Monthly Archives: December 2013

Bed Bug News, Bed Bug Resources, Bed Bugs, Insect Control, Pest Control

Why Are Bed Bugs a Problem?

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Bed Bug Infographic

If you were born after World War II, you probably never heard of bed bugs until recently. But that old bedtime ditty, “Sleep tight; don’t let the bed bugs bite,” had some teeth to it when your great-grandparents were young.

 

Historic evidence dates bed bugs to Ancient Egypt 3,300 years ago; but entomologists say their relationship with humans likely dates back to the early days of human history. A fact of everyday life worldwide, bed bugs were common in the U.S. until the 1950s when they were wiped out by the powerful insecticide DDT.

 

Eventually found to be harmful to humans and wildlife, DDT was banned by the EPA in the 1970s. At the same time, affordable airline travel made it possible for people who lived where bed bugs were still a problem to come to the U.S. Adroit hitchhikers, bed bugs came along for the ride, stowing away in luggage and personal possessions. The first major bed bug infestations were reported in New York City and have since spread to all 50 states.

 

An informative bed bug infographic prepared by our pest control colleagues at Moxie Pest Control in Washington D.C. helps elucidate the bed bug problem. For the facts about bed bugs and bed bug extermination, visit the Stern Environmental website. We are the bed bug experts in New York City and New Jersey.
Bed bug graphic by Moxie Pest Control

Bed Bug Information, Bed Bug Resources, Bed Bugs, Pest Control

How to Avoid Bed Bugs when Traveling

If holiday travels, winter vacations or upcoming spring break plans will put you in a hotel, resort or beach rental, bed bugs need to be on your radar. Your risk of coming into contact with bed bugs goes up when you travel and sleep in rooms shared by multiple guests.

Bed bugs travel into hotel rooms in the luggage of guests. When suitcases open, blood-sucking bed bugs scurry out to hide in the room. If you’re the next guest, you’ll find yourself the featured treat of the midnight buffet.

Unlike other insects, bed bugs aren’t attracted by filth which means they’re as likely to be found in 5-star hotels as cheap highway overnighters. They don’t live on their human meal tickets but hide in crevices in and around beds. A clean room and clean sheets are no guarantee that your hotel room is bed bug-free.

To avoid bed bugs when traveling, never lay your suitcase on the bed. Use a luggage rack or table top. Pull down sheets and blankets and inspect the bed for bugs or fecal smears along mattress edges. Check behind the headboard, along carpet edges and inside drawers.

For more information on protecting yourself from bed bugs while traveling, click here to download Stern’s helpful bed bug traveler’s card. Stern also offers bed bug-killing travel products that can help keep your vacation bed bug-free.

Animal Control, News, Pest News, Squirrels, Wildlife Control

Squirrels – You Don’t Want Them in Your Attic

Squirrels add a charming touch to a peaceful neighborhood scene. They look adorable scampering across lawns and nibbling on acorns. One place where they definitely don’t fit the picture is inside your attic, where those cute habits become destructive and dangerous.

Attics make an attractive target for squirrels thanks to their excellent climbing skills. Gaps and loose shingles on roofs often go undetected, making it easy for them to find access. These warm, dry environments keep them hidden from predators, giving them a safe place to raise their babies.

Just as they love to sprint across yards outside, they often spend time running around around your attic. Those back-and-forth sounds are usually the first indication of a squirrel infestation, particularly if they’re heard during the day since most other home invaders are nocturnal.

Once they’re inside, effective squirrel control is needed to safeguard your attic and home from the devastation these animals cause. Those sharp teeth they apply to acorns can make quick work of wood, insulation and even wiring. Trails of droppings spread germs and infection while damage from their urine is worse than a water leak.

The experienced technicians of Stern Environmental Group provide efficient squirrel control in NYC and NJ, safely removing the intruders while thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing the affected areas. Contact us for 24-hour emergency service.

Bed Bug Resources, Bed Bugs, Commercial Services, Pest Control, Pest Eradication

Don’t Let Bed Bugs Bite into Your Holiday Fun

The beginning of the holiday season is fast approaching. Millions of Americans will be traveling to visit relatives or embarking on family vacations over the upcoming holidays. Holiday travel often means that you and your family will be spending at least a few nights staying at hotels or resorts. Unfortunately, peak travel periods increase the likelihood that a few unwelcome guests may also be checking into your hotel along with holiday revelers.

Reports of bed bug incidents at hotels, motels, resorts and even cruise ships seem to increase during the holidays. Hotel and resort owners take the blame and smart managers step up commercial bed bug inspections to keep control of the situation; but the sad truth is that there is little hotels can do to keep bed bugs out. These tiny blood-sucking insects are not attracted by dirt or filth but are brought into hotels and resorts by guests!

Typically picked up during a hotel stay in an infested room, bed bugs are transported to the next stop on a person’s holiday itinerary hidden in their luggage. During the night, bed bugs will crawl out of suitcases to feed on sleeping humans then hide in nearby crevices to sleep off their meal. If you are unlucky enough to be the next guest assigned to that hotel room, you become the new main course and run the risk of carrying bed bugs home in your luggage!