an infested bag or affected clothing being placed on top of a bed. Bed Bugs and lice are similar in that they easily spread from one place to another. Consider traveling as one cause. Bed bugs clasp onto items where they cannot be seen (i.e., inside a person’s luggage or clothes). Believe it or not, airplanes and trains are also places where bed bugs come from. We can also assume storage boxes and packages are sources for where bed bugs come from. However, we must take into account bed bugs latch on to anything they can get their hind legs on and because they are so small and unseen, they can virtually come from anywhere. Wooden and antique furniture can be places where bed bugs do come from, so it is best to inspect all second hand furniture you may decide on acquiring for your home. For about a year, bed bugs can live hidden without food.

Another way to understand the question, “where do bed bugs come from?” is to take into account the simple act of a friend or neighbor, unknowingly of course, can bring the parasite into your home. By sitting on your couch or bed, this person can possibly bring the bed bug onto your furniture. Small openings and cracks in your floors are other places that bed bugs enter the home. If you live in an apartment building, there is a great possibility that the parasite can crawl through small cracks and enter the apartment. They may spread to another part of the building if insecticide was sprayed, making the bed bugs seek out another area. Bed bugs can also crawl through vents and get through old building walls. If you have recently had a neighbor or friend over, before jumping to conclusions, consider another place as to where do bed bugs come from.

Bed bugs can come from places considered by many to be clean and bug free. The laundromat is another place where these parasites can cling to other places. Because they can survive in different temperatures, ranging from forty degrees to eighty degrees, cleaning your infested sheets would not get rid of them easily. Bed bugs can spread through the washing machines and even the folding areas where they can attach themselves to your belongings.

How to get rid of bed bugs

You may have noticed the bites in the middle of the night, the fecal matter left behind on mattresses or bed sheets, and you need to know how to get rid of bed bugs. There are several different alternatives that can be done to get rid of bed bugs, and its effectiveness also depends on what you do after the elimination process has begun in your home. If you want to know how to get rid of bed bugs in your home effectively, you can also call or contact the Center for Disease and Control or the health department in your area.

The first step for choosing how to get rid of bed bugs in your home is to contact a professional from a pest control company in your area. Pest control professionals will know exactly what to do in order to alleviate the bed bug infestation problem in your home. Be sure to choose only a professional that has personal experience treating bed bug problems in the area, as not all pest control companies are equipped to handle the problem efficiently.

When the pest control professional has finished his inspection and management of the bed bug problem in your home, there are still steps you can take to ensure you no longer have a problem with bed bugs in your home. By following these steps on how to get rid of bed bugs in your home, you will need to trap bed bugs, clean and disinfect and seal cracks and crevices around your home to make elimination successful after a professional has assessed the problem.

Bed bugs need to be dug out of cracks and crevices around your home using a putty knife along window sills and floor boards. There may be some still alive, so it is best to remove these bugs using a vacuum that requires a bag, so they can be disposed of properly. If you have bed bugs on your mattresses or furniture a blow dryer is helpful for eliminating bugs in these areas. Just hold the blow dryer in place for 30 seconds and this will eliminate bugs in hard to clean areas.

Having a clean and disinfected home is very effective when learning how to get rid of bed bugs, and there are many things you can do to eliminate places where bed bugs may congregate. Remove clutter and nonessential items from your home until there is no longer an infestation present. Remove bed bug stains with soapy hot water. All washable linens that came in contact with bed bugs should be washed in hot water and dried at least 20 minutes in the dryer. Find a cover for mattresses that is appropriate for dust mites and bed bugs and do not remove.

Learning how to get rid of bed bugs properly is a daunting and tiring task. When disposing of your items be sure to label all bags with a warning of bed bugs. It isn’t necessary to get rid of the items in the home if you effectively take the above steps seriously and ask professionals about how to get rid of bed bugs in your home.

How to check for bed bugs

Have you wanted to know how to check for bed bugs? Most of the time there is no way of knowing where a bed bug infestation originated or how it was brought into your home. The good news is that bed bugs leave certain signs behind that let us know they were there, or are in your home, so you can start the elimination process. In order to find the signs that bed bugs leave behind, one must know how to check for bed bugs in various places around the home. In order to do this effectively, there are certain tools that one can use in order to effectively see a bed bug, such as a magnifying glass, double stick tape, and a putty knife. A flashlight may also be helpful for dark or hard to see areas. These tools may sound random, but because bed bugs are so small and like to hide in cracks and crevices, you may not be able to see them with the naked eye. Follow the steps below for different ways on how to check for bed bugs around your home.

The first places you want to check are the beds around your home. To do this, remove all the bed linens and covers from the bed so that only the mattress is showing. Look for reddish-brown stains in a circular pattern on the mattress. These stains are usually found on the box spring or in the crack and crevices of the mattress seems. If you notice an area like this, take your magnifying glass or double stick tape to the mattress area and look for bed bugs. You can also check sofas, chairs, and other furniture the exact same way when looking for bed bugs.

Bed bugs are small bugs that are white to brown in color. These bugs are often most noticeable after they feed when they turn a rusty color, much like the color of blood. Bed bugs are no bigger than an apple seed, and knowing how to check for bed bugs effectively and knowing what to look for can help you identify a problem before it gets out of control.

Using a putty knife, you want to look for bed bugs in small cracks and crevices around your home, particularly around window sills and baseboards. Scrape the knife along these cracks and look for dried blood and other signs mentioned above. Knowing how to check for bed bugs and identifying them is very important for removal.

If you notice after checking for bed bugs that you may have an infestation, contact a pest control professional who is capable of handling the problem. There are also certain steps you can take after the professional has done his job to eliminate the possibility of having bed bugs in your home again. This process is very similar to learning how to check for bed bugs around the home, with the exception that certain steps are taken to eliminate and kill any bed bugs that may be lurking around the home even after the professional has sprayed for the problem.

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How Do You Know If You Have Bed Bugs?

You may ask, how do you know if you have bed bugs, what do these insect look like and how will you know which insect you should observe. These are common queries people often ask. If you suspect that you have these insects at home, you should find out the indicators. Look for blood spots on sheets and also dark brown spots on mattresses, partitions and bed frames.

If you see them, there may possibly be a bed bug infestation on your hands. Bed bugs are good at hiding, as they are skinny so that they can slip into cracks or anywhere you will have trouble seeing them. Bed bugs suck blood late at night, especially when you are sleeping. You could also get bed bug bites during the evening or day without even knowing it. Bed bug bites can be difficult to recognize, as the appearance is often the same as other insect bites. Even a dermatologist is often unable to recognize a bed bug bite or decide whether it is from a bite of a different insect.

Bites can also appear differently from one person to another. On some people, the bites are significant and appear like a red dot in the middle in which the skin was penetrated, while on some others, they may possibly look like pimples. Bed bugs usually bite in a semi-circular style, which causes a pattern of bites. However, there are numerous cases in which the victim does not end up with a pattern of bites. Being bitten by one of these insects is absolutely unpleasant. According on how sensitive you are to bed bug bites, your skin can be irritated and even inflamed. Some people described the bite being like a mosquito bite – very itchy, but it could last for a number of days. The reaction to this insect’s saliva injected into the skin, causes the itchiness and could disturb your sleep in a serious way.

Knowing Bed Bugs Physically

Bedbugs are a potential human foe. They appear as tiny harmless living creatures but they are absolutely not. First of all, these insects are tiny and uneasy to find. Their sizes are about 4 mm long and 2 mm wide with an oval body. These insect’s bodies are brown and flat with no wings. As they suck blood, their body size expands and their body’s color will become a darkened blood red tone. Bed bugs tend to live in a small space in your mattress and bed.

If you think you will only find these insects in dirty areas, then you are wrong because bed bugs can be found in your home and even in first class hotel rooms. These insects are so tiny that usually you will not be able to see them with naked eyes. They may look like termites or ants, but if you look at these insects closely, you will know that they have different physical attributes. Some of them are deep brown, while some other are burnt orange or even light tan to nearly white.

Finding Bed Bugs

First, you have to know that bed bugs are tiny and nocturnal, so it’s quite hard to see them immediately. In most cases, people discover their presence when they have already started attacking a member of the household. It’s not unusual that the first sign that you have bed bugs is someone being bitten. Yes, bed bugs bite and they typically do this at night, when you’re peacefully sleeping and oblivious of their blood-sucking activity.

When bed bugs bite, they release an anticoagulant substance that creates a reaction on the skin. Hence, it is highly possible that one morning, you can get up feeling itchy and filled with red rashes and welts on the exposed skin areas such as the face, arms, and legs. These signs of bed bugs typically appear even before you start seeing crawling creatures under your bed. Quite disappointing, don’t you think?

Once you suspect that there’s already an infestation of bed bugs in your home, there are things you have to do. First, inspect your bedding. If the bugs have just finished feeding and get squashed when you move or turn in your sleep, they will burst and leave marks. It’s a bit disgusting but true. Hence, seeing some blood stains on your bed sheet can also be one of the signs of bed bugs that you should watch out for.

As already mentioned, bed bugs are nocturnal insects. They hide during daytime and the most accessible and ideal place for them would be the bed. It would be best to strip off your bedding and take a closer look at your mattress. Inspect the seams, creases, and buttons. If there are indeed bed bugs, you will either see them crawling or see some fecal marks on various areas. Apart from the bugs themselves and their fecal markings, translucent eggs may be present too. These eggs are as small as a grain of rice which may be attached to the mattress. When you see them, then you are definitely looking at the clearest signs of bed bugs.

Now, you should also know that the bed isn’t the only refuge for the bed bugs. Move away a bit and you may be surprised at the signs of bed bugs everywhere else in your place. Start with your room. Look around and scrutinize every crack and crevice on the floors as well as the walls. They are likely to have some signs of bed bugs. Take some time to open the drawers, closets, picture frames, and other soft furnishings too. All of these locations may serve as ideal hubs for bed bugs.

Finally, don’t forget to check your clothing too. Your pockets, collars, and shoes can serve as favorable hideouts for these blood-sucking insects. The next time you look for signs of bed bugs, don’t forget to include these items on your list. Knowing where they are will help you know how to prevent bed bugs better.

Bed Bug Signs

If you see signs of bed bugs, it means they are already in your home. However, there are ways to tell about these insects, so that you can know the signs before you have too great an infestation.

Let’s start with the signs of bed bug bites. When a bed bug bites you, it sucks on human blood. They use two hollow tubes to do this. One, to inject an anesthetic and an anticoagulant to numb the area and prevent your blood from clotting. And the other tube, is to suck the blood through. As a rule, they are active during the night and bite any exposed human skin while you are sleeping.

Bites can arise on just about any part of our bodies. As the bites are painless, you won’t detect that you have been bitten, so you will not wake up. Others, may notice the bites very fast. The way you will notice, is by the extreme itching you will feel.

However, once you wake up and see that you have some puffiness and itching, you may imagine that you have a mosquito or flea bite, which is often why the signs of bed bug bites frequently go unnoticed. They are not easy to tell apart from the other sorts of bug bites. The most regular signs of bed bug bites are raised bumps on the skin that are small and flat.

When you do observe them, you should take care not to start scratching them, due to the fact they can get infected. You should take note that the signs of bed bug bites have a propensity to have a number of bites in a linear shape. Their growth is based on the feeding cycle. It might not be just one bed bug feeding on you. That is why there are usually several bites lined up in a row.

Based on the results of their research, infectious disease specialists have found that other signs can be a funny smell close to the bites and other areas that bed bugs live in. The reason for the smell around the bites is that they have glands that produce this aroma. They do leave fecal spots on the bedsheets and in the areas where they hide during the day. As these nasty critters are usually within 8 feet of their victims, there will be many dark places they can hide. They will hide just about anywhere in the room so you can never rule out any one place.

The thing to remember here, is that most of the time, signs of bed bugs are hard to see until it is usually too late. They are already where you won’t want them to be. But you can take the lead, and look for them frequently. Mainly when you are purchasing furniture that is used. Mattresses are not to be resold so l would advise that you don’t get a mattress from a person that you do not know, or if the mattress is old.

Unlike dust mites that you cannot see, you can see bed bugs. You’re able to locate them if you look for them carefully. But as mentioned earlier, once they are in the house, you may need to do a proper check of all possible hiding places, starting with the bedroom, or wherever the bites occurred. When you understand what to look for, it’s not too difficult to uncover many bed bug signs.

Bed Bug Traps

Bed bug traps are a must for people suffering from bed bug infestation. Bed bugs may be tiny, but they can make your life a living hell. These parasites can make you toss and turn in your bed with their itchy and irritating bites.

Where Do Bed Bugs Live

Before you get excited in solving that bed bug problem once and for all, there are some things worth knowing about these creatures. As the name suggests, these insects particularly like beds and mattresses. They are most likely found in holes or cracks of the bed’s framing. If you notice dark spots on the bedding along with a stuffy smell, chances are your home is infected with bed bugs. Bed bugs can find their hosts because of the carbon dioxide that humans breathe out. Apparently, bed bug treatments use this information to effectively draw out bed bugs from the mattresses and adjoining areas. Bed bugs are also found in tight spaces like headboards, between gaps, storage drawers, as well as upholstered furniture.

Prevention

Since bed bugs like to thrive in dirty surroundings, maintaining the cleanliness of your home is the first thing to do. Regularly changing the bed sheets and vacuuming deter these bugs from increasing in number. Bed bugs are also transmitted from infested hotels or dwellings. To keep these bugs from hitchhiking to your place, make sure that you check the sanitation of the hotel or any place you are temporarily staying in. Place your luggage or clothing as far as possible from the bed.

Management

Bed bug population is controlled via pesticide and non-pesticide treatment. The former makes use of malathion, dichlorvos, or pyrethroids-based chemical sprays. The chemicals are applied in the affected areas to eradicate the bugs. Another way of controlling these parasites is with the use of diatomaceous earth. This compound can either be combined in insecticides or applied solely in powder form. Diatomaceous earth is effective since it punctures the exoskeleton of bed bugs and dehydrates them until they die.

There are some however, who prefer non-pesticide treatment since it is safer and non-toxic. Heat treatment for bed bugs like Thermapure can kill the insect in all growth stages. Heat at temperatures of 45 to 46C is allowed to penetrate the areas where bed bugs usually live. Methods like this are advantageous, especially when there are people allergic to chemical sprays.

Making improvised bed bug traps is another easy alternative since it makes use of materials that are already available in our homes. All it takes is dry ice pellets, flat dish, and a 1/3 gallon cooler-insulated jug. A talcum powder is also useful for coating the sides or bottom part of the jug. The powder is effective for keeping those bugs in the trap. These bed bug traps will work by attracting the insects with the carbon dioxide released from the dry ice. As the bed bugs crawl into the trap, the water in the flat dish will keep them from coming back to their hiding places. People who want a quicker and more effective solution can try bed bug traps available in home depots. These commercial traps can either be passive or active bed bug traps. Active bed bug traps can catch more of these insects compared to passive interceptor. These devices also use carbon dioxide to draw bed bugs. Although it looks like an improved version of those DIY bed bug traps, a commercially sold active bed bug trap provides controlled release of carbon dioxide. These portable bed bug traps can be refilled for total bed bug infestation removal. It costs approximately $10 to $49 for commercial bed bug traps.

Heat treatment for bed bugs and prevention

Heat treatment for bed bugs is better than chemical treatments for a variety of reasons. Your bed bug problem can disappear with the help of heat treatment.

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Bed Bugs – How to get rid of them

There is a common misconception among people that bed bugs are no longer an issue, or part of a child’s nursery rhyme. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The number of bed bug infestations is constantly rising, with major cities experiencing more bed bug issues than ever before.

There are a few easy things that every person can do to avoid a bed bug infestation. First and foremost, good housekeeping is crucial. However, the most common cause of bed bug infestations in most buildings is second hand furniture or rugs that were not well inspected before they were brought into a home. Regardless of whether a resident finds a piece of used furniture in an alley or an antique store, it is important to closely examine a piece of second hand furniture for signs of a bed bug nest.

Few people realize just how frustrating a bed bug infestation is until they have dealt with these insects first hand. There are some cheap and simple techniques to help with an infestation along with many specialized products available to buy.

An easy method is to wrap tape which is folded lengthways around the feet of an infected bed to trap the bugs that are attempting to climb up the bed legs. This is known as the barrier strategy and is useful once the bed has been fully cleansed.

Products to exterminate bed bugs can be highly effective and exist in a variety of forms. There are insecticide sprays which are applied to infected areas and commonly have residual properties for up to a month. There are also dusting powders which are used is areas where using liquid would not be practical. Also there are insecticide fumigators which create a fog that can eliminate bed bugs from an entire room.

Bed bug resistant mattress protectors are popular products to accompany insecticides as they immediately protect from bed bug entry, exit and bites. Professionals are sometimes brought in and use similar products to those intended for amateur use.

Alongside the use of products are some basic codes of practice when tackling a bed bug infestation. In most cases, all dressers and closets in the infected rooms must be emptied with drawers set aside so that every crevice can be treated. All linens and clothing will have to be washed with hot water and stored in plastic bags until the treatment is complete. Severe infestations may require the disposal of rugs and certain items of furniture.

How can re-infestations be prevented? It is vitally important that all bedding is washed two or three times at a very high temperature to destroy any remaining eggs that may hatch. Keep a close eye out for any signs of a bed bug nest. Furniture, floor boards and upholstery should be closely inspected. As always, however, keeping a clean and tidy home is the number one way to keep a home completely bed bug free.

Proven Ways of Treating Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are tiny insects with a flat body and may appear to have a brownish color. Unlike other small insects, they have no wings but do have mouth parts which they use in sucking blood. Treating bed bugs is easy when you know how to distinguish them from other insects and also being aware of their hiding places.

Once the bugs bite to suck blood, they usually introduce their saliva which mixes with the blood of the person. As a result, the person will scratch at the particular spot since the skin will have been irritated by the sucking insect. The scratching is very strong and will cause the skin to swell and it can be painful.

To know if the bugs have invaded your house, normally you notice you have been bitten and you scratch a lot at the spot. There may even be traces of some blood on your bed sheet. When you check on some corners of your mattress you may notice that they have left their laid eggs there and some of their waste products.

When it comes to eliminating the bugs, you need to be quite observant in noticing these small details, which will eventually lead you to finding out their hiding places. A careful observation will lead you from one place to another. You may begin by checking out your mattress and especially on torn areas. Proceed into checking the bed stands and corners, and rest assured you will find them hiding there.

Apart from the bed and the mattress, the bugs like to hide beneath your carpet where they comfortably leave their laid eggs. They also dwell on your folded clothes, inside your wardrobe, and even around your house. Again if you are keen you will notice their presence there.

After you are very sure the bugs are present, the next thing to do is to find ways of eliminating them completely. For this you will not only need to have a recommended insecticide for killing the bugs, but also you need to be armed with warm water, vacuum cleaner and some other tools. Begin by removing the mattress from the bed, and work seriously on it first. Try to separate the bed into parts by undoing the areas joined together. For this you may need to have tools like screwdrivers to undo the fastening. Put the bed stand aside, check out those holes and also look around for any visible cracks on the stand. Using the insecticide, spray on those holes and cracks thoroughly.

When the bugs are on the mattress, it is hard to completely get rid of them since they most certainly have laid so many eggs in different areas of the mattress. Therefore, it is best to take the mattress outside and burn it. You may sprinkle some paraffin just to make sure it burns down completely. To effectively do away with the eggs of the bug, take a brush and sprinkle the insecticide on it. Like one doing some painting, use that brush to do the same on the eggs. After you are done spraying all areas, take other infected items like clothes, curtains and dip them in extremely hot water. For items which are not possible to be washed, take them out and lay them to dry in the hot sun. Other items infected but not useful can always be burnt.

Using your vacuum cleaner, vacuum the carpet, furniture and walls. In fact, you can practically vacuum the whole house so as to eliminate any eggs that have been left by the bugs. If you also have containers around, check inside for any visible signs of the bugs. If found either take the container out and clean it or if not needed just discard it too. For cracks in walls and other areas, you should find a way of filling them up or if you have the necessary tools you may try to fix them.

In as much as the bed bugs do not spread diseases, their presence alone is very annoying. When you consider the damage they do to your skin, causing all the itchiness that at times may result into wounds, it is important that you follow the above in treating bed bugs. If at times you find it a bit hard for you, always engage the services of an expert to help you eliminate the bugs completely.

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The Need and Ways of Bed Bug Treatment

Bed bugs are parasitic brownish small insects that feed on their hosts such as animals, birds and humans. They are nocturnal in their activities. While you are asleep at night, they suck your blood for about 10 minutes through their stings that are double the weight of their bodies. If bitten by bed bugs, you may have a rash or itching sensation. You may have swelling on your skin also. Therefore, it is essential for you know about various means of dealing with bed bug treatments. Here are some signs that you have bed bugs:

Blood stains on your bed sheets or pillow covers

Offensive, musty odor

Bed bug fecal spots or egg shells

Dark spots of bed bug excrement.

The Health Aspect of bed bug bites

It is essential to know if the bites of bed bugs are contagious or harmful to your body. In general, they do not cause any serious health problems. A sensitive skin gets rashes, and small blisters like inflammation. There may also form swelling. The bites may lead to minor or even severe side effects such as nausea, sickness, allergy or even mental shock. The most harmful part of bed bug bites is the psychological impact it leaves on the victim of the bite such as anxiety, stress and insomnia. Therefore, bed bug treatment is a must for a trouble free living.

How to get rid of bed bugs?

The first step towards getting rid of bed bugs is to confirm their presence by visually inspecting your bedroom. They are very elusive and hide away at the slightest instance of human presence. In case of a severe infestation, you may need to call a professional exterminator. Other means of preventing bed bug bites are as follow:

Clean your room and any unnecessary clutter. Vacuum the carpets regularly and seal up any cracks in the wooden floors.

Bed bugs die at temperatures above 120 degrees F. Therefore, wash your bedding and clothing in hot water, for at least 20 minutes.

You may kill visible bugs by bed bug spray or by applying powders such as Diatomaceous Earth on upholstered furniture, bed frames or behind the headboard.

Encase the mattresses, pillows and bolsters with bed bug proof covers.

Use thick double-sided tape around the bottom of the bed frame. You can also use professional traps for detecting and preventing bed bugs bites.

Your problems related to bed bug bite treatments will be solved to a great extent if you know how to get rid of bed bugs.

Bed Bug Bite Treatments for your skin

For an immediate relief, wash the affected area with lukewarm water and clean it with anti-bacterial soap. This will minimize the irritation and inflammation.

Depending upon the severity of the bite, the treatments for your skin may vary. The most common and effective means of treatment is the application of baking soda with water. First, wash the areas affected by the bug bite with soap and water. Apply a thick and sticky paste of baking soda and after allowing it to dry for an hour, wash it off.

To control the itching, you can dab the rash with a cotton ball soaked in lemon juice or white vinegar. You may also apply concentrated peppermint oil or powdered oatmeal on the affected area. Herbal treatment for bug bites includes black pepper, red pepper, garlic and black walnut.

Over the Counter Medications:

Apply hydrocortisone cream to relieve the itching.

Use Calamine Lotion for drying the rash and protecting the skin during the period of its healing.

Naproxen or Ibuprofen or anti-histamine such as Benadryl is used for reducing the swelling.

A topical anesthetic that contains pramoxine may also be used.

Bed bug Treatment Costs

Chemicals and thermal treatments could be applied for bed bug treatments of your home. The bed bug treatment cost may vary between $20 to $225 per treatment, exclusive of the minimum labor charge.

The size and number of rooms to be treated will determine the total cost involved in the total extermination of bed bugs. It varies from $400 to $5,000.

The room charge may vary from $400 to $1000.

Pest control products may vary from $10 to $300. Bug killing sprays may cost you $20 to $ 35 per bottle.

Bed bug bites should never be left untreated, because they may lead to more complications. At the same time, once presence of bed bugs is found, you must take immediate action for their total extermination through the services of professional bed bug exterminators.

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Kill Bed Bugs

The key to finding out how to kill bed bugs is finding out what they don’t like. To give you a few tips, this can include acids and different kinds of vegetables that can really turn them off. Adding these as some natural remedies will help you to get rid of them. However, if you want to find out how to really kill them, you’re going to have to use something that has a little more punch.

Using a spray is really the answer to kill bed bugs. Find some bed bug spray that works well and spray a few times per week for a month or so. The key here is to use a chemical that not only kills the bugs but also their eggs. Eggs can live for a long time after the parents have gone. Basically, if you stopped spraying they can hatch and start an entire new colony on their own. To prevent this from happening you need to spray well after you haven’t seen any for a while. It will make sure that you have successfully defended your home from future attacks of bed bugs.

The easiest way is to contact a professional exterminator. Professional exterminators know the timing, where to spray, what attracts bed bugs, the best ways to prevent future infestations, and more information that is beneficial in dealing with these insects.

If you don’t want to hire an exterminator, then you can still easily kill bed bugs yourself. However, you have to be on the ball, and set up a few things to make it happen soon. A lot of things can be done to prevent them from entering. One thing that you should do is use a mattress cover, and you should wash all of your sheets in very hot water. This will make sure that there is no residue, eggs, or living bed bugs inside your sheets while you’re sleeping.

Killing bed bugs is all about preventing them in the first place. They find you by seeking out your carbon dioxide. You give off carbon dioxide each time you take a breath. They simply smell it, and find their way into your bedroom. They’ll come through window cracks, outlets, and even water pipes if they have to.

They each suck about 3 times their body weight in blood. So that means that if an infestation is present, you’re pretty much going to lose tons of blood. This is why killing bed bugs is so important. It can become a very serious health risk.

How to Control Bed Bugs

No other insect is more unwanted than the bed bug, so learning how to control bed bugs is necessary. Compared to the cockroach, they are not as gross and scary. As the problem becomes even more widespread, learning how to control bed bugs is becoming even more necessary as people are losing sleep over these nasty critters.

You see the small holes, cracks and crevices in your walls and floors, it’s the perfect place for a bed bug to thrive in. Dark and untidy corners of the house, is their favorite breeding place.

Blood is their food source for their survival. So you are not likely to see them as they prefer to come out at night and suck the blood of their victims who are unaware of it.

Fortunately for us, bed bugs do not carry any known disease even though their bite can get really itchy, especially to sensitive people, even posing some serious health problems for them.

First, not allowing the existence or occurrence and preventing bed bugs from coming into your home. Do you know how to avoid bed bugs so that your home does not get infected?

That leads us to the second way to control bed bugs and that starts with a clean environment. That is key in preventing bed bugs from thriving in your house. Preferably concentrating on the furniture, walls and floor and making them spotless.

Since the bed is the place where bed bugs thrive, keeping a good routine of changing the sheets regularly and checking for holes and tears, goes a long way in protecting the bed. If you find that bed bugs are already in your home, the simplest and best way to control them is by applying pesticides or insecticides to the infected areas.

If you choose to go this route, there is no shortage of pesticides made especially to control bed bugs that are available in the marketplace. Since these chemicals can surely kill insects like bed bugs, they can also pose health hazards, so when using harsh chemicals, you will want to read all labels and instructions before you use them.

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Control Bed Bugs – Calling The Professionals

When you have an infestation, the best and probably the smartest thing for you to do is seek professional help from pest control experts.

As much as we would like to just spray and forget about it, this approach will not work. Thorough planning is what you will want to do before you even start doing something about it.

Most people hesitate to seek the advice of professionals because they do not understand that bed bugs are not as easy to get rid of as they think. Also, the remedies of these professionals may not be what most people want to hear. For example, you may have to prepare yourself to discard infected furniture and bedding. So before you call on the professionals, you may want to think about these issues beforehand.

The responsibilities of a home owner differ from someone renting an apartment. Your landlord or land lady is responsible for making all the necessary arrangements, so you will want to coordinate with them when calling pest control companies. Keeping their buildings safe and pest-free is mandatory from the standpoint of the State and Civil Laws.

When deciding to use the help of professionals to control bed bugs, you will want to notify your neighbors prior to doing so. This is because insecticides and pesticide chemicals could reach them while posing some serious health issues.

Not Easy to Control Bed Bugs

Don’t be surprised if the process to control bed bugs becomes tedious. Bed bugs are known to be very persistent, resilient and their systems are strong – a general characteristics of insects.

Set aside several hours if you seek professional help. In order for them to be thorough, they will have to inspect all the crevices, cracks or holes in order to locate bed bugs’ hiding places. The process also involves inspecting furniture and home accessories so as not to miss one bed bug.

Trying to save furniture or beds when trying to control bed bugs is not a smart move. These experts will tell you that the best thing for you to do is discard most of them if not all of them. Beds especially since they are made of foam with tiny holes on them, which is the preferred hiding place for bed bugs.

Caution is advised when discarding or disposing of beds or furniture. These pieces should never be given away because bed bugs are known to travel in them to their home. Resist the temptation of burning these items as well because they can pose environmental concerns. The next best thing is to properly dispose of them by encasing all bedding or bagging them in order to trap bed bugs inside.

Yes, controlling bed bugs is not something you want to take lightly. Whether or not you chose to seek the help of professionals or do it yourself, keep in mind the safety of your household members as well as your neighbors when you seek how to control bed bugs.

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A Basic Guide to Effective Bed Bug Control

While bed bugs are not disease causing parasites, their bites can cause allergic reactions, burning sensation or itching, rashes, and in some cases psychological problems to the people affected. These parasites can also leave welts on the affected areas. Bed bug control, just as is with any other infestation, becomes more effective when the use of pesticides is combined with manual eradication methods.

The first step is to determine if there really is a bug infestation. They are commonly found in areas where humans sleep such as on bedding, mattresses, behind headboards, sofas, and neighboring carpet or clothing. Although tiny in size, they can easily be visible to the naked human eye, so if there is an infestation, you will be sure to spot them easily as long as you are looking in the right places.

After confirming an infestation, your next course of action is to thoroughly vacuum the infested areas. Spraying rubbing alcohol (surgical spirit) would be a very effective measure as it kills them instantly alongside their eggs. It is to be mentioned that because these parasites love mattresses and sofas, the surrounding areas should also be vacuumed for effective results. Ensure you wash all clothing and bedding in water that is at least 48 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) to disrupt their breeding.

The next step after you are done with the manual process is to use an effective pesticide, especially if you have a high infestation of bugs. There are several effective pesticides in the market that can be used, so be sure to search for the best. Be advised though that extended exposure to pesticides can pose serious health risks to humans, particularly young kids.

It is therefore advisable to ensure any product applied directly to a sofa or mattress specifically and categorically states that it is safe to be used in such instances. Contact with a pesticide, especially when people are sleeping, can be unfavorable to people’s health.

After applying pesticides, it is advisable to wrap the box springs and mattress to ensure they are fully air tight. This ensures any straying parasites are starved or smothered thus ensuring the invasion does not come back again. You can even set sticky traps near the invaded areas to trap any straying parasites that could be searching for new habitats for hiding.

Bed bug control can be hard, time consuming, and very costly. Thus, as is with any other infestation, the best course of action would be prevention. Some measures include inspecting used furniture before bringing it inside your house. By the same token, elevate your luggage when you are in a hotel room to ensure you do not transfer these parasites from the hotel to your home.

If the bedbug infestation is recurring or there is a high and severe case of infestation, it is always advisable that the best and most reliable last resort when it comes to bed bug control, would be to seek the services of a professional bed bug exterminator.

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Ghost Ants and how to exterminate them

Ghost ants are small tiny little creatures that can create great havoc in anyone’s day to day life. These are one among those complicated species of ants to get rid off. It is called ghost ant as it is very difficult to find and exterminate the queen who creates and produces thousands of workers. Though these can be treated with “ant baits” but this process has its own drawbacks. The process is costly and slow to follow and at the same time gives very short term results. Homemade remedies are most useful and widely used worldwide. Required Items:

– Pen

– Five plastic containers

– Spray Bottle

– Sugar

– Measuring Cup

– Water

– Vinegar

– Paper Towels

– Note pad

– Borax

– Pot

  • Spoon Steps 
  • 1. The very first step is to note down the infected areas which are attacked by the ghost ants. Writing makes it easier to remember all the indoors and outdoors affected areas. 
  • 2. Make a spray of 1 cup of vinegar and 2 cups of water. Now pour the mixture into the spray bottle and shake well. Spray the mixture on the kitchen counters, stove, sink, and other effective areas. 
  • 3. Ghost ants are attracted towards the smell of sweets and proteins. This above spray helps to illuminate the smell. After the spray several papers should be used to clean and wipe the counter. 

4. Homemade ant bait can also be made by 2 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water and 3 table spoons of borax. Pour all the three things into a bowl and bring to boil. 

5. This mixture should be stirred from time to time. Once the mixture seems to be cooked, it should simmer for few minutes and wait to cool. 

6. Pour this mixture into different bowls. Each bowl can be given 1 table spoon of mixture. Divide the mixture in to 5 bowls. 

7. One can place 5 bowls of homemade bait in all the most effective areas where the ghost ants are found and seen. These open containers attract the ants and the bait is consumed by them, thus illuminating the queen ant along with others. 

Points to Remember – You can use more than 5 bowls or containers if needed. Place those containers containing the homemade bait at different areas of the home. Look for and mound and if you are able to found it, place one container near to it. This will speed up the extermination process.

Borax is a harmful chemical. Keep it out of reach from children and pets. Also avoid any skin contact to borax. Any skin contact will lead to many skins reactions. In case you eat it, it will cause borax poisoning. Common symptoms are headache, vomiting, red eyes and nausea. Immediately contact your physician if any symptom appears.

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