How To Get Rid Of BedBugs: These Six Items Will Help

Have you ever slept in a hotel or traveled by bus and found that you later had tiny red bites on your skin? This is probably because of bedbugs.

Bedbugs are small wingless insects that feed exclusively on warm-blooded creatures. This makes us an ideal host for them. Bedbugs are oval and flattened in shape; white, brown, or burnt orange in color; and about one-fourth of an inch in length. The young ones are the size of a poppy seed. They are visible to the naked eye. They get their name because of their preference to live in home furnishings including sofas, beds, and mattresses. However, they are increasingly being found in offices across the U.S. They usually hide in dark cracks and crevices.

You would rarely know when you are being bitten, because they bite when you are asleep. A bed bug’s bite is painless because the saliva of the bed bug is an anesthetic. The feeding is complete in just five minutes. However, you might find a red welt when you are awake, one similar to that of a mosquito or flea bite. Over a period of a few weeks, you may get sensitized to repeated bites and develop an allergic response. Bed bugs are most active an hour before sunrise, which is their peak feeding time, but may also feed during the day if they are hungry or get the opportunity.

Bed bugs feed every five to ten days. They can, however, live for several months without feeding. If there is no food around, they become dormant for over a year. A well-fed bed bug lives for about six to nine months. The female bed bug lays approximately 5 eggs in a day and nearly 500 during their entire lifetime. Eggs are nearly 1 mm long and are visible to the naked eye. They have a milky-white tinge and take two weeks to hatch. It is therefore important to recheck your home periodically.

Most bites resolve within one to two weeks. Treatments focus on relieving symptoms, and include:

• Applying a topical cream, such as cortisone, to relieve itching
• Administering an oral antibiotic if infection occurs
• Giving oral corticosteroids if there is a severe allergic reaction.
• Use of antihistamines, in some cases, to relieve allergic reactions

As soon as the symptoms are treated, it will be necessary to know the way to deal with the infestation.

The following procedures are advised to get rid of bed bugs:

• Bag the infested bedding and garments and launder them at a minimum of 120° F
• Heat the items in the drier
• For items that cannot be treated by washing or by placing in the drier, wrap them in plastic and place them outdoors in a very hot and sunny location for at least 24 hours
• Vacuuming may help get rid of some of the bed dugs before treatment with insecticides
• You may find it is best to throw some infested items away (bag them before disposal)
• Insecticides are very effective in getting rid of bed bugs. A good pest control professional knows where to look for them and will treat all areas where bugs are found.

The biggest risk from bed bugs comes from secondary bacterial infections, caused by scratching the skin. They are not known to carry diseases, but can cause discomfort and disturbed sleep. If your home is infested with bedbugs, it is important to deal with them immediately.

10/9/2011 Dallas Apartment Residents “Bedbugs Eating Us Alive”: Residents Of ‘The Quarters On Melody Lane’ Say Management Not Taking Action

Some residents at a northeast Dallas apartment complex say the place is crawling with unwelcome critters. They say management isn’t doing enough to get rid of them.

We spoke with a single mom today who lives at the The Quarters on Melody Lane apartment complex. She says bed bugs have taken over her life and she and her neighbors simply don’t what to do.

Like any toddler, two-year-old Jordan Gray loves to play on his hands and knees. But his mom say inside their apartment it’s not safe.

“I have bed bugs that are tearing me and my son apart,” said The Quarters on Melody Lane tenant LaTisha Gray.

Gray says a bed bug infestation is eating them alive. She says even a doctor had to prescribe Jordan ointment for swelling and scratching.

“It leaves ugly sores and marks and sores and stuff on his arms and legs and his belly, he`s been bitten everywhere,” said Gray.

She says her complaints to management for the past five months have been ignored.

“When I called the office, they even are aware that it`s a bed bug problem here. She told me I`m aware of the bed bug problem here, we`re trying and that was it,” said Gray.

Dallas Code Compliance says, this year, one complaint about the complex was filed in June.

“We responded to that, we did confirm there was bed bugs infestation in this one unit,” said Dallas Code Compliance District Manager Bob Curry.

Curry says the management sprayed the unit and his office followed up. He says properties are only required to spray every six months.

” If we`re there the day after they sprayed and there`s bugs again, we`ll give them a notice on that, they`ll typically comply with it, but we can`t write them citations,” said Curry.

Gray says she’s already thrown out lots infested furniture.

“Next to go is the sofa set, but I know once I through that out they`re just going to get in the carpet and we`re already sleeping on the floor,” said Gray.

She sprays down the place every night

And she says it’s a chore to figure out where it’s safe to sleep.

“Once we get bit, we rotate where we sleep,” she said.

Gray she simply can’t afford to move. We were able to reach a person with MMQ properties who identified himself as a partial owner of The Quarters on Melody Lane. He declined to comment.

Continue Reading More/Watching Video: Dallas Apartment Residents “Bedbugs Eating Us Alive”

9/29/2011 Milwaukee Puts Out Health Alert Against Bedbug Motel: Diamond Inn Has Massive Bedbug Problem With 279 Violations

The City of Milwaukee has put out a health alert at a motel in the city.

Prompted by repeat complaints, the Department of Neighborhood Services says the Diamond Inn, on the 6200 block of West Fond du Lac Avenue, has a massive bed bug problem.

The manager says they’re working on it.

Lakisha Lewis stayed there on Tuesday night, and she claims she was bit.

She showed TODAY’S TMJ4′s Diane Pathieu bit marks up and down her arm.

“I woke up this morning and I was itching,” said Lewis.

“My guy told me it was bed bugs.  I showed him the marks on my arm.”

This building is no stranger to problems.

“They have 279 violations since 2007, so it does have a history of a number of issues, both building code violations and sanitary and environmental conditions,” said Todd Weiler of the Department of Neighborhood Services.

This time, it was bed bugs.  Of the eight complaints received, all eight of the rooms were infested with bed bugs.

Shanda Rice cleans the rooms at the hotel, and she claims hotel staff has been aware of the problem.

“We’re treating it.  Every room is getting new carpet, everything else like that.”

The manager on site explained that the hotel’s owner is planning on re-doing the whole place, with new furniture, carpeting and beds in two weeks.

Until then, the DNS is warning them to clean up their act.

“We’re going to issue an order to restore it to clean and sanitary condition,” said Weiler.

“We’ll give them 30 days to do that, and also prove that they’ve specifically been treated for bed bugs by a professional.”

Continue Reading More/Watching Video: Milwaukee Puts Out Health Alert Against Bedbug Motel

9/25/2011 How To Avoid Hotel Bedbugs: 5 Tips To Minimize Risk

The creepiest thing about making a hotel reservation these days is worrying about whether you’ll be greeted by bedbugs at your destination soon after you slide the key card into your door.

Unfortunately, the more frequently you travel the greater the risk. An alarming new report from the hotel review website Raveable suggests that the odds of actually encountering bedbugs on a trip are 660 percent greater this year than last (based on data from January 1- September 1, 2011). The worst may yet be to come, warns Raveable CEO Philip Vaughn, because the highest number of bedbug reports are generally filed between September and November.

Of course, the problem isn’t confined to hotels. The critters are turning up in movie theatres, trendy shops, offices, moving vans, laundromats, public transportation, and yes, even in ambulances. But you’re more likely to think about bedbugs when you think about beds!

Here are some of the precautions you can take to help avoid them the next time you check into a hotel:

1) Search before you go

Before you book a room, check out whether your hotel has been cited for bedbugs by other travelers. Sometimes hotel reviews on Trip, Advisor, Yelp and IgoUgo include reports. The Raveable site specifically compiles bedbug reports from travelers. Bedbug Registry is a free, public database of 20,000 user-submitted reports covering 12,000 locations. Yes, user reporting isn’t always accurate but wouldn’t you rather stay at a property that isn’t listed?

2) Know thy enemy

Know what a bedbug looks like. The bugs are oval flat and brown — about the size of an apple seed (although size depends on life stage). Attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide, they tend to come out at night and can hide in the tiniest cracks and crevices. The health risks are minimal but the “yuk” factor is extremely high if you bring them home. Getting rid of them can be an expensive and time-consuming inconvenience.

3) Check out your room

Before you take off your shoes and get under the covers, do a cursory check of your room. It pays to look for reddish-brown specks on pillowcases, sheets, covers and the mattress (especially at seams and corners); this is a sure sign that the bugs have been feeding there. If you have a few extra minutes, check the bedframe and headboard.

4) Pack and unpack accordingly

Although bedbugs don’t fly, they are great long-distance crawlers hitchhikers who are adept at getting into luggage, shopping bags or shoes. Only take whatever clothing or personal articles you really need and use sealed plastic bags to pack. Try to avoid hotel drawers and leaving suitcases or other personal belongings on carpeted floors. If you are totally bedbug-phobic, wrap your suitcases in large plastic trash bags and store them in the bathroom. Don’t use your laptop in bed; the heat of the unit can attract bedbugs that will decide to stay behind the keys. Check for any signs of bedbugs immediately when you return home (preferably before you enter your house).

5) Pay it forward

If you find any evidence of a hotel bedbug infestation, report it both to the hotel management and to user sites like those previously mentioned. If you do find traces of them at home, don’t try to do-it-yourself. Hire a professional.

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Bedbugs On Way Up Says National Pest Association

Yuck.

Bedbugs are on the uptick in hotels, on public transport and in other public places.

So says a new survey from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) survey. It found that infestations — even in hospitals — are up over last year.

Even the pest-control industry “has been surprised” by the resurgence of bedbugs and “where they’re being found,” NPMA public affairs VP Missy Henriksen tells me.

According to the just-released NPMA/University of Kentucky 2011 “Bugs Without Borders Survey,” involving 415 pest-control specialists, the creepy crawlers have multiplied and are found in places you might not expect.

Survey findings include:

* 99% of pest professionals have seen bedbug infestations in the past year (up from 95% in 2010)

*80% of pest professionals have treated bedbugs in hotels/motels, compared with 67% in 2010

*73% of pest professionals believe bedbugs are the most difficult pest to treat
*54% have treated bedbugs in college dorms, up from 35% in 2010
*46% have treated bedbugs in nursing homes, vs. 25% in 2010
*38% have treated bedbugs in office buildings, compared with 18% in 2010
* 36% have treated bedbugs in schools and day care centers, vs. 10% in 2010. That’s an amazing increase, as is the 31% who say they’ve found bedbugs in hospitals, vs. 12% in 2010
*18% have treated bedbugs in trains, buses or taxis, compared with 9% in 2010
*17% have dealt with bedbugs in movie theaters; 5% in 2010

RELATED:  Does your hotel have bedbugs? Check this registry

Why the increase? “Bedbugs are hitchhikers,” Henriksen says. More of us are traveling, and we lead increasingly mobile lives. Also, strong chemicals formerly used to treat bedbugs haven’t been allowed for decades, freeing the little biters to thrive.

The good news, if one can call it that, is that infestations can be treated, by steam, heat, freezing, chemicals, vacuuming or a combination of the above, Henriksen says. She offers some tips for travelers:

*When checking into a hotel, check behind the headboard and on the mattress for stains — blood or fecal matter indicating bedbugs may be present.

*Try to avoid leaving luggage on upholstered surfaces. The safest place is in the bathroom, on counters or in the shower, because the bugs don’t like uncarpeted or non-upholstered surfaces with no place to hide.

*While many find sites such as bedbugregistry.com, which contain reports by travelers and others about infestations, useful, Henriksen warns that since complaints are anonymous, they could be written by disgruntled competitors or employees. And a bedbug infestation that’s here today could be gone tomorrow if the hotel has a good pest control policy, she says. “And hotels are much more proactive now,” she says. Maybe, but if I see multiple, detailed reports of problems at a hotel, I don’t make a reservation. Better to be safe than sorry.

*The bad news is that more bedbugs are being found on trains and planes, she says. So it’s important to be vigilant when you arrive home.

That means immediately taking out all clothes and washing and drying them on “hot,” she says. Or bag them and send them to the dry cleaner if they’re delicate. Vacuum the suitcase thoroughly and dispose of the vacuum bag, she says.

Good tips. Do readers have any more? Have any of you brought bedbugs home from a trip and how did you eradicate them?

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7/21/2011 Bedbug Treatment: A Breakdown Of Effective Killing Methods Including Pesticides, Heat, Freezing & Vacuuming

Treatment Options

Though insecticides may be the treatment of choice for killing bed bugs, other options do exist, according to Henriksen.

“There are several different methods that are effective in killing bed bugs. Heat is one of them. Others include steaming, freezing, vacuuming, and use of properly applied pesticides. You are getting a lot of information on the temperature at which bed bugs can be effectively killed because a lot of research is still being done in that area. The most current data that we have shows that all stages of bed bugs…will be killed at 122 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Factors considered when evaluating treatment methods include the extent of the infestation, the type of location that will be treated, and any budget parameters.

Treatment costs can fluctuate dramatically by protocol and region, says White.

Dr. Stephen Kells, associate professor and Extension and Research Entomologist at the University of Minnesota, who is conducting research on bed bugs, says humans have lived with bed bugs since the days of cave-dwelling.

Through research, he has found that freezing works well for smaller household items, like books. In order for the treatment to work the temperature has to be near or at freezing for approximately 6 to 10 days.

Steaming is another option, though not by utilizing a carpet steam cleaner. Instead, a steam generator must be used and the temperature must be between 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit in order to control bedbugs.

When treating with pesticides, Dr. Kells recommends multiple product types including dust, short action, and residual. “The reason is each has a specific area of use. Residual is used outside of rooms, dust to fill voids in the wall, and short action for beds and mattresses,” the professor says.

Treatment Considerations

The NPMA has released best management practices for bed bugs in an effort to address appropriate treatment protocol. “They offer guidance to our industry in terms of the parameters under which good and effective bed bug work can be done”, says Henriksen.

For instance, Henriksen says it’s not a good idea to throw away a mattress known to have a bed bug infestation.

“We don’t recommend anyone throw away their mattresses. In some cases that may need to be done. But if it is done it should be done only in consultation with the pest management professional. If someone goes and throws away their mattress, if done improperly, it can actually spread a bed bug infestation. Those bugs will walk off that mattress or crawl off that mattress as you are dragging it through your home.”

Henriksen says many things can be saved and effectively treated.

Dr. Kells recommends asking questions of any pest management company retained for bed bug treatment. If a pesticide will be used, questions should include:

• Is it registered with the EPA?

• Is the pesticide labeled for bedbugs or for treating their habitat?

• Is it labeled for indoor or outdoor use, landscaping, farms, or barns?

In addition, he’s seen issues arise when tenants try to remedy problems themselves. Using the wrong product or application method leads to increased costs in the cleanup of a contaminated apartment. Dr. Kells recommends landlords or their insurers oversee the treatment protocol.

In the case of the Ohio residential fire, Dr. Kells believes the manufacturer’s own directions might not have been followed. He said the pest management professional used garage-style direct-fired heaters with a propane cylinder and placed them inside the home. “The actual unit made by the manufacturer for properly heating up a house during bed bug treatment requires that if a propane burner is used, it is positioned outside of the house,” Dr. Kells said.

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7/16/2011 BedBug Webinar To Discuss BedBug Insurance: Sign-Up Now For July 21st Event

Join us Thursday, July 21 at noon EDT (9 a.m. PDT, 11 a.m. CDT) for a live web chat to discuss bed bug insurance. Bed bugs are spreading in increasing numbers, infesting apartments, hotels and homes. The problem has gotten so bad that insurance companies recently started offering special coverage for hotels and property managers.

Chat with the experts to find out more about bedbugs. Hartford Courant reporter Matthew Sturdevant will moderate an online chat featuring Gale E. Ridge, Ph.D., an entomologist who specializes in bedbugs at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven and chairwoman of the Connecticut Coalition Against Bed Bugs, and Missy Henriksen,Vice President of External Affairs, National Pest Management Association.

Click Here To Sign Up For: BedBug Webinar To Discuss BedBug Insurance

6/30/2011 Willis Introduces BedBug Infestation Insurance: Protection For Residential & Hospitality Industries

Bedbug infestations have led to itchy welts and insurance headaches during the past few years, which is why Willis Group Holdings P.L.C. announced Tuesday it will provide bedbug infestation insurance protection for hotels and residential industries.

The product also offers a crisis management component, which can help reduce damage to an organization’s brand and financial loss, Willis said in a statement.

“This program offers organizations a comprehensive approach to addressing the risks involved with this exposure—from tools to help prevent an infestation to coverage for the economic consequences, through crisis management and remediation,” said Brian Ruane, Willis North America’s national real estate and hotel practice leader, in a statement. “The program is intended to close a critical gap in most insurance policies.”

Willis’ BBIR product contains a range of solutions including coverage for the cost of decontamination, rehabilitation expenses and business interruption; crisis management services; and decontamination services provided by Orkin L.L.C.

Recently, Aon Corp.’s Aon Risk Solutions released its version of a bedbug insurance product and partnered with Terminix International Co. Ltd. and Global Excess Partners L.L.C.

Continue Reading More: Willis Introduces BedBug Infestation Insurance

6/20/2011 Bedbug Lawsuits Causes Concerns For Insurers

Jeffrey White, a research entomologist with Bed Bug Central in New Jersey, says the bed bug problem is worldwide, though he has seen a dramatic increase in the Northeast. “We use New York City as the barometer for what’s going to happen across this entire country over the next five to ten years.”

A simple review of the online resource, bedbugregistry.com, which shows real time reports of bed bug infestations, confirms the higher incidence of bed bugs in the upper Northeast.

White says he’s seen a rise in calls for expert advice and retention. The number of calls has increased dramatically in the past six months. “We are averaging at least one call a week.”

White notes the calls are evenly split between defense and plaintiff attorneys. The defendants involved are mainly hotels, group homes, apartments, and property management companies.

In White’s experience most lawsuits involving bed bugs settle prior to trial and he is only asked to review the case files and provide an opinion. He emphasizes taking proactive measures to identify and prevent bed bugs early on. Then, he recommends an aggressive action plan to treat the problem.

“Where people are finding themselves in a lot of hot water is when they stick their head in the sand about bed bugs. They don’t have any type of action plan created. They show up and don’t know how to react to the problem. Weeks go by and no action is taken, or they call the cheapest exterminator they can find and they come in and don’t do anything even close to a good treatment for bed bugs.”

Documentation is just as important, White points out.

“That is where a lot of cases have had to settle. People claim they did everything they could have done, but the paperwork does not reflect their claims.”

Pest management records and documentation is equally important. White hasn’t seen many pest control companies named in lawsuits; however, they can get pulled in at any moment.

While most of the lawsuits White has seen involve bodily injury and property claims for medical bills, scarring and furniture replacement, he has noticed a number of plaintiffs also claiming emotional distress.

“We’ve seen a lot of people that are claiming psychological trauma.”

Emotional distress claims range from not being able to sleep at night to having problems at work as a result of the lack of sleep.

During a breakout session of the Orkin-sponsored virtual bed bug summit held in April, Michael Weisburger, president of the PlanetPCO Insurance Group, emphasized that media attention is playing a major role on how bed bug claims are perceived.

“In the event of a highly publicized claim situation, the public will dictate whether or not the damages are “real”. What’s overstated and sensationalized is real! Insurance companies have to contend with all of this hysteria. Insurance companies are having a difficult time getting their arms around how to measure what losses exist and what potential losses exist in claims involving bed bugs.”

While typical property policies don’t cover damage or treatment of bedbugs, general liability policies do come into play. When investigating a bed bug claim and the potential for subrogation, adjusters should check to see if the insured is a named additional insured on the pest management company’s policy.

The NPMA’s Web site has a section devoted entirely to bed bugs. The NPMA recommends visual inspection as the preferred method of determining whether a bed bug infestation exists. The size and color of an apple seed, bed bugs like to travel hiding in suitcases, boxes, and shoes.

“Bed bugs can be very hard to detect until their levels of infestation get to be large,” says Henriksen.

A bed bug hatches from an egg and has five nymphal stages where it will shed an exoskeleton. Each time the new shell will harden and in the final stage it will become a male or female. The bed bug enjoys a blood meal at each stage and will feed multiple times as an adult. The lifespan of a bedbug is typically three months, though they can live up to a year if food is limited. The female will go through multiple reproductions, laying approximately five eggs at a time and between 20 and 100 in her lifetime.

Henriksen recommends watching out for itchy bumps or welts. Bed bugs tend to bite in a pattern or line. When changing sheets it’s a good idea to inspect the bed, mattress, headboard, box spring, and dust ruffle. Pepper-like flakes can be a sign of bed bug excrement or blood debris.

Continue Reading More: BedBug Lawsuits Causes Concerns For Insurers

6/18/2011 How Businesses Can Prepare For BedBugs: Complimentary Downloadable White Paper Can Help

A quick online search for “bed bugs” reveals nearly 800 news stories in the past month alone, and Google search volume on bed bugs is up 450 percent in the past six years. With bed bugs continuing to sweep the news, Atlanta-based pest control giant Rollins Inc. has released a new white paper to help businesses separate the facts from the hype and understand how they can prepare in advance for a bed bug infestation.

In “Bed Bugs: The Issues, Challenges and Facts,” Rollins pest experts Greg Baumann, Ron Harrison and Phillip Pierce explore bed bug hype vs. reality, treatment options and operational considerations for businesses.

“Rollins companies performed more than 8,000 bed bug treatments in the first quarter alone, so we understand how critical it is for businesses to help prepare themselves,” said Greg Baumann, who also serves as one of the company’s technical services directors. “Employee education, customer communication and a proper risk management plan can all significantly impact how your business handles potential bed bug issues.”

The white paper is available for complimentary download at BedBugBusinessPlan.com, where business owners and operators can find additional resources to help protect their businesses before bed bugs strike.

Click Here To Claim Your Free Downloadable White Paper On: How Businesses Can Prepare For BedBugs