Saturday, September 29, 2007

Flea or bed bug bite

FLEA BITES
BEDBUG BITES

The most frustrating thing it seems when faced with a possible bedbug infestation is determining if the bites you are experiencing are in fact bed bug or flea bites. Without actually seeing either bug it is tough to tell the difference between a bedbug bite and a flea bite, but there are some characteristics to look at to try to help with the diagnosis. For one, bedbug bites are often in a row. It looks like the bedbugs were marching along the bed and stumbled upon your body and just started feeding. Flea bites are often sporadic and most times are on the leg. I have found that fleas are easy to see and you usually can tell if you have a flea problem because the fleas present themselves pretty regularly. Bedbugs can be more elusive and without seeing them first it is hard to tell you have them. The best thing to do is get your doctor involved.

We all hate bedbugs

The title of this post is so true on so many levels. Bedbugs are becoming public enemy number one faster than a pig runs to eat. So how do you avoid becoming prey to these bugs that infest beds? Your first defense is knowledge. Learn as much as you can about the bug and the way to control them. Research, research, research. Then become proactive. If you are traveling be sure to inspect the room before you bring your bags in and accept the room as ok. Inspect the bedding thoroughly. If you have a child in school then check out the schoolbag every day. Do not buy used bedding of any kind, in fact, do not buy any kind of used bedroom furniture. I would even go so far as to say do not buy any used furniture at all. This is a very common way to invite bedbugs into your home! If you get a delivery of bedding, ask to check out the mattress or box spring before they bring it in. If you think you see anything that might resemble a bedbug then refuse the delivery. It's easier to fix a delivery problem then it is to fix a bedbug infestation. Being diligent and knowledgeable will cut the chances of become a victim in half, so start your research and become empowered!

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Bed Bugs Close Pediatric Rooms

How about them apples. You can't even escape them in the hospital. It turns out that three rooms in the pediatric area of a hospital in Canada had bedbugs infesting chairs that family members sleep in while waiting for their children. When will the insanity end? Why is it that we can travel to the moon, have televisions that hang on the wall, can grow organs in laboratories, but can't find an effective treatment for bed bugs? We have growth regulators for other insects. Why not bedbugs? I know the pest control industry will come up with an answer before long, the only question is when.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Even rock stars can have bedbugs


Collaborating on a farm, bedbugs attacked the singer Miles Kane of the band the Arctic Monkeys as they slept. This goes to show that bedbugs have no preference and will attack street people or rock stars. Hopefully soon we will find a cure for this dilemma, as for now it is just a wait and see attitude and a search and destroy mission when people go and travel. Happy hunting!

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Bed bug spray and lawsuits

Bed bugs are no doubt a horrible problem and it has become evident that they are not easy to get rid of. With the problem of bed bugs being so bad it is easy to over treat or over spray for the problem. Whether the over spraying is being done by the consumer or the professional, it is still a very real problem that has to be monitored. The case of the WSU student who developed tumors on the lungs is thought to be as a result of over spraying for bed bugs. This has yet to be proven, but it is easy to do when faced with bugs that such the blood from your body and leave welts on the body. The point is that there is a procedure to follow when treating for bed bugs and it is important to always follow the label when using any kind of chemicals, whether they be consumer products or professional. Use caution.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Bed Bug Blogs

Bed bug Blogs have become all the rage in today's epidemic. It's a great resource for public to get information about bedbugs and their control. Bedbug blogs are also a great way for the public to have a voice in this war. Home owners and apartment tenants who have bed bug problems can voice their misery and network as a support group through these blogs. Bed bugs have become such a hot topic that if you Google bed bugs you get a ton of hits and there are just as many blogs that have been popping up as well.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

bedbug treatments and sprays

There are plenty of products out there that claim to treat bed bug problems. The following is a list of bed bug treatments and sprays that have made their way to the market.
  1. Bedlam
  2. Eaton's Bedbug Spray
  3. Suspend & Kicker
  4. Sterifab
  5. Thwart
  6. Phantom
  7. Mattress Covers
  8. P800-HTR (Heat treatment for bed bugs)

This is just a short list of bed bug treatments available on the market today. The fact is there are no real sure shot treatments yet. With a combination of bed bug sprays and other treatments integrated in I think that success can be had in treating a home or apartment for bedbugs.

Friday, September 7, 2007

My Bed Bug List

Planes, trains, and automobiles. Bedbugs are everywhere. Dorm rooms, hotel rooms, motel rooms, school rooms, bedrooms, hospital rooms, cabins, cruise ship cabins, expensive hotels, cheap motels, resorts and group homes. They can be found in movie theaters, plane seats, train seats, rental cars, mattress delivery trucks, used furniture, flea market products, televisions, radios, sofas, chairs, shoes, socks, and tables. This is a list of bed bug locations and it brings one thing to light if anything. There is no place you can hide.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Disposable Mattress Cover for Travel

There is a new tool for the traveler who worries about bringing bed bugs home from a trip. It's a disposable mattress cover by a company called Muse International. They sell a product called Sleep-Safe Disposable Travel Bed Sheets and Pillow Cases. When you buy them you get two pillow cases and two sheets sent in a shrink wrapped twelve by seven inch package that is perfect for travel. I think this is a fantastic idea for the traveler and for fourteen bucks you can't beat it.

Monday, September 3, 2007

Buy Bed Bug Control Spray

You hear about all these great products that people are trying out to control their bed bug problem, but where can you buy products like Suspend or Phantom? The following are some do it yourself websites that can help you in your journey to a bed bug free existence.
  1. diypcstore
  2. pestmall
  3. pestsupplycentral
  4. diypesticides
  5. doyourownpestcontrol

Check out these online stores for the product of your choice to start on the path to a restful night sleep without any bed bugs!

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Mattress Covers

There are a variety of mattress cover companies out there with stories of success against bed bugs. The facts are that mattress covers can be a great tool in bed bug control. It doesn't matter if you buy one from allergy cover only or the Allergy Store. What does matter is that you cover both your mattress and the box spring to get the best results. The reason behind these products is that you eliminate alot of the areas these bed bugs can hide by encasing the mattress, also it will starve any bed bugs you've missed in your initial treatment by shutting them out from the rest of the world.

Saturday, September 1, 2007

P800-HTR Heat Treatment Chamber


We're looking again at heat for the control of bedbugs. The P800-HTR is a system that converts any 20 to 40 foot insulated container into a heat treatment chamber to treat such things as furniture and mattresses to kill off bed bugs. It brings the temperature up to over 120 degrees and this will kill off all the life cycles of the bed bugs using non chemical methods. Should be an interesting treatment option.