Bed Bug Spray – A Real Killer?

Posted on November 26, 2011 by

I started thinking about planning my itinerary for an upcoming vacation yesterday to include a hill trek in northern Thailand.
Flying into Chang Mai and taking a couple of days to acclimatise before heading out to the boonies I was looking for a reasonable city center hotel.
Of course I wanted to check out the bedbug situation, and what did I find?

Linking from a Lonely Planet comment back in April to a disturbing story in the Sydney Morning Herald about 7 (yes seven! Six foreigners and one Thai) people mysteriously dying within the space of a month centered on Chang Mai’s Down Town Inn.

The deaths actually happened back in January and February but in the absence of a timely investigation by the Thai authorities into this ‘co-incidence’ an investigation was undertaken by New Zealand’s ’60 minutes’ TV show as reported in the New Zealand Herald.

It was found that the hotel rooms still, 3 months later, contained traces of the insecticide organophosphate Chlorpyrifos which is banned in most countries for residential use. Even the manufacturer, DowAgrochemical, does not support applications for licensing for domestic use anywhere in the world.

So some under qualified and under pressure contractor in a third world country screwed up and mixed the wrong chemicals. I’m sure it couldn’t happen here right?
I thought I’d look into that.

The US Center For Disease Control (CDC) reports at least one death due to incorrect usage of over the counter pesticides used to treat bedbugs. A North Carolina woman died in 2010 after treating her trailer home to a dose of no less than 18 ‘bed bug’ and broad spectrum pesticide bombs as well as applying spray insectides to her body and hair.

Several people have been hospitalized after entering rooms while unaware that insecticides had recently been applied, and in one case in Ohio several family members were treated after an uncertified pest controller liberally applied unlicensed chemicals to the families’ beds.

For some reason the CDC report only covered 7 states and it’s my guess that cases like these are severely under-reported.

The lesson is clear however. When treating bedbugs or any household pets, please read and act upon the labelled warnings and directions. If you employ a professional, make sure that you (and they) understand what they are doing and check for yourself the safety aspects of any chemicals they intend to apply.

Where possible choose a safe and natural alternative to toxic chemicals such as vacuuming, heating, freezing and entrapping.

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Bed Bug Facts

Posted on September 30, 2011 by

Here’s my list of

Bed Bug FAQs

which will be frequently updated. Please feel free to comment, ask further questions or give suggestions. All relevant input will be gratefully received.

What are Bed Bugs?

A bed bug is a small, six legged, reddish brown creature that lives in human occupied areas and feeds on their blood.

What do bed Bugs eat?

Bed Bugs eat only blood. The common variety we know and hate much prefers human blood but may also bite other mammals, your dog or cat for example, in the vicinity.

When do Bed Bugs eat?

Bed Bugs are primarily nocturnal eaters, so most bites occur at night, or in the early morning hours. They prefer to hide away from light during the day but may occasionally feed if the opportunity presents itself.

Where do Bed Bugs bite?

Bed Bugs usually only bite on uncovered areas of skin, those not covered by nightwear or bedding or thick hair. If you can reduce your exposed skin, you can reduce the area of bites.

Are Bed Bug bites dangerous?

No, Bed Bugs are not known to transmit any diseases to humans. Scratching a severely itching bite too hard may cause an infection though.

How do I stop Bed Bug bites itching?

Over the counters ant-itching remedies from your drug store, including calamine lotion can help to relieve the itching from Bed Bug bites. They are not designed to kill the bugs or deter future bites however.

Can Bed Bugs fly?

No, Bed Bugs have no wings and no strong back legs so they are unable to jump or hop only crawl fairly fast. If you are seeing an airborne bug, then it’s not a Bed Bug.

Do Bed Bugs live on body skin or in hair?

None, Bed Bugs will crawl off your body after 5 – 10 minutes of feeding, which may includes several bites, and return to their hiding place until next time. They do not have the make up for navigating easily through hair as fleas do so they tend to avoid it.

How can I check for Bed Bugs?

Look closely especially on, under, and around sleeping areas, bedding, furniture, carpeting, clothing and in any corners or crevices, using a strong light and magnifying glass if needed. What do bed bugs look like? How big are bed bugs? You are looking for reddish brown oval shaped adults up to the size of an apple seed and their young which may be as small as a pin head and a lighter brown color. Their eggs are white and tiny, very difficult to see with the naked eye. You should also be on the lookout for blood spots on your bedding where feeding bed bugs have been crushed, light brown shed skins while the young are growing and the small black balls of bed bug droppings.

Do Bed Bug Foggers Work?

No, see here why there are no suitable foggers for bed bugs

 

 

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Bed Bug Foggers and Bombs

Posted on July 16, 2011 by

Bed Bug Foggers

Do Foggers kill bed bugs? Forget it! There is no such thing as an effective Bed Bug Fogger or Bomb, and I have checked this with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.). So don’t you believe any reviews that tell you different!

The way to treat bed bugs is to locate their hiding places and hit them where it hurts. Bug bombs or ‘total release insecticides’ may be useful for flying or jumping insect pests indoors but don’t do what is needed to control bed bugs.

So called ‘Bedbug Foggers’ produce a fine mist that may fill a room but then gravity takes over and the mist falls to the ground, straight to the ground, without getting under the furniture, carpets or bed or wherever the bed bugs choose to hide when not feeding. If the insecticide isn’t applied directly, the bed bugs will be able to avoid it or sit tight and outlast it. The worst case scenario being that they may decide to crawl off into a previously uninfested room!

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Diatomaceous Earth

Posted on July 13, 2011 by

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth or diatomite is the naturally occurring soft rock made from the fossilized remains of the skeleton of a phytoplankton or algae known as a diatom. Large deposits are mined in North America and Europe.

Ground into a fine white powder Diatomaceous Earth is a major product in the control of Bed Bugs (and other arthropod such as ants and fleas) infestations.  It’s useful property is in it high absorbency which destroys the bed bug’s protective waxy covering on contact causing the bug to die through dehydration.

It is a completely natural product which can be used safely around the house, including children’s and pet’s areas, and food handling areas, although, asthma sufferers may want to let the dust settle before entering the room.

Diatomaceous Earth is recommended to be used, in conjunction with other bed bug products and methods, around bedding and carpeted areas and with the use of a hand duster is particularly useful for small holes and crevices that are hard to clear otherwise, for a long lasting solution.

Always read the instructions and warnings.

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Bed Bug Steamer

Posted on July 6, 2011 by

Bed Bug Steamer
It is well known that bed bugs, from eggs to adults, cannot survive extremes of temperature. So a very good method of killing them on suitable surfaces is to use a steam cleaner. Not all surfaces are suitable though and as any missed bugs will keep on breeding, steam cleaning must be used in conjunction with other killer products and bed bug extermination methods.

Use Bed Bug Steamers in conjunction with other methods
Vacuuming, and carefully disposing of the vacuum bags, hot washing and/or drying, dry cleaning with chemicals, microwaving, sprays, dusts, & traps and mattress covers are all recommended to be used alongside the steam cleaning approach but do not mix the steam with any toxic materials and if you are using a PCO, take his or her advice on when and where to use it.

How to choose the best bed bug steamer
All bed bugs die very quickly at temperatures over 112 degrees F or 45 degrees C. and your bed bug steamer should produce heat at much higher temperature than this to ensure instant death to bed bugs. A cooking temperature gauge with the cleaner passed slowly over it should register temperatures in excess of 200 degrees.

For fairly flat surfaces the outlet nozzle should be wide, say six inches at least, to make sure you are trapping the bugs in the heat and not just chasing them around.

A steamer producing ‘dry vapor’ is better as it is less likely to damage fabric and produce mold.

You also should look for a large water capacity boiler so you don’t have to keep stopping to fill it. All in all, a professional bed bug steamer, from $300 upwards is most suitable. There are many stores selling them nowadays and you can read bed bug steamer reviews online and get competitive prices.

How to use a steamer;
Follow the manufacturer’s instruction on how to use steamer, and their safety warnings.
Do not operate it around electrical fittings or appliances.
Test a small inconspicuous area before going to town on untested surfaces.
Try to cover all suitable surfaces slowly and methodically working from the top down.
Allow treated surfaces to dry before covering.
Inspect and repeat as needed.

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Bed Bug Covers and Encasements

Posted on July 6, 2011 by

Bed Bug Covers

Whether you have discovered beds bugs in your home or you just intend to keep them out, it seems that bed bug covers are a good investment anywhere these days. There is no point throwing away good beds and mattresses that may be infested just to bring new ones into an infested room.

With a bed bug problem in a sleeping area you cannot spray toxic or other chemical compounds all over the bed and expect to have no reaction. Pets and children will be particularly at risk if you do this any many people are allergic even to so called environmentally friendly dust sprays. It is also very difficult to penetrate a mattress or even a pillow with enough heat or steam to kill all the bugs which may be in the middle.

Bed Bug Proof Covers

You must wash and dry all your removable bedding at high temperature, steam clean the bed and mattress surfaces, seams and creases as well as possible and cover the mattress, box spring and pillows in good quality anti bed bug mattress covers. By good quality I mean guaranteed to prevent the bed bugs getting in or out through a close weave synthetic material and a strong zip lock seal that leaves no gaps. The live bugs will need to be trapped inside for up to a year before they are sure to be dead. So really you need good quality bed bug bed covers, guaranteed to last at least two years, during which time you will not remove it, or it’s probably back to square one.

Cheap Bed Bug Covers

Cheap bed bug mattress covers made of vinyl are promoted as a good solution and also waterproof but I would not want to sleep on plastic for very long. On cheaper bug bedding versions too you run the risk of gaps in the seams and the zipper which leave room for the bed bugs to continue going in and out. With a waterproof cover any tape you put on to seal the gaps will give out before the bugs do.

Buy the Best Bed Bug Mattress Covers

So my recommendation is to go for a good quality set of bed bug covers for mattresses, pillows and box springs, and don’t take them off. There are plenty of sets on line for less than $100. If you have bed bugs, it will be the best investment you can make.

Mattress Covers to Prevent Bed Bugs?

Well, yes and no. Bed bug mattress encasements provide a ‘sterile’ area within and cut down heavily on the places that bed bugs have to to hide. When used as part of a plan to isolate the whole bed, (that is when using sticky tape, bowls or other products to stop the bugs from climbing onto the bed to bite you, and keeping the bed linen from touching walls or floor) can help you get a good nights sleep.

Even the best bed bug encasement won’t however kill bugs on the outside or stop bed bugs from invading a house or room alone.

Bed Bug Couch Covers

Don’t forget that what goes for beds can also go for sofas and other furniture. Bed Bug encasements are available to kill bugs in you couch too and isolate it from new infestations.

 

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Bed Bug Products

Posted on June 16, 2011 by

Professional
If your infestation is severe and if you can afford several hundred dollars, it may be wise to call in a Professional P.C.O or Pest Control Officer to get the job done. When choosing a PCO get recommendations from trusted sources first and be sure to check that the company is licensed, adequately insured, will provide follow up treatments and gives a guarantee of success.

Going it Alone
If you don’t want the expense or feel your bed bug problem is easily manageable there are a host of bed bug products on the market to help you in getting rid of bed bugs, tics and fleas.
Firstly are the best bed bug products to help you prevent an infestation in the first place. If you are a frequent traveler you should invest in one or more bug proof luggage bags particularly for bringing your used clothing home keeping it sealed until ready to wash. Also travel sized contact killer sprays and kits including detection traps and sprays to keep the bugs off you overnight. Traps for detecting bed bugs at home will soon let you know if you are successful or if you need to start the bed bug eviction process.

Once infested your home and its contents should be thoroughly vacuumed and cleaned. If your vacuum cleaner is not up to the job then you can hire a professional carpet cleaner.
Similarly all bedding and clothing needs to be washed and dried in hot temperatures and if you cannot do this at home then you must get it all to the launderette. Those clothes which cannot take a hot wash will need to go to the dry cleaners. Please transport infected items in sealed bags so you don’t help spread the bugs. A steam cleaner should be bought or hired as they are very effective in cleaning and killing bed bugs on hard surfaces and in furniture.

It’s unlikely however that these procedures alone will get every bed bug in the house. The mean little bugs could be hiding anywhere so you will also need to employ some other bed bug killer products. There are cheap and easy bed bugs products like double side tape to put on the legs or base of your bed. Smooth sided or liquid filled bowls to put your bed legs in to stop them crawling up are very effective. Get some strong seal-able covers for your bedding to deny the bugs inside anything to eat. (You!)
There are many effective sprays and dusts on the market and you should use a

Non toxic formula

combination of them repeatedly. Check the contents and instructions to see what surfaces they are suitable for how many repeat applications are needed and whether it is safe to use them in occupied rooms and around children and pets. Many environmentally neutral non-toxic and non-chemical remedies are available based on natural oils and minerals. Find out which are the top bed bug products that have been most effective in your area recently.

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Bed Bug Extermination

Posted on June 7, 2011 by

Where do Bed Bugs come From?

Bed bugs (most commonly Cimex lectularius) have been bugging us for centuries; the earliest surviving documentation is from biblical times. Bed bugs were not necessarily considered a pest throughout their history though, at times they were even supposed to have a medicinal benefit medication similar to leeches. With expanding travel bed bugs soon became common throughout the old world and finally spread with the earliest settlers into North America where they were previously unknown.
The spread of bed bugs feeding on humans though the developed world was halted during the mid-twentieth century by the widespread use of DDT and organophosphate insect killers. Apart from sporadic outbursts in prisons and hostels bed bugs seemed to be almost eradicated.
Recently however, those bad bugs have been making a come-back. Why? I think it’s a combination of the banning of DDT and strong insecticides for indoor use, the insect’s increasing resistance these and other insecticides, increased international travel and complacency. Until this current epidemic got out of control nobody could even recognize a bed bug if it bit them. Bed bugs feed and nest around any mammal’s sleeping area. They were never eradicated; they just left us humans largely alone for a while.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs

So, history tells us that we will never be totally free of bed bugs, so what can we do to make them ‘somebody else’s problem’. The first line of defense is to try to make sure that we don’t import the little biters into our own homes ourselves. When staying at a hotel always check the bed area and wardrobes and refuse the room if any evidence is found. Being bitten during an overnight stay is bad enough but worse is if you take them home with you to start your own little colony. Be very suspicious when buying or being given second hand mattresses, furniture or clothes, even though clean looking a close inspection is called for.

bed bugs

Bed Bug Extermination Methods

If you are finding bed bugs already in your home then it’s time to clean house. I don’t mean to say your house is dirty but that a most effective bed bug extermination process is to get rid of as much clutter as possible in the sleeping areas denying the bugs cozy places to live and breed. Top Bed bug extermination methods include washing and drying all clothing and bedding in high temperatures, over 45 degrees F, heat will kill all bed bugs as will fitting strong sealed bed bug proof mattress covers, trapping the bugs inside so they can’t feed. Vacuum all surfaces making sure to get into as many crevices and seams as you can to suck up the adults and eggs. Dispose of the vacuum dust bag immediately you are done. Dry Steam cleaners are ideal for exterminating bed bugs in soft furnishings and curtains.
Household insecticide sprays are not as strong as they used to be and bed bugs in some areas are becoming resistant to them, but there are many effective sprays and dusting powders which are designed specifically for bed bugs on the market; especially, my favorite, Diatomaceous Earth which, regularly dusted around the infected areas, will definitely do the job.
If you have been following these procedures and still have a recurring problem, you may have to call in the experts. Professional bed bug exterminators may be able to find where they are hiding out better than you can and have access to better bed bug extermination products to get them dealt with more effectively.

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