Many New Jersey homeowners have been calling pest control specialists for help because they are afraid that the dreaded bed bug has made their way into their home.  Once pest control has arrived on the scene, homeowners have been surprised to find out that their infestation is not that of the blood sucking bed bugs, but instead they are being invaded by another household pest…the carpet beetle.  It’s not surprising that people confuse carpet beetles with bed bugs because to the untrained eye, they can look somewhat similar in their appearance.

Bed bugs are small, brownish colored insects that are oval shaped.  Adult bed bugs are about 3/16 of an inch when full grown.  The nymphs (baby bed bugs) resemble the adults, but are much smaller and lighter in color.  These bugs have flattened bodies until they receive a blood meal at which time they plumb up and become reddish brown.  Bed bugs do not fly and have six legs.

There are several different types of carpet beetles that vary in size and color to keep an eye out for, so it’s no wonder that people get confused when they see some of these creatures lurking around their house.  All adult carpet beetles can fly, and like the bed bug, they also have six legs.  The adult black carpet beetle is oval and can grow up to 3/16 of an inch.  The adult varied carpet beetle is gray, white, and brown with yellow scales with black crossbands.  The adult common carpet beetle can grow to about 1/8 of an inch.  It is gray to black in color and is almost round in shape.  Adult furniture carpet beetles can grow to 1/8 of an inch long.  They are almost round, and are whitish checkered with black spots, with yellowish orange scales.

Carpet beetles do not need blood in order to survive; but they are considered a damaging household pest that needs eradication regardless.  Carpet beetles are not discriminate feeders and will eat plant and animal substances.  When found outside, carpet beetles are known to eat flower pollen from dogwood, crepe myrtle, spirea, daisies, wild asters and buckwheat with white or cream-colored flowers.

Please check back on Friday for the conclusion.

Continuing From Friday…

Commissioner Thompson went on to say “I’ve been dealing with bed bugs all my life,” and then said. “All you have to do is clean your bedroom and clean your house.”  WOW!  Did he actually admit that HE has had bed bugs or was his answer just his opinion on how to deal with the creepy crawlers?

Commissioner Stanbery was right in her thoughts that a tracking system could help protect both landlords and potential tenants.  It’s in everyone’s best interest to make sure that a rental property is free of bed bugs prior to occupancy…no matter what state you live in!  Tenants would feel safer about where they were moving and landlords would be protected from potential bed bug related lawsuits.

It would be great to see a similar type of system put in place for hotels and motels as well.  That is unlikely to happen because when an infestation occurs, the stigma of having an infestation can, and usually does, cause a huge black eye for the hotel/motel in question.  The hospitality industry typically treats their bed bug infestations very quietly using a variety of treatment options.  Clearly, some do a far better job at treatment than others do.

The simple fact is that bed bugs are everyone’s problem.  Bed bugs are an equal opportunity offender.  They do not care your age, race, size, or socioeconomic status.  They only want to suck your blood…and they are relentless.  Regardless of where we live, if our government officials (county, state, and federal) continue to sweep the problem under the carpet, as they have been doing thus far, the problem will continue to worsen.  What will it take for people to realize that bed bugs will not go away until serious changes occur in the United States?

Bed bugs are a difficult pest to eradicate on your own.  If you are suffering from a bed bug infestation problem in New York or New Jersey, it is wise to contact a pest control specialist that is considered an expert in bed bug removal.

It’s no secret that bed bug infestations are occurring at lightning fast speed throughout New York.  There are now cases reported in every single state and it’s not surprising that some government officials are trying to nip the bed bug problem in the proverbial bud before it gets out of hand.

There was a recent meeting of the Bradley County Commission in Tennessee where one particular Commissioner brought a proposal to the table to curtail their rising bed bug problem.  Commissioner Lisa Stanbery stated that she had been contacted by a local non-profit organization which had informed her about the growing problem with bed bugs in their area.  She said that three families had been affected by bed bug infestations from their rental properties. 

Commissioner Stanbery asked if the Commissioners could put a tracking system in place so that the citizens of their county could obtain information about a rental property’s experience with bed bugs.  She was hoping that the tracking system could help protect citizens who were moving into new apartments, so that they would not have to deal with the blood sucking parasites.  Sounds good; and familiar too!

Although not mentioned, her proposal is not unlike the current legislation that is awaiting the sign of approval, or veto, from New York’s Governor David Paterson.  Since Governor Paterson recently vetoed the Mattress Sanitation legislation, it will be interesting to see what his decision is regarding this very important legislation.

Here’s the funny part of the story…

One of the other Commissioners was not too keen on the idea of the county being involved with bed bugs.  According to the Chattanoogan.com article, Commissioner Howard Thompson said “I think we ought to let everybody take care of their own mess,” and “all that is is nastiness.”

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.

Marking the 6,735 Veto of 2010, with one swift spin of an ink pen, NY A 7691 hit the skids!

Jose Peralta (D-NY) has made a name for himself as a bed bug superhero crime fighter…or would been if the New York Governor would have signed his pending legislation into law.  On March 29, 2010, Peralta’s legislation could have amended the General Business Law to read:

“relates to articles of bedding; prohibits the transportation, storage or sale of used bedding with new bedding unless the used bedding has been sanitized using a specified method intended to kill bedbugs, molds, and other germs or contaminants; provides for annual inspection of places where articles of bedding are made.”

The legislation passed through the Senate on Jun 15, 2010 and was sent for approval to the Assembly.  The legislation passed the Assembly on June 15, 2010 as well.  Good news…but only briefly.

On July 19, 2010, Governor David Paterson received the pending legislation, while New Yorkers everywhere continued to scratch from their bed bug infestations.  The momentous day that everyone was waiting for arrived on July 30, 2010…a decision had been made.  Would New Yorkers new mattresses be saved from the blood sucking parasites or would they still be allowed to be infested?  Sorry New Yorkers, Governor Paterson decided to veto this important bill that would help end the spread of bed bugs to new mattresses!  It has been reported that the new bill would cost the state of New York an additional $600,000 and would require that eight employees be hired.  Game over.

There are two more bed bug related legislations pending on the Governors table.  One would require New York City schools to notify parents of bed bug infestations.  The other would require New York City landlords to inform potential tenants if they have had bed bug infestation problems within the past year. Both of these sound like smart ones too!

Time will tell if the powers that be in New York will find them worthy enough of implementation. Until then, if bed bugs are making you itch in Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut Regions, contact Stern Environmental Group for expert bed bug removal services!

Raccoons are adorable when you see them frolicking together out in the backyard or woods.  Their cute little striped face, big brown eyes, pointy whiskers, and shiny nose may make you think that they are as friendly as your neighbors golden retriever.  Get close to them or have them pay a visit to the interior of your home, and you will see that they are not quite as cuddly as you imagined.

People in Park Slope in Brooklyn, New York are encountering raccoons in increasing numbers this summertime season. Just this past week, two raccoons were seen trying to obtain entry into a third story apartment of one residence.  They clawed the screen, scratched the glass, and even tried to open the window to get inside.  The resident, who was on the inside bashing on the window, could not even scare the creatures away.  Earlier the same month, the same resident awoke to his kitchen being ransacked by a raccoon.  Another Park Slope resident reports that she had four raccoons running amuck in her dining room and kitchen.

Raccoons are extremely strong and resourceful critters to deal with.  Once they have entered your home and decided it is a good place to nest, they are difficult and dangerous to evict.  Even though they can weigh as much as 35 pounds, these animals can squeeze their large bodies into spaces as small as four inches.  Raccoons are a constant problem for homeowners because of the damage that they cause to structures, urine and feces that they leave behind, and electrical wires that they chew.  They can cause damage to gardens, lawns, crops and livestock as well.  Raccoons are known carriers of many diseases that are extremely dangerous to humans and domestic animals.  Contracting rabies from raccoons is always a concern; but you also need to be concerned about distemper, roundworms, fleas, mites, and ticks when raccoons are present.

Raccoons can be one of the most challenging wild animals to remove. If you have raccoons in your home, contact Stern Environmental Group.  We offer expert Raccoon Control and Removal Services to Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut areas.