Tag Archives: bed bugs
Getting the Bugs Out: Bed Bug Training 2020
IPM Experience House: Getting the Bugs Out: Bed Bug Training 2020 is here to help you understand this old but new foe the “Bed Bug.” Long-time bed bug specialist for ABC Home and Commercial Services, Alan Brown, Staff Entomologist/ Department Manager will be providing his insights into best practices for bed bug control. In addition to classroom training on the finer points of the “modern bed bug,” the class will get hands on experience with inspecting, treating using heat and other methods and developing practical and effective follow-up… Read More →
Bug bombs bomb
For many years the go-to solution for DIY pest control was the bug bomb. Got fleas? Get yourself a bug bomb. Cockroaches in the kitchen? Bug bomb! Most recently, it’s bed bugs. See a bed bug? Reach for the bug bomb. But do bug bombs (also known as total release aerosols) really work? Not very well according to a recent paper was published last month in the Open Access journal BMC Public Health. Researchers at North Carolina State University found that not only did bug bombs under-perform (not even… Read More →
Bug bombs away
For many of us, the ultimate solution for cockroaches and bed bugs and other household pests is the “bug bomb.” Remember the old Raid commercials, where bugs flee from Mr. Raid, only to be followed home by the ominous cloud of death? The implication is that the cloud from a bug bomb is like a heat seeking missile, able to follow pests into their deepest safe houses. So how well do bug bombs really work? It turns out, not nearly as well as the animated ads suggest. Give… Read More →
Bed bugs happen: Even in school
A message to all parents with kids in school: Bed bugs happen. Bed bugs happen even in your children’s school, and like it or not we’re all going to have to deal with it. That will mean fighting the inclination to go into hyper-protective parent mode. Instead we all need to relax. Deep breaths. Eyes closed. Find your center. Breeeathe… it will be all right. It doesn’t matter what kind of school our kids attend, there’s a good chance that sooner or later you’ll hear rumors of bed bugs on campus. I… Read More →
Ten top pests that can hurt your home
In a recent paper, researchers from North Carolina State University tried to estimate how many species of insect-like critters (arthropods) could be found in homes. They intensively searched 50 North Carolina houses and looked for as many different kinds of living and dead arthropods as they could find. Altogether they identified 579 different species from 304 different families. In fact, out of the 554 rooms scoured for the research, only 5 rooms had no detectable arthropods at all (I bet they didn’t look hard enough). It shouldn’t come as much surprise… Read More →
Rutgers study shows best home treatments for bed bugs
Bed bugs are best treated by an experienced professional. Let me say that again… If you have bed bugs, and you can hire a professional who knows what they’re doing, then do it. It can save you much grief and lost sleep. Now that I’ve said that, let me address those who, for whatever reason, must fight bed bugs without professional help. If professional service is not in the cards for you right now, you have some options. First consider the approach outlined in my fact sheet on… Read More →
Rubbing alcohol not a good solution for bed bugs
The quest for home remedies for bed bugs appears to be never-ending. However, in the latest revelations from researchers, it seems that very few home insecticides are worth the time or trouble when battling bed bugs. That’s not to say that some of these products won’t kill some bed bugs, but the ideal product for killing bed bugs just isn’t out there, experts say. A recent article in Science News gloomily summarizes some of the most current information about DIY bed bug control, based on papers presented on bed… Read More →
Cedar oil claims challenged
The company claimed that their bed bug and head lice insecticide was invented by the U.S. Army, and that their product was acknowledged by the USDA as the number one choice of “bio-based” pesticides. The company also claimed that the U.S. EPA was warning consumers to avoid “chemical solutions” for treating bed bugs. The problem was that the company’s claims weren’t true. As a result of false claims and illegal marketing of untested products for bed bugs and head lice, yesterday the Federal Trade Commission issued a judgment… Read More →
Mosquito and bed bug webinars
If you’ve never participated in a webinar (seminar on the Web), two good opportunities are coming up shortly. This Friday, June 7, the Don’t Bug Me Webinar Series is hosting Dr. Dini Miller to explain how to get rid of bed bugs. Dini, an entomology professor at Virginia Tech University, is one of the top field researchers with bed bugs. She’s always entertaining, so this opportunity is not to be missed if you have an interest in bed bugs. If you miss the program, the Webinar Series homepage… Read More →
Nebraska publication shows how to deter bed bugs
The University of Nebraska’s Integrated Pest Management program puts out excellent, practical materials on pest control. Their newest publication is an online magazine on the subject of managing bed bugs. I especially liked one of the videos included in the magazine showing how to protect your bed and use mattress encasements to discourage bed bugs. This video complements a blog post I wrote earlier the summer on first aid for bed bugs. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having bed bugs, I always recommend calling… Read More →