Tag Archives: do-it-yourself
Bugged by Bugs we want to hear from you.
Has this year had you bugged by bugs? Like many of you even those of us who work in entomology, pest control, school maintenance, or live somewhere in Texas you have seen your fair share of insect pests this year. If you have seen more pests around your home and you have treated for those pesky pests, we would love to hear from you. This short survey we created with funding from USDA NIFA wants to know what you have seen, and if you treated for the pest… 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 →
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 →
First aid for bed bugs
A couple of weeks ago I was talking with a nice lady on the phone about bed bugs. As if she couldn’t believe anyone else could quite empathize with her situation, she suddenly asked me, “Have you ever had to deal with bed bugs yourself?” Thanks to a recent experience with one of my daughters, I could confidently answer “Why yes, I have!” Last month answering a late night call from my youngest daughter I hear, “Dad, I think I’ve got bed bugs!” The next day at her… Read More →