Suspend + Kicker = Deadly combination

It seems there is a bit of a buzz these days when it comes to some effective bedbug control. The battle and struggle for any kind of effective control has been going on since bedbugs have been reintroduced into our society some years back. Pest control operators and entomologists alike have been scratching their heads trying to come up with a real solution to the bedbug epidemic that has been plaguing us for a while now. I have been hearing through the grape vine that combining suspend sc and kicker, both Bayer products, has been getting some really good results. Both of these products can be used on the mattress in areas where the bedbugs hide like the tufts and the buttons, etc. So at least that is some good news in the battle of the bug.

Gianaris bill passes 134-0

The bill that state Assemblyman proposed to help battle bedbugs with knowledge and communication has passed unopposed on May 8, 2007! It required the Schools in Queens to notify parents of any outbreaks of bedbugs in schools which would allow other parents to keep their eyes open for any potential bugs that may be brought back home inadvertently. It would also offer parents prevention techniques and treatment options to help in the battle. This is a fantastic idea that the nation should adopt. Without education and communication, the bedbug problem that is already out of control will continue to flourish.

Bedbug K-9

Dogs can sniff out bombs, drugs, termites, and now bed bugs! Dogs are being trained to sniff out these hated insects as a tool for inspections of hotel rooms and house holds. Bedbugs are very elusive because of their size and their behavior of hiding until hungry. There can be hundreds or thousands of bedbugs hiding on the head of a screw! It's easy to see how important a dog that could sniff out these pest in the early stages of the infestation could be to their control.

Gianaris' Bedbug Legislation should be looked at Nationwide!

Can you believe that in New York City in the past 3 months there has been 72 cases of bedbug problems in 43 schools! Right now the schools handle each case on a per case basis. Gianari's bill proposes into law that the schools in New York would be required to inform the parents of an infested school that there is a problem and offer information on prevention techniques. This goes hand in hand with a previous post of mine where i say that one of our best tools in the battle of bedbugs will be education and communication. We can't hide the problems and have to take action to inform the public! Silence is how the problem got out of hand int he first place!

A QUICK BED BUG FACT

A FEMALE BED BUG CAN LAY UP TO FIVE HUNDRED EGGS IN HER LIFETIME! NOW TIMES THAT BY TEN FEMALES. THAT IS FIFTY THOUSAND EGGS! THAT'S NO JOKE!

Avoiding Bed Bug Lawsuits

In 2003 a motel chain was successfully sued for 382,000 dollars because of bed bugs. It can happen and if you Google bed bug lawsuits you will see that there are a whole lot more out there. SO how can you decrease your chances of being sued if you are a landlord or a motel/hotel manager?

1. Train your employees on what to look for if it is brought to your attention that there are bed bugs in a unit. If your housekeeping or maintenance staff knows what to look for it will be better is you are proactive instead of reactive.
2. Don't take a complaint from a tenant or guest lightly. Treat it with urgency and attention.
3. Being proactive is important. Use mattress covers on your mattresses and box springs if you have a hotel/motel and maybe send out a flier to your tenants in an apartment building educating them on what to look for with regards to bed bugs and bed bug bites. It may spark a mass hysteria and you will need to inspect and investigate all calls, but at least you will be able to cross off the false alarms and maybe find units that really have the to get the ball rolling on eliminating the problem.
4. Don't handle it yourself and don't let your tenants handle it. Call a professional. You can wind up infesting the entire building by treating the problem incorrectly!
5. Don't delay. It will be expensive and time consuming to get treated but it will be cheaper that a lawsuit in the long run.

Bed Bug Bites or Flea Bites?

How do you know if you are getting bitten by bedbugs or fleas? Usually with flea bites the majority of the bites will be on the feet, ankle, and leg region. With bed bugs you are usually looking at bites on the torso and they may be clustered together in a line. Bed bug bites usually don't have a red area in the center of the bite like flea bites have. Bedbug bites are itchy and are commonly mistaken for flea bites. If you suspect you are being bitten by bedbugs it is important to go see your doctor to determine if they are and proceed from there. Here is a good resource to look at bites.

For a great resource for home owners to get rid of bed bugs and to learn more about these bugs..
Click Here!