There are several types of insects that resemble bed bugs in how they look and how they behave.  Unfortunately for homeowners, the discovery of strange bugs creeping around their home, especially in their bedroom, can result in panic and sleepless nights.  Homeowners are discovering that many insect species mimic bed bugs as they awake with what appears to be bed bug bites.  It takes a NYC or NJ pest control professional to properly identify the type of pest that is causing the problem for proper pest control measures to ensue.

Chimney swift bugs are often mistaken for the common bed bug in New Jersey homes.  They look extremely similar, but do have some different indicators that should be noted.

• Bed bugs are typically nocturnal, unless an infestation is raging out-of-control in a home.  Chimney swift bugs are often seen crawling on the walls of homes during daytime hours.

• Bed bugs are not able to crawl on slick surfaces because of their “claws”.  Chimney swift bugs are often found creeping around in bathtubs and sinks.

• Bed bugs are a year-round pest.  Even though bed bugs can abstain from feeding for extended periods of time, they will not do so if a blood meal is readily available.  Chimney swift bugs will emerge during the summer months only.

• Chimney swift bugs live in wall voids and chimneys.  Treating your home for bed bugs is insufficient.  Using mattress encasements and other types of bed bug products won’t help with chimney swift bugs.

• If you have treated for bed bugs but the insects continue to reoccur, there is a good chance that you have chimney swift bugs instead of bed bugs.

Commonalities between bed bugs and chimney swift bugs:

• Both insects seek out blood as a food source.

• Both attack their victims at night.

• Bites from both insects are intensely itchy.

• Both require the help of a licensed pest control professional to properly identify and eradicate.

• Both types of adult bugs are a little smaller than an apple seed.

It is important to remember that bed bugs are not seasonal pests.  They will not die down in cold winter months as other pests do.  Proper identification and treatment can be achieved by hiring a knowledgeable NY or NJ pest control professional like Stern Environmental Group.

Continuing from Friday…

House Study Bill 520 presented to the Iowa legislature presented by the Iowa Landlord Association has several problems in its midst that are not being addressed.

They are asking that tenants be required to notify landlords of bed bugs infesting their rental property within seven days of moving into said property or two days after the bugs are discovered or suffer the consequences of paying for pest control services.  Here’s the rub…

• Bed bugs are elusive creatures that hide in cracks and crevices.  Tenants may not know that they have bed bugs because they might not see actual bugs, or evidence of an infestation until weeks or even months into an infestation.

• In multi-unit buildings, bed bugs will travel in between units to receive their blood meal.  A tenant can search endlessly for the source of a strange bite but never find any bed bug.

• Bed bugs don’t wear GPS units!  Bed bugs can live within the walls between two units and bite both renters, yet never actually reside in one particular apartment unit.  In this case, which tenant would be responsible for the infestation?

• Many people are not educated about bed bugs in this day and age.  Years ago, bed bugs were a part of everyone’s everyday life.  Nearly eradicated from America’s landscape in the 1940’s, unless you are of the older generation, bed bugs are a new phenomenon.  Despite their massive resurgence in the United States, many people in America still do not have the proper education to avoid, recognize, and definitely not treat these tenacious bloodsuckers.

• Bed bug bites can resemble other types of bug bites.  Additionally, they can take anywhere from one day to weeks for the allergic reaction to appear.

• Research has shown that about 50% of the people who are bitten by bed bugs suffer an allergic reaction to the bite wounds.  Reactions can vary from person to person.

• Because bed bugs bites are so new on America’s landscape, many physicians misdiagnose bed bug bite as another skin condition.

• A landlord providing certification that a rental property is bed bug free would be helpful, but it would not prevent bed bugs that existed in other units from infiltrating the newly rented unit.

Education about bed bugs is the key to avoiding being a victim to their bloodsucking ways say NY and NJ pest control professionals.

As the bed bug battle rages on from coast to coast, so do the battles among people and organizations as to who is responsible for the nasty little bloodsuckers once they infiltrate a home or business.  Blame of the infestation must always be assessed it seems, and along with that blame comes the reality that someone must pay to eradicate the little monsters that attack in the night!

Over the past few years, some states and municipalities have enacted bed bug laws that are aimed to protect both renters and landlords/property owners alike.  In most cases the legislature that is enacted is fair to both parties.  On occasion we will see one come down the pike that is lopsided…favoring one party over the other.

The Iowa Landlords Association went to the Statehouse this week pitching their idea about a new bed bug law that they would like to see enacted.  Their version of the proposed legislature is extremely one-sided, favoring just their interests, not the tenants who would be suffering through an infestation of bed bugs.

According to KCRG.com on February 7, 2012, House Study Bill 520 is being debated by the Iowa house subcommittee.  The Iowa Landlords Association wants a law enacted so that tenants are responsible for any bed bug infestation in a rental property when they do not notify the landlord about the infestation fast enough.  The Association wants tenants to be mandated to notify landlords of potential bed bugs within two days of discovering the pests or within one week of moving into a new rental property.  You may read the article here.

The mindset of the Iowa Landlords Association versus the reality of how bed bugs function and survive makes this proposed legislature a bit off-balanced and difficult to enforce in the long run.

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.