Continuing from Friday…

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.

They have a somewhat harmless and romanticized name but they are far from any type of bug that you would want to spend any alone time with!  The “kissing bug” is also known as the assassin bug, the Mexican bed bug, and the cone-nosed bug, is bloodthirsty pest to keep a watchful eye out for.  There are several species of kissing bugs within the United States. Some have a painless bite, while others deliver what is considered to be the most painful bite of any type of insect.

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.

New York City pest control professionals know first-hand about the risks associated with transferring bed bugs from place to place.  Known for their ability to hitchhike with ease from any local, college students are particularly susceptible to picking up bed bugs.
College students typically live a mobile lifestyle.  Frequent overnight visits in other student’s dorm rooms and apartments, and visits back and forth from home to school, allow for potential bed bugs to hitch a ride with unsuspecting students.

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.

Being on the dinner menu for bloodsucking parasites is an un-nerving proposition for most folks.  Once people realize that bed bugs are in their home, it is not uncommon for panic to set in.  Panic can lead to people to doing crazy things in an effort to not be bitten by bed bugs.  DanburyPatch reported on January 4, 2012, that a bed bug educational meeting was hosted for parents by the Danbury School system after they learned that a parent had washed their child’s hair in kerosene to kill bed bugs this fall!  You may read the article here.

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.

New York and New Jersey pest control experts agree that bed bug infestations are a huge problem for travelers from coast to coast.  A hotel is particularly susceptible to bed bug infestations because hotel guests come and go.  Even with the best inspection procedures in place, a hotel can be bed bug free one day, and infested the next.  It only takes one pregnant female bed bug to cause an infestation in a hotel room that left untreated will quickly spread to other areas of the hotel.

WMBF News reported on January 2, 2011 that a family from North Carolina got more than they bargained for when they stayed the night at a hotel in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The family claims that they awoke to find what appear to be bed bugs crawling around the bathroom sink.  The hotel management was quick to move the family to a second room, but upon entering that room, the family claims that the same type of bugs were found in the doorway.  The family claims that when a third room was requested, they were told by the hotel’s manager that they must leave the property.  The video provided shows the bugs quickly scurrying around the sink, and it is difficult to identify if they are indeed bed bugs.  You may read the article and view the video here.

Bed bugs typically have a difficult time crawling around on slick surfaces because they have claws instead of pads on their feet.  These claws are used to climb and latch onto soft items so that they can easily again access to luggage, purses, backpacks, clothing, bedding, etc.

It is difficult to protect yourself fully from encountering bed bugs when you travel.  The key is to educate yourself about how to look for the bloodsuckers and know where they could potentially be hiding.  If you awake with red itchy bite marks on your exposed skin, it is very likely that bed bugs are present someplace in the hotel room.  NY and NJ pest control professionals recommend that you contact a pest control expert who is trained in bed bug removal services if you think you have encountered bed bugs while you travel.