Tag Archives: bed bug detection

Bed Bug Information, Bed Bug Resources, Bed Bugs, News

Understanding NJ Bed Bug Treatment Law for Tenants and Landlords

Understanding NJ Bed Bug Treatment Law for Tenants and Landlords
Understanding NJ Bed Bug Treatment Law for Tenants and Landlords

When you own an apartment building or live in one, it’s important for you to become familiar with NJ bed bug laws. As a landlord, this knowledge can help you determine if you need to pay for NJ pest control. As a tenant, this information can help you know what to do if you discover bed bugs in your apartment.

What Tenants Should Do

If you see bed bugs in your home, your first step should be letting your landlord know in writing. Sending it certified mail with return receipt requested is recommended, so that you have proof of this communication.

Your landlord is legally obligated to take care of bed bug infestations in order to provide you with a safe and livable home. However, you might be responsible for paying for these services if your landlord can prove that you caused the infestation.

What Landlords Should Do

Landlords must handle bed bug problems in apartment buildings in order to ensure that tenants have a safe place to live. Whether bed bugs are in one unit or in multiple units, it’s important to eliminate these infestations right away. Landlords are not financially responsible for these services if they can prove that a specific tenant caused a bed bug problem.

If you’re dealing with a bed bug problem, contact Stern Environmental Group for help. Our NJ pest control services include effective and safe bed bug control.

Bed Bug Information, Bed Bug News, Bed Bugs, News

EEK! How Long Have I Had Bed Bugs?

EEK! How Long Have I Had Bed Bugs?
EEK! How Long Have I Had Bed Bugs?

“How long have these bed bugs been here?” If your NJ bed bug exterminator got a nickel every time he was asked this question, he’d likely be rich. And there’s more to the answer than peace-of-mind. Determining when a bed bug infestation began can help you determine fault, pursue litigation, and assign responsibility for treatment.

Can I Determine When Bed Bugs Arrived?

With long-term infestations (months to years), determining the length of infestation by observation is difficult. However, with shorter term infestations discovered within a couple of months, timing can be gauged fairly well. Examination and evidence could point to a time span that may determine the source of your infestation (e.g. hotel stay, etc.).

Puzzling Out Bed Bug Infestation Timelines

The number of adult bed bugs can be useful in determining a timeline and treatment, taking 7 weeks from egg-to-adulthood. Exuviae, the shed skin of the insects, can also be used. Assuming 72-degree room temperature and feeding opportunity, bed bugs eggs take 10 days to hatch. Newborn nymphs require 1 week for development between molts. Shedding and bug sizing point to lifespan:

– First Instar Nymph: 1.5mm long

– Second Instar Nymph: 2mm

– Third: 2.5mm

– Fourth: 3mm

– Fifth: 4.5mm

– Adult: 5.5mm

Catch bed bug infestations early! Seek out the source of infestation for faster, easier eradication, and lower priced treatment. Contact your neighborhood NJ bed bug exterminator at Stern Environmental today.

Bed Bug Information, Bed Bugs

Are You Checking These Unusual Spots for Bed Bugs? You Should!

Could You Have Bed Bugs?
Are You Checking These Unusual Spots for Bed Bugs? You Should!

Bed bugs are making their presence known more and more around the world. These wily pests are travel savvy and know how to get around, which means more places are prone to an infestation.

Hide and Seek

As noted, bed bugs are known travelers whether it’s on a plane, train, city bus, subway, taxi, or school bus. They hide in many places while in travel mode such as suitcases, totes, computer cases, socks, jackets, etc. If there’s a place to snuggle down in a dark cozy place to hide, bed bugs will find it.

Some of the favorite bed bug hiding places include the following:

• Sofas and chair seams

• Curtain folds

• Furniture joints such as seams in drawers

• Holes in electrical sockets

• Libraries

• Hotel rooms

• Movie theaters

• Schools

• Day Care Centers

• Offices

• Retail stores

• Medical facilities

Help reduce the possibility of bed bugs in your home by sealing cracks and crevices, eliminating clutter, vacuuming often, and using protective mattress covers.

Professional NJ pest control services have got your back when it comes to a bed bug infestation. With the latest equipment and treatment options, bed bugs don’t stand a chance.

To schedule a free inspection with a NJ pest control specialist, contact Stern Environmental. We believe you should “get Stern” when it comes to getting bed bugs under control. Call us today.

Bed Bug Information, Bed Bug News, Bed Bugs, News, Pest Control, Pest News

University of Minnesota Creates a Retailers Guide to Fight Bed Bugs

Retailer's Guide to Bed Bugs
Retailer’s Guide to Bed Bugs

At Stern’s NYC pest control, we always want to stay one step ahead of bed bugs, and any way that we can help consumers or retailers is a bonus.

To that end, the University of Minnesota has created a retailers guide that gives solid and useful information about fighting bed bugs, and it’s a “must read” for those in the hotel business, hospitals, office buildings, movie theaters and virtually any other place where large numbers of people gather or congregate in a residential or commercial setting.

Here is a basic overview of the article:

Let’s Beat the Bed Bug

• A general history of bed bug infestations and where these pests can be found in both residential and retail establishments.

• An explanation of how bed bugs actually get into a retail store setting.

• Places in retail stores where they are most often found, highlighting both lower risk areas and higher risk areas.

• Prevention and control methods which address clutter, product returns, and what employees and managers need to know if there are bed bug complaints. This section also addresses basic bed bug control and having a pest control company summoned if bed bugs are found.

If you have any questions about bed bugs for your retail business or your residence, please contact us at Stern Environmental Group. We are bed bug experts and have been serving the NYC and New Jersey areas for nearly 20 years.

Bed Bug Information, Bed Bug Resources, Bed Bugs, News, Pest Management

American Academy of Dermatology Offers Bed Bug Bite Care Tips

Bed Bug Bite Care Tips
Bed Bug Bite Care Tips

Bed bugs are tiny pests that can turn into a big pain when you have an infestation and they’re very difficult to get rid of without help from professional NJ pest control services. Their big pain is an even bigger problem when they bite people in order to feed. Keep these bed bug bite care tips in mind if you have these bloodsucking pests.

Wash Bites

If you have bed bug bites, wash them with clean water and soap to lower your risk of an infection. Washing these areas might also help ease itching.

Treat Itchiness

Bed bug bites may itch, but don’t scratch them. Doing so can lead to a skin infection that requires antibiotics. Instead, take steps to reduce itching, such as using an over-the-counter corticosteroid cream on bites.

Call Your Doctor

When you have bed bugs, it’s important to check for bites each day and keep a close eye on them. If you have a serious reaction to bed bug bites or if you develop a skin infection, get in touch with your doctor. Signs of an infection include redness and swelling around the bites. Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to treat infections and prevent complications.

If you have bed bugs, our NJ pest control experts can stop them from biting. Contact Stern Environmental for more information on our safe, nontoxic bed bug treatments.