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.

Some public school systems within the United States would like you to believe that bed bugs will not thrive in a school environment.  Not unlike any other location that you will find bed bugs, these little vampires will hitch a ride into the school via a student, teacher or administrator.  Backpacks, coats, hats, gloves, purses, laptop bags, and lunch boxes all serve as excellent transport vehicles for bed bugs.  Bed bugs can also hitch a ride in the folds of clothing that a person is wearing and drop off in a school at any moment in time.

Any bed bug could immediately climb up on their next victim or scurry off and hide in the area that it dropped off of its original host in.  Bed bugs can easily thrive within a school building because there are plenty of places for them to hide and an easy supply of blood sources available.  Left untreated by a licensed pest control professional, bed bugs will be able to multiply. It only takes one pregnant bed bug to cause a massive bed bug invasion.

On January 27, 2012, MyFox New York reported that the New York Department of Education Pest Control Unit confirmed that a bed bug was found at the Russel Sage Junior High School in Forest Hills.  The bed bug was found in the schools general office but reports from students are that they have also found bed bugs in the cafeteria and in classrooms at the school.  You may read the article here.

Avoiding bed bugs at school can be difficult.  Parents should be on high alert when bed bugs are present in their child’s school.  All items should be checked daily for bed bugs prior to them being brought into the school.  Clothing should be shaken out outdoors and immediately laundered to avoid bringing bed bugs inside the home.  Soft items can be placed in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes to kill any hitchhiking bed bugs or their eggs.  In the event that bed bugs are found in your home, it is wise to contact a licensed pest control professional to kill the bloodsuckers before the infestation rages out-of-control.

For businesses across the United States, having a customer find bed bugs in their establishment could spell big trouble.  Depending on the response given from any bed bug infested business, it could either spell great news or really bad news for a business.  Bed bugs are a problem for upscale hotels as well as fleabag motels.  Because of the fast turnover of people, a hotel/motel can be bed bug free on one day and then infested on another.

The New York Times reported on January 25, 2012 that a swanky New York City hotel near Central Park South is the latest to have the creepy crawlers infiltrate one of their rooms.  Reports are that the hotel was alerted to the problem when a guest produced a bed bug to the front desk upon check-out.  The hotel jumped into action by moving guests from the adjoining rooms as well as the rooms above and below the infested room so that proper treatment could commence.  In addition to calling a New York City pest control professional, the hotel staff was shown a video and given training about how to recognize the signs of bed bugs.  Kuddos to the hotel in question for their quick action and not denying that the problem exists!  You may read the article here.

Many people have learned the hard way that bed bugs are not a do-it-yourself type of pest.  Hiring a New York City pest control professional that is trained in bed bug eradication services is the only way to fully eradicate bed bugs.

1011Now.com reported on January 19, 2011 that two students found bed bugs in their dorm room at Abel Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  The bed bugs were not discovered until after the students returned from winter break.  The University quickly brought in a pest control professional which then found a significant amount of the pesky critters nesting behind cork board that was hung just over the student’s bed.  As expected, soft items such as bedding and clothing has been laundered to kill the bed bugs.  The University chose thermal heat treatment to bake the bloodsuckers to death.  You may read the article here.

What is surprising to some folks is that just a day later, more bed bugs were found at the University.  According to JournalStar.com on January 20, 2012, another dorm room at Abel Hall, a student room at The Village, and a student lounge have also been found to have creepy bed bugs.  You may read the article here.

The University does not believe that other dorm rooms in the buildings that are affected are at risk of having bed bugs.  In actuality, once bed bugs are in a building with shared walls, it is quite easy for them to move from place to place.  Depending on the level of infestation, bed bugs could be lurking within the walls throughout the entire building.  Always on the hunt for their next victim, bed bugs use electrical wires and plumbing pipes as a bed bug highway to gain access between units.  Because of their small size, they can easily travel between walls as well.  With bed bugs already being found in several locations in the building, it might be wise for the University to consider treating the entire building at one time instead of each dorm room, or common space, that they find the bugs.

Different states have different laws on the books when it comes to bed bug infestations. In some states, bed bug infestations that are ignored by landlords or building owners open the door to litigation by tenants.  The DesMoinesRegister.com reported on November 11, 2011 that a lawsuit was filed on behalf of about 300 current and former residents of two low-income apartment buildings which houses elderly and disabled residents in Des Moines, Iowa.  The lawsuit claims that the managers of the buildings “turned a blind eye to the growing bed bug infestation for more than two years.”  The residents report that they were repeatedly bitten by the bloodsuckers, forced to sleep on the floor because their furniture was infested, forced to discard furniture, shunned by relatives and landlords, suffered from emotional issues, and incurred medical costs and financial damages.  Just recently, a Judge has ruled that the lawsuit that was filed may proceed as a class action suit on behalf of the tenants against the two apartment buildings.  You may read the article here.

The simple fact is that everyone deserves to sleep in peace in their home without the threat or knowledge of little vampires creeping into their beds at night to suck their blood.  Having to dispose of furniture and personal property because of bed bugs is a terrible burden to carry, especially in today’s troubling economy.  Hiring a licensed pest control professional at the first sign of bed bugs is the only way to stave off a massive bed bug population explosion say NYC pest control professionals.

Kissing bugs have been predominately found in the southern 2/3 of the United States, but have been moving northeast with insects found as far as Florida.  Like a bed bug, kissing bugs have a flattened body until they receive a blood meal.  Whereas bed bugs climb upon their victims exposed body parts in order to feed, the kissing bug tends to crawl alongside their intended victims.  They use their long proboscis to pierce exposed skin, often around (or on) the lips and eye areas.  Their mouthparts are not capable of biting, only sucking, but their aftermath is still considered to be a “bite”.

Like a bed bug, the kissing bug often goes undetected in homes because it is nocturnal and feeds upon victims while they sleep.  They will join humans inside their beds, but they do not climb on their host, nor will they bite through fabric.  Feeding time ranges from 8 to 15 minutes.  The kissing bug typically feeds every three weeks, but like a bed bug can abstain from receiving a blood meal if necessary.  These bloodsuckers are able to survive for three to six months between dining rituals.

On the upside, despite the fact that kissing bugs hide, they are not as elusive or as small as bed bugs tend to be.  In cases where the kissing bug has been the suspected culprit of the bite wound, a thorough search of the home has yielded a positive hit on finding this menacing pest.  Many times the engorged pest is found hiding in a couch or near bedding materials.

You can prevent kissing bugs from entering your home by removing any wild animal nests in the attic or surround areas.  Firewood piles should be kept away from the structure and pet bedding, as well as pets, should be inspected to be sure that kissing bugs are not in their fur.  A licensed NJ pest control professional will be able to provide proper outdoor insecticide applications to keep kissing bugs, as well as other unwanted pests, out of your home all year long.

There are 16 species and 18 subspecies of Triatoma in the United States. Just like a bed bug, the kissing bug survives solely on the blood of mammals.  These bugs will attack wild and domestic animals, as well as humans.  In North America, opossums, raccoons, rats, armadillos, cats, and dogs have fallen victim to kissing bug attacks.

Kissing bug bite wounds are often misdiagnosed as spider bites, bed bug bites, herpes zoster, flea bites, and erythema multiforme.  In extreme cases, death from anaphylaxis is possible from the bite of a kissing bug.

The main reason that the kissing bug bite is so dangerous is because it can spread Chagas’ disease.  The disease is spread when the kissing bug bites their victim and leaves their feces behind in or near the bite wound.  If a person scratches or rubs the feces into the bite wound, the disease can be contracted.  Some people will show signs of the disease immediately, some will not.  Symptoms include a rash, fever, vomiting, and a swelling near the eyes.  The disease often goes misdiagnosed by the medical community.  Additionally, some people will not show any symptoms of the disease for years.  Chagas disease will lurk in their blood and surface twenty to thirty years after the bite wound occurred.  When this happens it is difficult for doctors to determine the digestive and heart problems that the victim is exhibiting.

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.

Because college students are often working on a small budget, it is not uncommon for students to regularly purchase used furniture or scavenge previously owned furniture that is owned by other students or area residents.  NYC pest control experts warn that despite their name, bed bugs are not limited to being found solely in beds.  Bed bugs are often times found in other types of discarded furniture such as tables, couches, and dressers.  Because of their size and tendency to hide, bed bugs will also hide in picture frames, mirrors and all types of electronic devices.

What college students can do about bed bugs:

• Refrain from bringing any mattresses, box springs, or furniture in from the street.

• Check backpacks, laptop bags, and other personal belongings after visiting other students homes or dorms.

• Carefully inspect any used or rented furniture for bed bugs prior to bringing it into a dorm or apartment.

• Educate yourself about bed bugs:  Know what they look like, what their habits are, how to find them, how to avoid them, and how to get rid of them.

• Never attempt to treat bed bugs on your own.

• If bed bugs are found, it’s important to immediately notify your landlord or RA that the bugs are present so that a licensed pest control professional can be called to stop the spread of the bloodsuckers.

In another story, WWMT.com reported that a Kalamazoo man accidentally caught his bedroom on fire and forced the evacuation of his apartment complex when he was looking bed bugs in his box spring.  According to the report, lacking a flashlight to investigate, the man used a lighter to look for bed bugs in his newly purchased box spring.  The lighter accidentally ignited the bed causing damage to his apartment. You may read the article here.

Desperate American’s have used bug bombs to try to kill bed bugs, which have proven to make them spread from room to room.  People have washed their children in gasoline and insecticides in an effort to avoid being bitten by bed bugs at night.  In addition, some people have even used outdoor pesticides indoors on their bedding and other areas in their home to try to kill the bloodsuckers.  These remedies have all proven to be dangerous and are not recommended by the CDC as they have made many people ill.

For NYC or NJ bed bug infestations, the best way for achieve full eradication is to hire a licensed pest control professional with extensive experience in bed bug removal services. For fast and accurate service in New York or New Jersey, contact Stern Environmental Group.