Don't Do This

Bedbugs are every New Yorker's worst fear.

WOODBURY, N.J. - A New Jersey house fire is being blamed on a homeowner's battle against bedbugs.
A county spokeswoman says the homeowner in the southern New Jersey town of Woodbury was using a space heater, a hair dryer and a heat gun Tuesday to try to eradicate the pests in a second-floor bedroom. The combination sparked a fire.


The federal Environmental Protection Agency says very high, sustained heat can kill bedbugs, but raising the temperature with the thermostat or space heaters won't do the job. It says special equipment is needed.
Woodbury Fire Marshal Joseph Buono tells WPVI-TV in nearby Philadelphia that quick Internet remedies for killing bedbugs are a "catastrophe in the making." He says the afflicted should "call the professionals."

Innovative New Nanotechnology Stops Bed Bugs in Their Tracks -- Literally


Bed bugs now need to watch their step. Researchers at Stony Brook University have developed a safe, non-chemical resource that literally stops bed bugs in their tracks. This innovative new technology acts as a human-made web consisting of microfibers 50 times thinner than a human hair which entangle and trap bed bugs and other insects. This patent-pending technology is being commercialized by Fibertrap, a private company that employs non-toxic pest control methods.

The nanotech solution was developed at Stony Brook University's Center for Advanced Technology in Sensor Materials (Sensor CAT), a program funded by NYSTAR, as part of a statewide effort to encourage greater technological and economic collaboration between industry and research universities.
Miriam Rafailovich "Our nanotechnology produces entanglements that are millions of times more dense than woven products such as fabrics or carpets," said lead researcher Miriam Rafailovich, Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Co-Director in the Program of Chemical and Molecular Engineering at Stony Brook University. "The microfibers trap them by attaching to microstructures on their legs taking away their ability to move, which stops them from feeding and reproducing."
Successful tests were performed using live bed bugs and termites in Professor Rafailovich's lab with the assistance of Ying Liu, a scientist with Stony Brook University's Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center and Stony Brook graduate students Shan He and Linxi Zhang.
Kevin McAllister, Fibertrap's co-founder added, "We are very excited to move this advancement from the lab to the consumer. Our goal has always been to make a difference for people living in areas where bed bugs are pervasive and difficult to eradicate."
The microfibers are safe for humans and pets and unlike chemical treatments the insects cannot develop a resistance to it.
About Bed Bugs
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, flat, parasitic insects that feed solely on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, wingless, range from one millimeter (mm) to seven mm (roughly the size of Lincoln's head on a penny), and can live several months without a blood meal.
Infestation
Bed bug infestations usually occur around or near the areas where people sleep. These areas include apartments, shelters, rooming houses, hotels, cruise ships, buses, trains and dorm rooms. They hide during the day in places such as seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, dresser tables, inside cracks or crevices, behind wallpaper or any other clutter or objects around a bed. Bed bugs have been shown to be able to travel over 100 feet in a night but tend to live within eight feet of where people sleep. A bed bug bite affects each person differently. Bite responses can range from an absence of any physical signs of the bite, to a small bite mark, to a serious allergic reaction. Bed bugs are not considered to be dangerous; however, an allergic reaction to several bites may need medical attention. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) For more information please check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Bed Bug FAQs.
Statistics
New York City consistently ranks in the top 10 or 15 cities with the worst bed bug problem across the nation. An annual list released by Orkin Pest Control based upon bed bug business in U.S. cities, lists Chicago as having the worst bed bug problem for 2012; New York City comes in at #10.

Do Bedbug Sprays Really Work?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -
They are the public health pest causing people to dive under their covers with flashlights, armed with over-the-counter pesticides. 
Bedbugs are a big problem, creating big business in Central Ohio.
Regulations for over-the-counter pesticides cover safety concerns, not effectiveness.
NBC4's Candice Lee puts popular pesticides to the test.
The following is an exact transcript of the report as shown on NBC4 at 6 p.m. on May 14, 2013.
Lee: Store shelves are stacked with over-the-counter pesticides, claiming to kill bedbugs.
But Dr. Susan Jones, associated professor of entomology at The Ohio State University and a leading bedbug researcher, tells me while many may kill a few bedbugs, all fail to provide homeowners long-term relief.
To prove it, I went to her campus lab, where we tested three over-the-counter products.
In the early morning hours of March 20, Charles Adams discovered bedbugs on a pull-out in a back bedroom of his Fornoff Road home.
He used an alcohol-based bug spray, thinking it would kill the pests. But when his wife entered the room, she lit a lighter, not knowing Adams had sprayed.
It sparked a fire, which quickly spread through the home, sending the family running for safety.
Adams: "We was half asleep, just woke up. I mean, I panicked, trying to hurry up and get that couch out of there, 'cause we've been fighting bedbugs off and on."
It is incidents like this that worry members of the Central Ohio Bedbug Task Force like Jones.
Here at the Rothenbuhler Lab on the Ohio State campus, Dr. Jones and her assistants are looking for ways to eradicate the pests.
They test dozens of over-the-counter pesticides. But Jones tells me pesticide makers promise more than they deliver.
Jones: "If a product worked as well as the label indicated or the website indicated, we would've solved all of our bedbug problems. But that's not what you see."
NBC4 put three products to the test: Hot Shot Bedbug and Flea Spray, a natural pesticide called Stop Bugging Me, and 90-percent rubbing alcohol.
First up, Hot Shot, which claims to kill bedbugs on contact.
Jones: "The spray has to directly contact the bedbug if it's going to have any effect whatsoever."
Next up was Stop Bugging Me, a natural insecticide, which claims to kill 100 percent of bedbugs in 15 minutes.
Finally, we hit the rubbing alcohol, which is highly flammable, but used by many people nonetheless.
Jones: "If you spray enough on the bedbugs, some of them will potentially die. But as Josh is showing you right here, he is spraying the 90-percent, and a lot of the bugs aren't reacting."
In order for bedbug treatments to be successful, the pesticides must be strong enough to remain effective over long periods of time. Pest control companies recommend repeated professional treatments over several months. Dr. Jones says over-the-counter products dry quickly, making it impossible to kill the bugs completely.
Three days later, we returned to Dr. Jones' lab to check on our specimens.
Of the 10 bedbugs sprayed with the Hot Shot product, 50 percent died the first day.
Only 45 percent of the bedbugs treated with Stop Bugging Me died.
The rubbing alcohol killed 20 percent of the bedbugs.
Jones: "The bedbugs that are reproducing behind the walls or in the electrical outlet, or in the bed frames, they've already replaced any bedbugs that you've potentially killed."
I reached out to the makers of Hot Shot and Stop Bugging Me and informed them of our results.
In an emailed statement, the makers of Hot Shot told me, "The Hot Shot Bedbug & Flea Killer Aerosol is a cost-effective option for do-it-yourself, spot-treatment control of bedbug infestations. The aerosol, which is EPA-registered for use against bedbugs, is designed to kill bedbugs where they hide."
I also heard from the makers of the Stop Bugging Me! spray. They refute the study we conducted with Ohio State, citing their own study, "Stop Bugging Me! was effective against the bedbug, providing complete mortality by 24 hours post treatment."
The only way to address a bed bug infestation is to hire a professional pest control company. They have access to commercial grade pesticides that overtime and repeated treatments can kill the pests.
Laboratory Methods (Ohio State/NBC4 Testing)
The contact toxicity of various products was assessed by directly spraying groups of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) confined to petri dishes lined with filter paper discs. Treatments included five over-the-counter products (JT Eaton™ Kills Bed Bugs, JT Eaton™ Kills Bed Bugs II, Stop Bugging Me!™, HotShot® Bedbug and Flea Killer, and Bonide® Bedbug Killer) and three home remedies (50, 70, and 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol). For each treatment and a distilled water control, 3 replicates consisting of 10 adult bed bugs (males and females) from one bed bug population (Republic, collected during 2012 from Columbus, OH) were established.
Residual efficacy of each product was assessed by exposing bed bugs (3 replicates, 10 mixed-sex adult bed bugs) to filter paper discs that had been sprayed to saturation with each product then air dried for approximately 3 hours.
For contact toxicity and residual efficacy tests, the condition of bed bugs was assessed at 3 and 8 d. Each bug's condition was assessed based on its behavioral response when probed:
  • Healthy – the bed bug moves quickly and in a coordinated manner to avoid stimulus.
  • Sluggish – reacts slowly, but makes coordinated movements to avoid stimulus.
  • Ataxic – unable to coordinate movements to avoid the stimulus. Ataxic bugs can right themselves after falling.
  • Moribund – incapable of locomotion and exhibiting movement only of appendages or other body parts.
  • Dead – no movement whatsoever.



Three Signs You May Have Bed Bugs

Do you think it’s possible that you could have a good night...or sleep tight...if there is even the tiniest chance that a bed bug could bite?
We didn’t think so.
Bed Bugs are becoming an epidemic in North America. Increased travel and tighter pesticide regulations are some of the reasons why the spread of bed bugs are causing headaches for residents, and property owners.
There are three signs to look for concerning bed bugs that should prompt you to take action immediately:
Small red bites on your body that itch and you can’t explain.
Bed bugs usually bite on your neck, arms, shoulders, legs and ankles. They usually bite in a straight line, so that’s a sign that the bites are from bed bugs.  Even for doctors it can be hard to determine if bites are from bed bugs until a pest-control specialist thoroughly examines your home.
You see actual bed bugs or signs of them.
If you spot a bed bug you have a problem. Adult bed bugs are usually light brown to reddish brown, 4 to 5 millimetres long and 1.5-3 millimetres wide. They are light brown to reddish brown and oval. Tiny white eggs, dark liquid feces spots, and discarded shells are also visible evidence of bed bugs. Even if you see bed bugs or signs of them, the extent of the infestation and the locations of their hidden nests can be hard to pinpoint. Call us at 905-390-1809 and we can help.
You smell the scent of rotten raspberries.
This unpleasant odour often accompanies bed bug infestations.  

Worst Bed Bug Cities 2012

The “City of Brotherly Love” is probably not loving being declared the most bedbug-infested city in the U.S. However, according to an annual ranking released today by Terminix, Philadelphia replaces New York City as the metropolitan area most infested by bedbugs.
“Bedbugs continue to increase their presence across the U.S.,” Terminix entomologist Stoy Hedges said in a press release. “While major metropolitan areas are most at risk, it is important to note that bedbugs have been spotted in cities and towns across the country.”
Here are the 15 cities that topped the Terminix list:
  1. Philadelphia
  2. Cincinnati
  3. New York City
  4. Chicago
  5. Detroit
  6. Washington, D.C.
  7. Columbus, Ohio
  8. San Francisco
  9. Denver
  10. New Haven, Conn.
  11. Dallas
  12. Houston
  13. Indianapolis
  14. Miami
  15. Cleveland

It bears mentioning that a similar ranking released this March from Rollins (NYSE:ROL) pest control subsidy Orkin, did not even list Philadelphia among its top 15 cities with bedbug woes.
To compile its list, Terminix collected data from 300 of its branches across the country. Service calls from customers as well as confirmed bedbug cases were included in the data.
The company said that bedbug infestations can get worse during the summer as more travelers spend time in hotels and airports. It also noted that the tiny pests are sneaky.” Bedbugs can cause itchy welts and rashes, and may go undetected for months in a home or business,” Hedges said. “It is important for consumers to know the signs of an infestation and to have their home inspected by a professional if they suspect a problem.”

Bed bug fact sheet

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human blood. They are usually active at night when people are sleeping.
Adult bed bugs have flat, rusty-red colored oval bodies, no wings and are about the size of an apple seed. They are big enough to be easily seen, but hide in mattresses, box springs, bedding, cracks in furniture, floors, or walls. When bed bugs feed, they swell and become brighter red. They can live for several months to over a year without feeding. They don't jump or fly, and they crawl and move about the same speed as an ant.
How do I know if my home has bed bugs?

Close-up view of a bed bug on a dime. Adult insects are about the size of an apple seed.
Close-up view of a bed bug on a dime.Adult insects are about the size of an apple seed. Click image to enlarge.
Look for signs of an infestation that may include:
  • Itchy skin welts on your body
  • Small blood smears on bedding from crushed insects
  • Tiny dark spots on your sheets, mattress or box spring which are their fecal droppings
  • Dried remains of shed bed bug skins
Be aware that other insects, such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitos, can leave bites that look like bed bug bites. Bites alone cannot prove you have a bed bug infestation.
Important note: The only way to be sure you have a bed bug infestation is to find and positively identify a live bed bug.
If you suspect you have bed bugs, you will have to conduct a thorough search of your home. Bed bugs are hard to find because they hide in, under, and around beds. They also hide inside, under and behind furniture, and in small cracks or corners in furniture, floors or walls or in carpeting close to where they feed at night.
Newly hatched bed bugs are about the size of a poppy seed, pale yellow in color, almost transparent, and very difficult to see. Once they have fed, they become larger and are red or brown in color which makes them easier to see. Bed bug eggs are white and about the size of two grains of salt. When laid, they are cemented to surfaces making them difficult to remove.
What do bed bug bites feel and look like?
A bed bug bite is painless and some people have no reaction to the bites at all. Most people have itchiness, red spots, or welts that look like mosquito or flea bites hours later. There may be an itchy bump but the tiny bite mark may not be visible. These usually fade after several days. A few people have severe allergic reactions.
Remember: Bites are only a clue that you may have bed bugs, but you can't tell from bites alone that you have a bed bug problem.
Bed bugs usually bite at night while you are asleep. If you wake up in the middle of the night and find a bug on your bed, don't squash it - instead, completely seal a live sample in a clean zip-style sandwich bag and have the bug identified by a pest control operator.
Are bed bugs dangerous?
Bed bug bites are a nuisance and annoying, but bed bugs are not known to spread diseases. Try not to scratch bites because it increases the risk of skin infections. If you have a severe reaction to a bed bug bite, see your doctor.
How do bed bugs get into homes?
Bed bugs are not a result of poor housekeeping. Anyone can have bed bugs. People bring bed bugs into their homes unknowingly in infested luggage, backpacks, purses, furniture, bedding, shoes or clothing. They can also travel between apartments through cracks in walls and floors.
Total release pesticide foggers or 'bug bombs' can force bed bugs into adjacent apartments. DO NOT USE: 'Bug Bombs'. They do not control bed bugs and using 'bug bombs' improperly can be dangerous and spreads pesticide throughout your home.
If you have bed bugs and live in a rental property, notify the property manager immediately. Do not use pesticides to treat for bed bugs yourself. "General use" pesticides are not effective against bed bugs and their use may cause the bed bugs to spread to adjacent units.
Where do I look?
Bed bugs can hide anywhere but usually close to where people sleep. Find bed bugs early by inspecting your bed and bedding each time you remove the sheets for washing. Check around the edge of the mattress and box springs, in seams and under buttons and tags. Remove the thin cover material on the underside of your box springs, a common hiding place, and look inside. If you have a headboard, footboard or bed frame, carefully inspect the corners, cracks and screw holes for bed bugs.
Bed bugs can hide in nearby bedroom furniture, baseboard heaters, window sills, curtains, nightstands and dressers. Remove the drawers and look inside in corners, in cracks, screw holes, and under each piece.
Using a flashlight and 10x magnifying glass can help to spot the small bugs in dark, tight areas.
Check upholstered furniture, sofas, and recliners. Look under cushions and the skirt of upholstered furniture. Turn upholstered furniture upside down and carefully look at the underside for signs of bed bugs. Look behind pictures and wall hangings. Inspect curtains or other window coverings.
Bed bugs can hide under carpet edges where carpets meet walls; if necessary, pull up the edge of wall-to-wall carpeting.
Examine loose wallpaper, cracks in plaster and walls. Inspect window and door casings, moldings. Bed bugs may hide behind baseboards and wood trim moldings. It may be necessary to remove these moldings to find hidden bed bugs.
Inspect throw rugs, electronics (TVs, radios, clocks, computers, CD players, DVD players) and especially clutter (books, papers, magazines, clothes).
How do I get rid of them?
Bed bugs are very difficult to get rid of because they are hard to find and kill. Making your home bed bug-free will take time and effort from you; the housing manager (if the home is a rental unit); and a pest control company.
The best way to eliminate bed bugs is early detection, regular cleaning and inspecting, and targeted pesticide use by a pest management professional. This includes regular cleaning and vacuuming, steaming to kill bed bugs, laundering and drying clothes on high heat, and precisely applied pesticides directly on bed bugs. Bed bugs are killed when they are sprayed directly; sprays that have dried are not very effective. Pesticides should only be used by Licensed Pesticide Control Operators (PCO).
Bed bug elimination is generally a 5 step process:
Step 1: Before the PCO arrives:
If you have bed bugs, wipe them up with a wet rag and crush them. Mild soap and water will also remove bed bugs and eggs, but not necessarily kill them. The key to cleaning is detailed-oriented cleaning: simply dousing an area with soapy water will not help control bed bugs. Dirty wash and rinse water may be placed in a toilet and flushed down the sewer. You may also use a commercial steamer using "dry steam"steamer to kill the bed bugs and eggs, just be careful not to use too much pressure and blow them away before killing them. Steam will also kill the eggs. Vacuuming will also reduce large numbers of bedbugs quickly. Be careful not to spread the bed bugs to other areas of the house and properly dispose of the vacuum bag immediately after vacuuming to prevent the live bugs from crawling out of the vacuum. Seal used vacuum bag in a plastic bag and dispose it in an outside trash can.
Save a live bug sample in a zip-type sandwich bag. Coax the bug into a bag, gently flatten the bag to press out the air, and seal it completely. Have the sample inspected and the type of bug positively identified by a pest control operator. If you find bugs that do not look similar, save samples of the different bugs in separate bags. There may be bed bugs at different life stages, or there may be different types of bugs. The method of pest treatment will depends on what type of bug is present. A pest control operator will correctly identify the type of pest(s) present before they recommend a method of treatment.
Step 2: Obtain the services of a Pest Control Operator (PCO):
You will most likely need a PCO to help you eliminate a bed bug infestation, especially in a multi-family setting. Success requires knowledge and experience in finding infested areas (including neighboring units) and using a combination of control methods to eliminate them. Elimination methods will include a combination of non-chemical and chemical controls available only to a licensed pest control operator. A PCO will give instructions on how to prepare for an inspection and treatment of a dwelling unit. Follow the PCO's instructions. Failure to do so could potentially spread the infestation to other areas within the home or to adjacent units. There are many non-chemical measures available to help eliminate bed bugs. A PCO will ask for your help in eliminating the infestation. You may be asked to vacuum floors, beds and furniture, launder linens and clothes, and install mattress and box spring encasements, and remove clutter.
Step 3: Remove clutter (as directed by the PCO):
Clutter provides bed bugs a place to hide. Remove all clutter. Follow the PCO's directions to prevent spreading bed bugs. In the future, keep everything off the floor including old magazines, books, clothes, and keepsakes. Discard all unnecessary and unneeded items. Do not store things under or around the bed. Place all discarded items in plastic bags and place them in the outside trash where someone else will not get them.
Step 4: Clean (as directed by the PCO):
Clean areas where bed bugs are likely to hide. Use soap and warm water on surfaces that will not be damaged by moisture. Clean or vacuum bedding, linens, curtains, rugs, carpets, and clothes. Wash items in hot water and dry them on the highest dryer setting. Items that cannot be washed (like wool or fabrics that may shrink, stuffed animals or shoes) may be placed in a dryer on high heat for 30 minutes. Check to make sure high heat will not damage these items.
Dry cleaning will kill bed bugs but you must deliver clothes in a sealed plastic bag and inform the dry cleaner the items may be infested with bed bugs. Some dry cleaners may refuse infested items because they could escape and be taken home by other customers.
Scrub mattress seams and stitching along the mattress edge with a stiff brush to dislodge bed bugs and their eggs. Vacuum by scraping the seams and stitching with the crevice tool attachment, or while using a stiff brush to loosen eggs. Vacuum mattresses, bed frames, furniture, floors and carpets. Pay special attention to cracks, corners and hiding places.
After cleaning the mattress and box spring, cover them with bed bug proof mattress and box spring covers (encasements) that have been tested and proven to control bed bugs. These tight fitting bags keep bed bugs from getting into or out of a mattress or box spring and must be bed bug proof and rip-resistant. Good quality encasements cost more than $50 from online companies or linen stores. Avoid plastic encasements that are uncomfortable and may tear easily. Tightly zip the encasements closed so that bed bugs do not crawl through a gap at the end of the zipper. Leave the encasements on for a minimum of one year.
Independently tested bed bug-proof brand mattress and box spring encasements can be found on the web by doing a search on "mattress encasements". Box springs are structurally more complex and have more hiding places than a mattress; encase the box springs if only one cover can be purchased.
Vacuum carpets, especially along edges and where the carpets meets the walls.
Step 5: Disposal:
Prevent the spread of bed bugs. Do not resell or donate infested furniture or clothing. If you throw infested furniture away, make it unusable by destroying it or slashing the upholstery. Seal infested items in plastic bags before moving to prevent spreading bed bugs on the way to the outside trash. Spray paint or mark discarded items "Infested with bed bugs!"
After vacuuming, immediately place the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of it in an outdoor trash container. Bed bugs can crawl out of vacuum cleaner bags.
Discard infested items that cannot be cleaned. If you decide to dispose of your mattress or box springs, wrap and seal them tightly in plastic before carrying them outside. Mark them with the words "Bed Bugs" to prevent someone else taking them home.
If I have bed bugs, how can I sleep at night?
If you have bed bugs it is not necessary to get rid of your mattress or box springs. Encasements will prevent bed bugs from hiding in your mattress and box springs, but if you have bed bugs in other places, they can still crawl into your bed. Pesticides should not be applied to the top of mattresses, sofas or other items where people have close contact. A bed bug proof encasement protects mattresses and box springs without pesticides.
Create a bed bug free island after washing bedding, disinfecting the bed frame, slats, and head and foot board, and use interceptors. Interceptors are placed under the legs of the bed to trap and keep bed bugs from crawling between the bed and the floor. Interceptors help confirm that an infestation is gone when there are no longer trapped bed bugs.
Keep the bed away from walls and bedding off the floor so that the bed and bedding do not touch the floor or walls, and do not put clothes or other items on the bed; these give bed bugs a way to climb into your bed.
Do I need a pest control company?
Using a combination of non-pesticide techniques and a precisely placed application of pesticides is the most effective and practical way to eliminate a bed bug infestation.
To completely eliminate bed bugs, it will most likely be necessary to contact a pest control company. A resident or homeowner using only non-chemical treatment methods may notice they're not effective or efficient enough to be able to eliminate or even control this pest. A resident should never use pesticides to treat for bed bugs because of the risk of spreading the infestation to other areas.
Will a pest control company use pesticides?
Pesticides will be used, as needed, in combination with other non-chemical treatment methods. However, using only pesticides to eliminate bed bugs is not effective enough to eliminate this pest.
Non-chemical treatments methods include:
  • clutter removal
  • keep non-infested items in sealed plastic bags during the treatment period
  • keep infested items in sealed plastic bags until they are treated
  • use of interceptors and barriers to prevent movement of bed bugs
  • use of soap and water to clean items not damaged by moisture
  • hot water laundering and high heat drying of washable items
  • use of dissolvable laundry bags for infested items
  • use of steam on hard-to-reach and hard to clean areas
  • use of mattress and box spring encasements
  • vacuuming visible bed bugs and disposing of live bed bugs
  • ambient heat treatments to 130º to 140ºF by using approved external heat sources, fans and recording thermometers to heat all items in the infested area
Can I apply pesticides myself?
NO. General use or 'over the counter' pesticides are not effective in killing or eliminating bed bugs. Even pesticides available only to licensed professionals have limited effectiveness. Bed bugs have developed resistance to certain pesticides. Using pesticides incorrectly can make the problem worse by causing insects to scatter and move into walls, hard to reach places and other parts of the home.
Do not use bug bombs or foggers - they do not work against bed bugs and spread hazardous chemicals throughout your home.
What pest control company should I hire?
Indoor pest control companies operating in King County must have proof of insurance and have a current registration with Public Health - Seattle & King County. Call 206-263-9566 or find registered businesses at: www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/pco.aspx
Take the time to look for a pest control company with experience finding and treating bed bug infestations before they use a pesticide as part of their control program. Cost is not always the best reason to hire a company.
When deciding on which pest control company to use, here are some questions to ask:
  • Do your staff members have a pesticide applicators license?In addition to being registered in King County, all professionals applying restricted pesticides must be licensed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Ask for a copy of their Pest Applicator's License or call the Washington State Department of Agriculture at 877-301-4555, or check their license at: http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/LicensingEd/Search
  • Do you inspect the dwelling for bed bugs?The answer should be yes, they will inspect and positively identify that the dwelling has bed bugs before they recommend and proceed with any type of treatment method.
  • How I should prepare for a bed bug inspection?The company should be able to specifically describe how you should prepare for their inspection and treatment including general cleaning and removal of clutter. Be aware that extensive cleaning may disrupt and scatter any bed bugs.
  • How long do inspections take?
    A thorough inspection can take 1 to 4 hours or more depending on the extent of the infestation and the amount of clutter. Inspections confirm that there is an infestation by finding live bed bugs and should provide the pest control operator information on how best to treat problem. A severe infestation can be confirmed in a matter of minutes.
  • Do you use a HEPA vacuum or dry steam to kill hidden bed bugs and their eggs?
    Pest professionals should use a non-pesticide method like vacuuming or steam to kill bed bugs and eggs before using pesticides. The pest control company should be able to describe both chemical and non-chemical control methods they normally use. Avoid companies that only use chemicals or pesticides to treat for bed bugs.
  • Do you locate and eliminate bed bug hiding places?
    The pest professional should know how to locate hiding areas, how to clean and seal cracks and holes to eliminate hiding places. Pest companies may not do this and leave cleaning and prevention to the homeowner or building manager. Pest professionals can advise you on when and how to eliminate hiding places.
  • How do you decide where to spray?
    The pest professional will identify where bed bugs are hiding and should spray in those areas only. Pesticides should not be applied randomly throughout your home or to the top of mattresses, sofas or other items where people have close contact.
  • Do you talk about safety issues?
    Pest professionals must inform residents about the hazards of the chemicals they use, especially where there are children or expecting parents. They should describe where chemicals will be used, how to avoid contact, and when it is safe to enter treated areas.
  • Do you provide MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) or other safety information to customers on the specific chemicals you use?
    You can ask the pest professional to provide you with an information sheet (MSDS or other safety sheet) for each pesticide they plan to use before the treatment is performed. If you are concerned that you or your belongings may react to or be affected by the chemical or treatment, discuss this with the pest professional in advance to see what precautions to take or whether there are safer pesticides, or alternative treatments methods he or she can use. The pest professional should be able to confirm that the chemicals are registered for bed bug use, both federally and with the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
  • Do you schedule return visits to make sure bed bugs are eliminated?
    It usually takes several visits (at least two or three) over several weeks to inspect, treat and eliminate bed bugs. Afterwards, you will still need to monitor for bed bugs returning.
  • Are infested areas retreated with pesticides whether or not bed bugs are seen?
    Pest professionals may treat cracks and other hiding places, but if no bed bugs are visible, avoid the use of pesticide sprays. Bed bugs are killed when they are sprayed directly; sprays that have dried are not effective. Dusts approved for bed bugs may placed in inaccessible areas like wall voids and cracks. Visible dusts should be removed before the room is occupied.

How can I prevent infestations?
  • Change your bedding, pick up clutter, clean and vacuum and at least twice a month. Weekly is even better. Look for bed bugs while you clean especially around the edge of the mattress and the box spring. A careful inspection of these areas will help prevent bed bugs from becoming established and catch infestations early. An early infestation is easier and cheaper to treat than an established population of bed bugs.
  • Check all used items you bring into your home carefully for bed bugs and eggs. Inspect all used furniture, mattresses or box springs, bedding, and used clothing and books. Remember: eggs and the immature bed bugs are very small and easily overlooked.
  • Stay clutter free. Remove boxes and other stored items in bedrooms. Keep your bed bug-free by keeping it away from walls. Keep bedding from touching the floor and keep clothing and other items off the bed.
  • Clean regularly and eliminate hiding places. Seal cracks, crevices, and hiding places. This will also discourage movement of bed bugs from one place to another. Repair and seal cracks in plaster, walls, and baseboards; repair or remove loose wallpaper.
Other helpful hints:
  • If you use interceptors, inspect them regularly to see if there are trapped bed bugs.
  • If you buy a new bed, covering the new mattress and box spring with new encasements and placing interceptors under the bed legs will help prevent possible infestations in the future.
How can I keep bed bugs out of my home?
When you travel, ask your hotel about their bed bug inspection policy. Inspect your hotel bed as soon as you arrive - lift off the bed sheets, and check sheets and mattress edges for bugs or dark fecal dropping spots. If you see any signs, inform the hotel. Consider moving to another room or changing hotels.
Immediately after trips, wash clothing and inspect luggage and shoes. Thoroughly vacuum luggage inside and out before storing. Use a dry scrub brush to remove bed bug eggs that may be present. You can also seal the luggage in a plastic bag for at least a year. Any eggs or bed bugs hidden in the luggage will hatch and the bed bugs will die without feeding.
Inspect and clean used furniture, clothing and books for bed bugs before bringing it into your home. Don't take home discarded bed frames, mattresses, box springs, or upholstered furniture.