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.

Clothing, books, electronics, bedding, appliances, upholstered furniture, wood furniture, pictures, mirrors, and curtains all create the perfect nesting spots for bloodsucking bed bugs.  The challenge for NJ pest control experts is to root out and kill the bugs without harming any belongings in the process.

New York City continues to top the nation as a problem spot for bed bug infestations.  PRWeb showcased on December 8, 2011, Stern Environmental Group’s new mobile bed bug heat treatment trailer in their online magazine.  Thermal heat treatment has proven to be extremely effective at killing adult, nymphs, and bed bug eggs.

Stern Environmental Group offers their custom built, state-of-the-art trailer to both retail and residential customers who are suffering from bed bug infestations.  The innovative design of the mobile heat treatment trailer kills all stages of bed bugs through an advanced computerized monitoring system.  Once items are placed inside of the 22-foot long trailer, the baking process begins.  The exquisite seals on the trailer prevent any bed bugs from escaping and the extreme heat is able to penetrate deep into all surfaces to efficiently kill bloodsucking bed bugs and their eggs.

Retailers and residential customers will find that using our mobile bed bug heat treatment trailer for bed bug eradication on their goods and belongings is an efficient and cost saving alternative for New York and New Jersey bed bug infestations.

One new product that will soon be available is the “Bed Bug Plug”.  Discreetly disguised as a typical looking electrical outlet, this interesting bed bug device is actually a bed bug monitor and trap.

Bed bugs are small in stature and are notorious for their bite and hide activity.  Additionally, it is estimated that approximately 50% of people have the allergic reaction to the bite of bed bugs that result in painful itching, swelling, and redness.  Absence of the irritation and the lack of seeing the bloodsuckers typically will allow the infestation to grow unnoticed for a good period of time.

The Bed Bug Plug attracts bed bugs by the low level heat and moisture that it emits.  This innovative device not only attracts cowardly bloodsucking bed bugs that like to slurp, run, and hide, it also serves as a trap to keep bed bugs away from you!  Once bed bugs enter the “electrical outlet”, bed bugs are trapped on the sticky glue traps that are on the inside.  You even have the option of purchasing this unit with a real operational electrical outlet, making it even more versatile.  The Bed Bug Plus is economical because each glue trap remains effective for 3 months before a replacement trap is needed.

These new monitor/traps are economical and are perfect for college dorms, homes and hotel rooms too.  They are perfect for travelers who are concerned about picking up bed bugs while they travel and homeowners concerned about guests bringing bed bugs into their abode.

Watch for this new item in Stern Environmental Group’s Marketplace soon!

According to reports by the New York Daily News on August 30, 2011, tenants in the Bay Ridge building in Brooklyn have been battling the bloodsucking pests since 2005.  Long-time residents claim to have spent huge amounts of money replacing mattresses and furniture in an effort to escape the nighttime nibblers.  Residents have been forced to keep their belongings in plastic bags so that they can remain free of bed bugs.  Tenants claim that on occasion, pest control experts have been called to provide treatment to a unit here or there in the building, but the bed bug problem persists because the entire building has never received bed bug treatment at the same time.  “The landlord currently has 43 open housing code violations, with the most recent bed bug violation issued August 16th.”  The residents also complain of trouble with rodents running amuck in the building.

You may read the article here.

It’s important to educate yourself about bed bug infestations if you want to win the war against them.  Mattresses can be saved with the help of Protect-A-Bed Mattress Encasements.   These amazing covers will trap any remaining bed bugs and their eggs inside of the encasement and keep any new bed bugs from being able to infest the exterior of the mattress. The special bite-proof cover guarantees that you won’t need to worry about any existing bed bugs biting through the fabric or escaping into your home.

There is a variety of bed bug monitors that can help trap and control bed bug infestations.  Working in conjunction with pest control services, these devices will help get an infested building or room under control in no time at all.

If you live in a rental unit, communication and cooperation with your landlord about how bed bug preparations, treatments, monitoring, and follow-up will occur is paramount to the successful elimination of any bed bug infestation.

Their ability to hitchhike with great ease, their propensity to hide, and their slight stature, makes the college environment quite suitable for nasty bed bugs.  College students come from all walks of life and bed bugs know no socio economic difference.
Some people may have a bed bug infestation in their home, but never know it because they do not suffer the allergic reaction to the bites of the bed bugs.  Some students may be bed bug free when they left on their college journey, but unwittingly may have picked up the critters at a hotel while traveling to their college destination.  It is not unheard of for people to even pick up the bloodsuckers while traveling on airplanes, trains, buses, taxis or subways.

The bad news for students is, that once you have bed bugs, their bites are usually painful and they will spread throughout a residential facility like wildfire.  Once a student has bed bugs, the bloodsucking hitchhikers can easily be transferred to other university locations such as libraries, classrooms, student centers, or even taken home to their own family when they visit.  Bed bugs are an extremely difficult pest to eradicate.

A new study from the National Pest Management “Bugs Without Borders” revealed that pest management professionals think that college dorms are the number one place to find bed bugs.  The study showed that 35% of all pest management professionals treated dorms in the United States last year.  This year, the numbers have risen to 54%!

Please check back on Wednesday for the conclusion.

Despite this family’s best efforts to avoid bringing bed bugs into their home, there is still a possibility that an infestation can occur.  It takes only one pregnant bed bug or two hatched eggs to create an eventual full-blown bed bug infestation.  Stern Environmental Group has a variety of products to help keep homeowners safe from bed bugs.

• The Bed Moat:  Place the “moat” under your furniture legs or bed frames to trap bed bugs when they come for a blood meal.  The textured exterior enables the creepers to crawl up, but the slick interior traps them inside.

• NightWatch Bed Bug Monitor:  This bed bug trap and monitoring device will attract and kill bed bugs.  This amazing unit mimics the chemical patterns that a sleeping human does so bed bugs migrate towards the trap to their death!

• Termite and Bed Bug Detector: Bed bugs don’t stand a chance against the TDS!  This incredible device will alert you when there are bed bugs that are hiding in your home.  It’s so sensitive that it will detect as few as one bed bug.  As a bonus, you can also locate termites too!

Bed bug infestations are not a do-it-yourself type of pest.  Left untreated, bed bugs will multiply very quickly and spread throughout an entire structure.  If you think you have bed bugs in your New York or New Jersey home or business it’s important to call a licensed pest control expert immediately.  Providing 24 hour emergency service, Stern Environmental Group will be able to effectively eradicate your bed bugs quickly and safely.

• PackTite Portable Bed bug Killing Heat Chamber – The PackTite is a must have for any business traveler.  This innovative device will kill adult, nymph, and bed bug eggs by baking them to death.  The PackTite is portable and will heat items up to approximately 130 degrees.  It is perfect for dry-clean only items, books, luggage, clothing, sensitive fabrics, backpacks, toys, etc.

• Protect-A Bed Products – Protect-A-Bed offers many products that are beneficial for anyone who is concerned about having bed bugs or anyone who has gone through a bed bug infestation.  These amazing encasements are specifically designed for mattresses and box springs.  They come in all bed sizes, twin through king.  You can even keep your little baby safe with the crib mattress encasement.  These revolutionary encasements have a patented BugLock zipper enclosure for extra security that will lock bed bugs in…forever, and keep any new bed bugs from ever being able to infest the mattress or box spring.  You can be assured that you will have a good night’s sleep when you use this encasement because it is made out of “miracle membrane” which has been lab tested and certified to be bed bug bite proof!

• The Bedbug Beacon – This interesting bed bug trap will lure the typically elusive bed bugs from their hiding spots.  It slowly releases C02 gas for up to 11 days, which bed bugs are attracted to, and is perfect for use after bed bug treatment to ensure that the pests are gone.  This device is also great for landlords who would like to make certain that their units are bed bug free prior to the arrival of new tenants.

You can find these as well as other useful bed bug products at Stern Environmental Group.

It is estimated that one out of every five American’s has encountered bed bugs, or knows of someone who has had bed bugs since the resurgence of the bloodsuckers a few years ago.  Because of the severity of New York bed bug infestations, many New Yorkers have been proactive by purchasing items to help prevent bed bug infestations, and have taken a hands-on approach in the monitoring and treatment of the creepy critters.

NYC pest control experts report that grocery store type bed bug treatment remedies typically do not work in the treatment of bed bug infestations.  There are some bed bug products however that do provide aid for travelers and home use as well.  The most frequently purchased bed bug items that are ordered are high quality and can be found at Stern Environmental Group.

Here are a few commonly purchased items:

• BugZip Luggage Bags and Drawer Liner Bags – These zippered bags are great for the upcoming summer travel season. They can be used to encase your entire suitcase or can be filled with clothing and placed inside of a dresser drawer while on travel.  These bags are heavy duty and will keep all types of creepy bugs from being able to hitch a ride home with you while you are on vacation or a business trip.  They can also be used to store clean clothing, or other possessions, when your home is undergoing bed bug eradication services by a pest control professional.

Please check back on Wednesday 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.