Incoming college students have many things to prepare for as they plan for their upcoming school year.  New Jersey pest control experts say that in addition to worrying about moving themselves into on-site student housing facilities and off-site campus housing units, all students should be mindful of the risk of encountering bed bug infestations at their college.

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.

Understandably the family is concerned about bringing the blood thirsty pests back home to New Jersey as well.  It is important that they take precautions to avoid transferring bed bugs upon their arrival back home.  All clothing must be laundered in hot water and dried on the hottest heat setting.  Additionally, all luggage pieces should be carefully vacuumed inside and out, paying close attention to the seamed areas as bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and bed bug eggs are nearly impossible to detect.

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.

Continuing from Monday…

• 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.

NYC pest control experts say that New York City bed bugs have caused New Yorkers to become well versed on the blood thirsty creatures that attack in the night.  In fact, New Yorkers are apparently so well versed in bed bug reality that they know more about bed bug education than your average American does, according to a major online retailer of anti-bed-bug gear.

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.

New Jersey pest control experts agree that developing bed bug legislations throughout the United States is a good idea.  Assigning responsibility and explaining expectations will eliminate confusion, and potentially lawsuits, when a bed bug infestation is discovered.  It’s important for lawmakers to be mindful of the fairness to all people when creating bed bug legislation.

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.