Pest control professionals that use an Integrated Pest Management approach to pest management problems can achieve success controlling all pest issues.

HudsonReporter.com reported on February 4, 2012 that Clarendon Elementary in Secaucus, New Jersey found bed bugs in a classroom.  It is believed that a student transported the bed bugs in from the home environment.  The school district immediately contacted Stern Environmental Group, which is their pesticide control manager.

Out of concern for the well-being of the children and staff, Stern Environmental Group was proactive in their treatment of the building, yet did not use any pesticides that could be harmful to those who entered the building.  Stern used the Cryonite system, which uses rapid freezing to kill bed bugs and other insects in all life stages.  Cryonite uses liquid C02 to kill bed bugs and is perfect for use in schools because it is non-toxic, there is no risk of contamination, and there is no risk of bed bugs becoming resistant to it.  Stern Environmental Group also used 145 degree heat to bake bed bugs to death.  These two integrated systems proved to work for the Secaucus school as no bed bugs have since been found by the pest control professional, the health inspector, or the bed bug sniffing dog.  You may read the article here.

SiouxCityJournal.com reported on February 1, 2012 that University officials have said that they have spent $20,000 trying to kill the bed bugs since January 9, 2012.  Because of the widespread infestation on the campus, officials are anticipating eradication costs to elevate upwards to $100,000!  Bed bugs have been found in closets, couches, lobby areas, and 25 dorm rooms in three different buildings.  Reports are that the University has purchased eight thermal pouches that will heat smaller items to kill the bed bugs and has bought a carbon dioxide machine to freeze the bloodsuckers as well.  In addition, the University has decided to use heat treatment to bake the bed bugs in the infested rooms. You may read the article here.

A bed bug sniffing dog has been brought in to help identify the exact location of the bed bugs in the housing units.  Bed bug sniffing dogs are extremely accurate at detecting adult, nymphs, and bed bug eggs.  They are even able to alert when bed bug skins are found.  A door-to-door bed bug search is now underway at the campus and the University has vowed to continue working until all bugs are killed.  The University is considering bringing in additional sniffer dogs from Minneapolis to help with this ongoing campus crisis.

Bed bug infestations can be overcome, but it will be a difficult task that requires the expertise of a licensed pest control professional.  Stern Environmental Group provides excellent bed bug eradication services in New York and New Jersey.

The new survey from the NPMA reveals that 99% of the pest control professionals that were surveyed confirmed that they have treated bed bug infestations during the past 12 months.  Of those who responded, 73% believe that bed bugs are they most difficult pest to treat.  Infestations are occurring in homes as well as public arenas such as college dorms, hotels, schools, retail stores, day care centers hospitals, movie theaters, airplanes, taxis, buses, and apartment buildings.

Nationwide, the increase in reports of bed bug infestations is staggering in comparison to information collected just one year prior.  According to the NPMA, examples of bed bugs increasing include:

• College dorms:  Current: 54% – Previous 35%
• Hotels/Motels:  Current:  80% – Previous 67%
• Nursing Homes:  Current:  46% – Previous 25%
• Office Buildings:  Current:  38% – Previous 18%
• Schools/Day Care Centers:  Current:  36% – Previous 10%
• Hospitals:  Current:  31% – Previous 12%
• Transportation (train, bus, taxi):  Current: 18% – Previous 9%
• Movie Theaters:  Current:  17% – Previous 5%

You may read these and more bed bug statistics from the National Pest Management here.

A NYC pest control expert like Stern Environmental Group can help you pin-point the exact location of your bed bug infestation problem.  We have multiple treatment options available and state-of-the art equipment to kill bloodsucking bed bugs with the greatest of ease.

Many libraries in the United States and Canada have suffered from bed bug infestations.  Libraries are particularly susceptible to bed bugs because people often read books in their bed and place the book on the bed, nightstand, dresser or other nearby furniture piece.  If a home has an ongoing bed bug infestation, it is very easy for tiny bed bugs to crawl into the book binding area or between the pages of the books.  These books are then transported back to the library where they have infested books, pictures, tables, chairs, and upholstered furniture.  Additionally, females could easily lay eggs within the book that would not be detected by untrained personnel.  Those eggs would have the opportunity to be delivered back to the library, hatch, and then venture out to bite other library patrons, or even hitch a ride home with another host thereby spreading the infestation.

A Library System in Canada, which shares books and other materials among 18 libraries, spent several months battling bed bugs that were inadvertently transported from one library location to several other library locations.  In an effort to avoid that bed bug nightmare from occurring again, they have decided to use the NightWatch Bed Bug Monitor reported The Globe and Mail on December 12, 2011.  The monitors/traps will be used in the trucks that transport library books and materials between the different libraries within the system, but are not designed to work in a space as large as the libraries.  In addition to using the NightWatch Bed Bug Monitor, bed bug sniffing dogs will be called to root out the bloodsuckers if there are any bed bugs that the NightWatch captures.

Stern Environmental Group offers the NightWatch Bed Bug Monitor in our online Marketplace as well as many other fantastic bed bug products for both home and business owners.

They are cute and cuddly and have names like Disney characters, and they are a new force to be reckoned with in New York City.  Two new beagles, with a powerful nose, and a will to please, have joined the fray of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development last week.  These well-trained pups are the new additions that will help Code Enforcement uncover New York City bed bug infestations throughout the city.

According to Reuters on November 18, 2011, the cost to acquire the bed bug sniffing dogs were $69,000 which covers “six months of training and pay for their continued schooling, veterinary care and insurance, and food and housing for their first year of service.”  Reports are the each dog and their handler will perform up to twelve inspections per day.  On their first day on the job, three violations to landlords were handed out.

You may read the article here.

Bed bug sniffing dog inspections are fast and accurate.  While human inspections for bed bugs are good, it can be several hours to complete an inspection thoroughly.  Bed bug dogs are able to breeze through any inspection in a short period of time.  If the dog finds bed bugs, their eggs, fecal matter, or bed bug skins, these amazing dogs will alert their handler to the location of the critters so that you will know exactly where treatment is needed.

Stern Environmental Group is proud to offer bed bug sniffing dog services to our customers as well.  We provide highly trained bed bug canine services to New York City, New York, and New Jersey.

To date, there have already been a number of colleges and universities throughout the United States that have reported having trouble with bed bug infestations.  Maysville Community and Technical College has found them in their tutoring center.  Wake Forest University had bed bug infestations thriving in 2% of their dorm rooms and the dorm rooms at Old Dominican University have the buggers lurking around too.  This is likely only the beginning of the bed bug nightmare for many college students!

New Jersey pest control experts report that many colleges throughout the United States are being proactive by having pest control experts at the ready in case an outbreak occurs.  If the bloodsuckers are discovered, colleges are using high tech devices such as heat treatment, Cryonite, pesticides, and bed bug sniffing dogs to clear any area of the infestation to have the least amount of disruption and to keep students healthy and safe.

The recent study from the National Pest Management Association called “2011 Bugs Without Borders Survey” revealed that 73% of pest control professionals believe that bed bugs are the most difficult pest to eradicate.  Upon arriving at any campus dorm room, New Jersey pest control experts recommend that you carefully examine the room for bed bugs prior to bringing in any personal belongings.  Bed bugs can easily be lurking in the tufts and seams of the bed so you so definitely buy a Protect-A-Bed Mattress Encasement. The encasement will not only fully encase the entire mattress, trapping any potential bed bugs or their eggs inside (forever), they will also keep bed bugs from being able to make a nest on the mattress if any exist in the room or hitchhike their way inside at a later date.

Always remember, avoiding bed bugs is easier than dealing with an infestation!

• What do bed bugs look like?  Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and are brown in color.  Once they receive their blood meal, they turn reddish-brown and plump up.  They are visible and easy to spot with careful inspection of your surroundings.  Baby bed bugs (nymphs) are smaller and are white-ish in color.  They are more difficult to locate depending on their size.  Once they feed, they turn red in color.  Bed bug eggs are white/translucent and are difficult to locate by the naked eye.  A bed bug sniffing dog is a good tool to use to root out all stages of bed bug infestations.

• When should I look for bed bugs?  New York City pest control experts say that because bed bugs are so prevalent in the region, you should inspect for bed bugs on a regular basis.  It is recommended that a thorough inspection be completed each week when the sheets are changed on your bedding.

• Where should I look for bed bugs?  Bed bugs are elusive critters that are known for their sneaky nighttime antics.  Bed bugs can be found anywhere that humans inhabit, and are especially prevalent in bedrooms and other furniture within a home.  Bed bugs are fast moving bugs that will travel a good distance in order to feed.  Bed bugs typically lurk within 20 feet of their food source.

• How fast can a bed bug multiply?  After feeding, a female bed bug will lay from one to twelve eggs each day.  Tiny eggs are deposited in any crack, crevice, or rough surface and are adhered with a sticky substance to make them stay put until hatching.  Bed bug eggs will hatch in 6 to 17 days depending on the room temperature.  Nymphs will begin to feed immediately as they need a blood meal to reach their next life stage.  Pest control experts believe that if necessary, the resilient bed bug can abstain from eating for up to 18 months.

Please check back on Monday for part 3.

Similar to the United States, Canadian pest control experts utilize a variety of techniques to try to eradicate bed bugs once an infestation is discovered.  Insecticides, Cryonite, steam, and heat treatment are all commonly used by pest control professionals to eradicate bed bugs in Canada.

The Edmonds Journal reported on July 13, 2011 that there was a fiery blaze at an apartment building in Edmonton, Canada.  Authorities are still investigating the incident that sent a grandmother, mother and her two small children to the hospital with serious injuries from the fire.  Tenants in the building claim that they were given notification that an apartment within the complex would be undergoing bed bug eradication treatment on the day of the fire.  The article says that tenants also say that two 100 pound propane tanks were seen on the balcony of one of the apartments prior to the fiery inferno, which would indicate that bed bug heat treatment service was engaged.  Additionally, according to reports, one tenant claims to have called the property management company to report the smell of gas prior to the fire breaking out.  The cause of the blaze is being investigated by fire investigators so it is unclear as to the actual cause of the blaze.

The article can be found here.

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.

In an effort to provide statutory framework to guide renters, landlords and the court system in how bed bugs should be dealt with, North Carolina lawmakers have recently proposed the “Landlord/Tenant/Bedbug Liability Act.

The proposed details of North Carolina’s House Bill 721 are as follows…

The landlord cannot offer for lease any rental property that the landlord knows is infested with bed bugs.  “The landlord may, prior to leasing the premises, obtain a certificate from a licensed pest control company certifying that the premises are free of an infestation of bed bugs, and the certificate shall serve as conclusive evidence of the landlord’s compliance with the provisions of this subdivision.”

This portion of the new legislation appears to favor landlords over tenants.  As written, landlords “may” have a certificate issued from a pest control company stating that the dwelling is bed bug free.  It does not state how the inspection is to be completed.  Will a bed bug sniffing dog be used or a human inspection performed?  Bed bug sniffing dogs are generally considered to be about 98% accurate in finding bed bugs and their eggs, while humans are far less accurate at finding the bloodsuckers upon visual inspection.  Will monitors be set up within the unit?  How can a landlord be compliant with the provisions of the new legislation when no specific guidelines are given as to how the inspection must be completed and no requirement that an actual inspection must be completed?

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.

Dogs are more than “man’s best friend”.  For many years their incredible power of scent detection and good demeanor has allowed dogs to be trained to detect a variety of substances.  Working dogs have been trained to detect drugs, arson objects, weapons, people, cancer, mold, termites and bed bugs.

Bed bug sniffing dogs undergo specialized training for hundreds of hours.  During the training, the dogs learn how to differentiate between different types of pests so that they will be able to pinpoint the exact location of any bed bug infestation location.  New Jersey pest control experts say that the average dog’s nose contains 200 to 250 million scent receptors which allow it to detect the odor that is emitted by bed bugs that humans cannot typically smell.  Scientific tests have shown that bed bug sniffer dogs have consistently found bed bugs with 98% accuracy.

The National Pest Management Association is currently hosting a canine conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Dozens of trained bed bug sniffing dogs and their handlers are enduring rigorous testing at the conference to become certified by the NPMA.

Stern Environmental Group’s bed bug sniffing dogs can help root out your New York our New Jersey bed bug infestation.  Call us and you will see how our sniffer dogs can find your bloodsucking bed bugs in minutes, with amazing accuracy.