Category: Bed Bugs

When treating a bedroom for a bed bug infestation, many factors must be considered. Rooms need to be treated thoroughly and done multiple times. Bed bugs lay very small, almost clear eggs which are hard to see. Chemical sprays do not affect the eggs, and we must rely on the newborn nymphs to come into contact with the residual from sprays.

To treat these tiny blood sucking creatures, you must have knowledge of the pests’ growth cycle, their feeding habits, and where they choose to hide.

You must also determine which products to use. That’s when you can run into trouble. There are hundreds of products to choose from and they all basically say the same thing—”bug killer.” What most people do not realize is bed bugs, like many other bugs, are always evolving and adapting to their environment.

It’s best to call a licensed pest control company with experience dealing with bed bugs.

Bed bugs have evolved over the years and have become more resistant to chemical sprays. Chemicals previously used are no longer effective in controlling bed bugs. It’s time to surrender our old pesticides and usher in a new dawn of pesticides that will safely eliminate pests such as bed bugs, without harming the environment for future decades.

Pesticides in the 1930s

Up until the 1930s, farmers grew enough crops to feed themselves, their families, and maybe a few others. Most farms grew several different types of crops; any extra would have been sold at local markets.

As farming technologies grew and improved, people began to grow only one type of crop. This was usually corn, wheat, or some other type of “cash crop.’’ By producing large amounts of one crop such as corn, farmers could make a profit and reinvest in their farms.

By only growing one type of crop, insects had an endless supply of food and habitat without any interference from natural predators. Farms that were dependent on corn as an export had an influx of pests like cutworms, chinch bugs, and thrips, to name a few.

Most of the early attempts at controlling pests with chemicals like arsenic, sulfur, and copper were futile. Arsenic was used for centuries as a poison and a way to kill unwanted pests. Arsenic and copper were used together as a fungicide. Some farmers would fill a copper bowl of water and dip their seeds in it to prevent crop diseases.

Necessity is most often the mother of invention. We are naturally repulsed by bugs like roaches, spiders, bed bugs, and flies. Our brains are hardwired to fear these ancient creatures—for good reason. Modern advancements in science and technology led us to the understanding that filth and bugs bring sickness and disease.

The Golden Age of DDT

Early in the nineteenth century, DDT Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, was first synthesized by a German chemist. Organochlorine pesticides are chlorinated hydrocarbons that do not break down easily and remain active for a long period of time. Although not soluble in water, organochlorines are easily absorbed by soil and sediments.

When first made, DDT was known to kill insects, but its true potential was not realized until years later. Little was known about the correlation between insects and disease prior to the 1930s; everything would change with the advent of war.

When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and set in motion the wheels of war, our American troops needed every ounce of help they could get. Marching on foot in unfamiliar territory, our troops became targets for malaria infecting mosquitoes and many other pests. Fleas would spread the plague and flies caused typhoid and dysentery.

This new understanding of the relationship between pests and disease was seen as nothing short of revolutionary. Something had to be done to destroy these pests.

American and Allied troops needed a defense against these foreign parasites and the powerful insect killer DDT was used with reckless abandon.  It was considered a miracle that gave our overseas troops protection from many different pests worldwide and also gave them an added layer of protection from at least one of the perils of war: disease.

DDT’s huge popularity became the secret weapon against mosquitos, fleas, flies, and bed bugs. It was also used in everything from powders to treat head lice, to paints for your home. It was made into dips, powders, sprays, and many other items. DDT is odorless, tasteless, and colorless. Parents sprayed their children with DDT, unaware of the risks associated with this wonder chemical.

In time, scientists discovered that this miraculous pesticide caused serious ailments and put anyone who works with it in grave danger.

The very things that made DDT so popular began to evoke concern. It was known that when this pesticide was applied to a surface, bugs that came into contact with it would die, but for how long would the treated area kill bugs? For six months? Or six years?

Studies found that DDT could remain for many, many years. The most shocking revelation came with the discovery that it can take up to 15 years for half of the pesticide to degrade beyond detection. In addition, the poison would show up in animals far from treated zones.

Organophosphates work by disturbing the normal functioning of neurons in the brain. Bugs that are exposed to organophosphates twitch and convulse uncontrollably. This is referred to as a neurotoxicity, and humans can also be affected by this poison.

The widespread use of DDT was banned because of these health concerns. DDT remains active in treated areas for far too long, posing a grave heath risk for both applicators and the public. People could be exposed to this deadly insecticide just by accidentally coming into contact with a treated area.

Organochlorines were not the first class of pesticides to be banned. Other early pesticides made from organochlorine are now banned, including methoxychlor and benzene hexachloride (Lindane). Tobacco has also been used for ages in pest control. The toxic compounds found in nicotine make an excellent pesticide and can also help prevent certain diseases caused by fungi.

Pyrethrin Resistant Bed Bugs

Pyrethroids are synthetic compounds that mimic the effects of pyrethrin and  are very commonly in use today. Pyrethrins and pyrethrums are derived from flowers in the chrysanthemum family. Other chemicals are added to the extracted pyrethrins to make a stable insecticide that does not break down quickly. Both natural and synthetic, pyrethrins can kill a broad range of insects and can provide long lasting residual control.

This has been the standard insecticide for a quick knockdown of pests. Since pyrethrins are made from flowers, insects are predisposed to their toxic effects.

Insect Growth Regulator

By combining an IGR and an insecticide, the effectiveness of the treatment is more than doubled.

Insect growth regulators work by stopping an insect’s ability to make chitin—the major constituent of the exoskeletons of insects—and inhibits their ability to produce growth hormones. IGR’s mostly affect the egg and larva stage in an insect’s life cycle and render the adults sterile.

Bed Bugs Fight Back

Bed bugs have become resistant to pyrethroids. Over many years, they have developed the ability to produce chemicals in their chitin that absorbs pyrethrins before the chemical enters their bloodstreams. This ingenious adaptation has helped bed bugs live through the many onslaughts of pyrethroid used against them.

Some blame the resurgence of bed bugs on the ban of pesticides like DDT. During the 1980s and 90s, bed bugs were a historic tale that grandparents would tell. There was no need for the MTV generation to pray away bed bugs; there were none to be found.

Today’s pesticides are incredibly safer than yesterday’s. Many of the synthetic insecticide compounds we find today provide excellent protection and do not persist for endless periods of time. Depending on many factors, most insecticides will provide about six months of residual control. Temperature, humidity, and sunlight can break down insecticides as well as many herbicides, fungicides, and neonicotinoids.

Expert advice

Dave’s Pest Control has technicians with decades of experience behind them who are ready to work for you. No job is too small or too big.

Call us today for more information on protecting your home, business, or condominium against bugs.

Every avid gardener knows about aphids and often does battle with them. These tiny bugs feed on many garden plants and flowers. Aphids are soft bodied bugs that suck nutrient rich sap from the leaves, stems, and buds of many kinds of plants.

Astonishingly, they have a great amount of reproductive power, but not in a way familiar to us. Virgin female aphids can produce genetically identical female aphids—clones—about every 20 minutes. Even the newborn aphids have a smaller aphid inside them ready to be born.

To further their fight for survival, roughly half of the clones sprout wings. Being airborne gives them an added advantage for survival. By spreading out to neighboring plants, they increase their food supply, and their numbers will grow exponentially. 

By producing a genetic variety of different DNA codes, aphids have been able to survive for thousands of years. It also has enabled them to survive throughout Earth’s environmental changes.

Many other bugs feed on aphids such as ladybugs, lacewings, and certain beetles; thus, you are most likely to find a large number and variety of bugs in your garden all at one time.

Aphids

There are many different species of aphids; they come in many different colors and sizes. When the males mate with the green females, orange color aphid babies are born.

Aphids suck the life out of plants. Without the vital nutrients for healthy growth, plants desiccate and die. Aphids excrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which in turn creates sooty molds that feed on nutrients from the honeydew. 

The sooty molds are fungi spores that coat many ornamental plants that aphids feed on. The presence of black sooty mold does little harm to the plants, but it is a good indication that insects are feeding on them. 

Boxelder bugs

These tiny red bugs called boxelder bugs are native to the United States. Without fail, they swarm every spring in Volusia and Flagler Counties. They get their name from the boxelder trees they feed on, although they also feed on other types of trees and landscape plants. 

When cooler temperatures arrive in the fall, they can overwinter indoors after finding small cracks and crevices to nest in. 

Adult boxelder bugs are about a half inch long with very distinct red, orange. and black markings on their bodies. 

This one in particular has a small mollusk attached to its face.

Controlling boxelder bugs can be difficult, especially if large clusters are accumulating on the sides of your home or place of business. You can find the majority of boxelders in large clusters on the warm sunny side of structures, including windows. 

The first line of defense to keep any bugs out, not just boxelders, is to make sure windows and doors do not have any large gaps or openings, especially at the bottom door sweeps, and around the structure’s foundation. 

Boxelders have three life stages: egg, nymph, and adults. The nymphs are small and red, lacking the familiar dark black wings. As the nymphs grow, they eventually become mostly black and develop wings for flight. 

Boxelder bugs gather in very large populations and may look intimidating.  However, they are harmless to humans and pets.

Sometimes they are referred to as stink bugs. If you find yourself in a situation where boxelders are crawling inside your home or business, resist the temptation to smash them. They give off a putrid smell—hence, stink bug—and their guts can stain carpets, flooring, and furniture.

Rather than smashing them, it is recommended that you vacuum up boxelder bugs and dispose of them. Or if you have a vacuum bag, once it’s full of the bugs, freeze it overnight. The bugs will die in the freezer and you then can dispose of the bag.

A very popular home remedy for getting rid of boxelder bugs is to spray them with a small amount of dishwashing liquid mixed with warm water. This will cause the waxy layer on their exoskeleton to desiccate, leading to their death. This is a great way to spray for these bugs without using pesticides. One drawback is there will be no residual control from the spray, so you will have to reapply often. 

Chemical barrier sprays are also a great way to control boxelders. When applied correctly and in the right areas, large populations of boxelders can be eliminated quickly. 

Boxelder bugs are also found in great numbers on a variety of trees such as maple and ash in addition to boxelders These all can be sprayed with the dishwashing liquid and water mixture without harming the tree. If using a chemical spray on trees, make sure you strictly follow all the labeling directions. Some insecticides can wipe out beneficial insects that are needed for healthy growth of the trees or plants. Furthermore, some insecticides can chemically burn the leaves of a tree. Although the tree would not die from this, it would be put in great distress. 

You could also remove any trees that accumulate boxelders, but that would be an extreme measure, and even if you did that, many boxelders would still be present in the ground. 

Fortunately, boxelder bugs only appear in the spring and fall. We rarely see them during the summer months. As far as bugs are concerned, these bugs do not do damage to our homes nor do they feed on people or pets. Boxelder bugs are merely a nuisance pest and are rarely a problematic issue. 

Bed Bugs

Say these two little words aloud to anyone within hearing distance and watch them shake in disgust. Nothing else quite induces the fear and revulsion produced by the mere mention of these bugs feeding on your body while you are sleeping.

Bed bugs nymphs are very small and clear, reaching about 1/16 of an inch long. The adults are about a quarter of an inch long, resemble an apple seed and are about the same size. Their minute size and stealthy disposition make them a worthy adversary. They came into our ancestors’ lives, have clung on to us, and we’ve never been able to eradicate them. 

They emerge silently from their protected nests every night to drink human blood. This is a very real nightmare experienced by many homeowners and business owners and their customers alike. 

What is even more nightmarish is that they inject you with an anesthetic and an anticoagulant, so you do not even realize you are getting bit! 

The first symptom you may experience is itchy red bumps on your torso, arms, or legs—or all over your body. Unfortunately, there are many other bugs that can cause red itchy bumps, such as mosquitoes and fleas, so these symptoms are not always the best indicator of the presence of bed bugs.

To further confuse the issue, each person’s reaction to bed bugs is wildly different and varied. Some may experience mild to no reaction while others can have severe allergic reactions. Since you are sleeping and cannot feel them biting you, hundreds of bites can cover your body in just one night.

They leave sticky dark-black stains on bedding and furniture where they are feeding. The spots are caused by dried blood and excrement from the bed bugs. 

Bed bugs go through several molts as they grow, shedding their old exoskeletons, which can be found anywhere that bedbugs have traveled. They go through what’s called a gradual metamorphosis starting with an egg, progressing to first, second, third, fourth, and fifth stage nymphs and then to adulthood.   

Bed bugs can be accidentally introduced into your home in several different ways. For some people, bed bugs have crawled into luggage or clothing after they’ve stayed at a hotel or motel. They return home, and the bed bugs crawl out from hiding and lay eggs in their new surroundings.

Other homeowners have gotten bed bugs from family members or friends that may have stayed overnight.  We see large occurrences of bed bugs after hurricanes have forced people to stay in storm shelters. Often when people are staying with relatives or sleeping in hotels, bed bugs come along for the ride. 

Some homeowners who have used the store bought “bug bombs” may have initially had quick results; however, weeks or months later, they will inevitably see a return of bed bugs. 

The reason for this is the eggs that bed bugs lay. Like many other insect eggs, they are protected from chemicals. Penetrating bed bug eggs with a chemical spray is next to impossible. The function of the egg is to protect the embryo inside from exterior pollutants and chemicals. 

Once the bed bug hatches out of its egg, it is extremely small and fragile. If it does not come into contact with any residual pesticides, it will continue to feed and grow. Female bed bugs can give birth to anywhere from one to five nymphs a day and 500 in a lifetime. 

If you suspect your home or business has bed bugs, call a professional company like Dave’s Pest Control. Getting rid of bed bugs can be very difficult, best accomplished by trained technicians. 

If you see bugs in your landscape or inside your home, call us today for a free consultation.

Bed bugs. The very thought of them makes us shudder. We’ve heard horror stories of infestations and want to do everything in our power to fight against these bed bugs.

But what exactly are bed bugs? And how can you prevent them? And if you do have bed bugs, how do you deal with them?

In this post, we’re going to break down the what, why, and how of bed bugs. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to do if you find yourself battling bed bugs.

What Are Bed Bugs?

First and foremost, what exactly are bed bugs? Obviously, they’re an insect that can bite you while you’re in bed. But it goes beyond that.

Bed bugs are small, oval insects that are brownish in color and live on the blood of animals and humans. Before they feed, adult bed bugs are relatively flat and about the size of an apple seed. But once they feed, they swell with blood and take on a reddish hue.

Do bed bugs fly?

Thankfully not. However, they can move at a rapid pace over walls, floors, and even ceilings. Additionally, over the course of their lives, female bed bugs are able to lay hundreds of eggs, with each one only being about the size of a speck of dust. It is the relative smallness of bed bug eggs that can make them difficult to detect.

Young bed bugs that have not yet reached maturity are called nymphs. These nymphs will shed their skins up to five times before they reach full maturity, and before they can shed their skins, they require a meal of blood.

Bed bugs can reach full maturity in as little time as a month and produce up to three more generations of bed bugs in a single year. It’s no wonder that they can spread so rapidly.

Thankfully, although they are a terrible pest, bed bugs aren’t known to spread diseases.

It’s estimated that one-in-five Americans have dealt with bed bugs or know someone who has dealt with them at some point in their lives.

What Are The Effects Of A Bed Bug Bite?

Bed bugs have a tube-like proboscis which they use to puncture the skin of a human or animal. They use this proboscis to draw blood from their victims. Typically, bed bugs are most active when humans are asleep (night and early morning), explaining why so many bites happen in beds.

Bed bugs aren’t particularly picky in terms of where they’ll bite a person, and bites can occur anywhere on the skin. Usually, the bites occur in areas where the skin is exposed, such as the neck, face, shoulders, arms, legs, or hands. Most people don’t feel the bite when it occurs.

For most people, bed bug bites don’t produce serious symptoms, usually limited to a mark where the bite occurred and some irritation and inflammation around the bite. However, for some people, bed bug bites can cause painful burning sensations along with significant amounts of itching.

The bites often look like a red bump with either a clear center or a dark center. If the center is dark, the surrounding area is often lighter and semi-swollen. Other times, they can look like small red bumps with little blisters surrounding them. The bumps can sometimes appear in a zig-zag line.

Bites can also produce what are called “papular eruptions”, where areas of skin become inflamed.

How Can You Determine If You Have Bed Bugs?

 

If you even suspect that you have bed bugs, you’ll want to determine as quickly as possible if you actually do.

Unfortunately, bed bugs can fit into even the smallest of places due to the flatness of their bodies. They can wedge their bodies into cracks as small as a credit card. Additionally, bed bugs don’t make nests but tend to live in groups.

They like to hide in places like headboards, bed frames, box springs, and mattresses. This makes it much easier for them to bite humans at night.

Because the bites look similar to mosquito bites, it’s easy to at first attribute a bed bug infestation to mosquitos. This means that you need to confirm that you have bed bugs by finding the bugs themselves.

One way to tell that you might have bed bugs is if you begin to see small spots of blood on your sheets or mattress from where the bugs have bitten you and blood has seeped out. You may also begin to see reddish-brown dried stains on fabrics from due to bed bug droppings. Bed bugs also give off a detectable, musty odor from their scent glands.

If you think that you may be dealing with bed bugs, start by removing all your bedding. Examine it carefully for any signs of the bugs, blood spots, excrement, or the shed shells of nymphs. Then remove the dust cover from the bottom of your box spring and inspect the wood framing and the seams. Peel back any fabric that is stapled to the wood frame and make a careful inspection for signs of bed bugs.

After you’ve thoroughly inspected your bed, perform a thorough inspection of the area around your bed. Look inside books, telephones, radios, the edge of the carpet, and even your electrical outlets. Since bedbugs can also attach to clothing, you’ll want to check both your closet and your drawers.

The most effective way to determine if you have a bed bug infestation is to call an exterminator.

They can tell you quickly whether you’re dealing with bed bugs and begin making treatments immediately.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs can be incredibly difficult to get rid of due to how fast they breed and how many eggs they can lay. The absolute MOST effective way to deal with bed bugs is to call an exterminator. This should be your first step if you think you may be dealing with a bed bug infestation.

If you don’t call an exterminator, you may have a difficult time completely ridding yourself of bed bugs.

In addition to calling an exterminator, there are some steps you can take to help eliminate as many bed bugs as possible.

First, clean all your bedding, linens, curtains, and clothing in hot water. After cleaning them, dry them on the highest setting. For items that can’t be washed (stuffed animals, shoes, etc.), dry them on the highest setting for at least 30 minutes.

Second, vacuum your bed and the area around your bed frequently. This will help suck up the bed bugs and their eggs. As soon as you’re done vacuuming, put the vacuum bag into a plastic bag and then place it in an outdoor garbage can.

Before you vacuum, brush the seams of your mattress with a stiff brush to remove bed bugs and their eggs.

Third, if you have cracks in your plaster or peeling wallpaper, fix these as much as possible. Bed bugs can live in these cracks and it’s essential that you eliminate as many of their hiding places as possible.

Fourth, get rid of as much clutter around your bed as possible. Bed bugs thrive in clutter and by removing as much as possible you destroy some of their habitat.

Finally, if you think that your mattress is infested with bed bugs, you may simply need to throw it out and purchase a new one. However, before you purchase a new mattress, you’ll want to make sure you’ve eliminated as many of the bed bugs as possible so that they don’t simply come back to your new mattress.

How Can You Prevent Bed Bugs?

There are a number of steps you can take to prevent bed bugs from invading your house.

First, consider covering your mattress and box springs in protective covers. These plastic covers are specifically designed to prevent bed bugs. If you do get bed bugs, these covers make it easier for you to deal with them and keep them from getting into your mattress and box springs.

Second, vacuum your rugs and carpets on a regular basis. If you think you may have come into contact with bed bugs, vacuum daily until you’re sure that you’re clear of the problem. Once you’ve vacuumed, dispose of the bag immediately in an outdoor container.

Third, keep your rooms free from clutter. As noted above, bed bugs love to hide in clutter. Eliminating as much clutter as possible gives them fewer places to make their home.

Fourth, consider installing door sweeps or door jams if you live especially close to other houses or apartments. Installing door sweeps or door jams will seal off your home or apartment, making it more difficult for the bugs to get into your home.

Fifth, if you’re traveling, try to stay in higher grade hotels (at least 3 stars and above). These hotels are the least likely to have bed bugs as they tend to change the mattresses much more often. When staying in a hotel, check the bed, nightstand, and furniture for any signs of bed bugs. This includes the headboard of the bed as well as any wooden furniture near the bed. When you return home from traveling, wash your clothes immediately to ensure that you didn’t bring any bed bugs home.

Finally, if you purchase second hand furniture or clothing, always inspect them for signs of bed bugs. Look for reddish brown spots that indicate bed bug fecal matter. Additionally, look for any blood splotches that suggest bed bug bites. After purchasing second hand clothing, always wash it immediately to eliminate any possible bed bugs clinging to it.

If you’re dealing with bed bugs, call Dave’s Pest Control today. We have years of experience eliminating this nasty insect and can help you eliminate your bed bugs quickly.