Take Bed Bugs Seriously – They Are Here to Stay

The old saying “Sleep tight, Don’t let the bed bugs bite” has taken on new meaning over the past several years. Active Ingredient In Herbicides This bloodsucking pest has made its presence known across the globe, and the populations are growing.
Once thought to be eradicated from the U.S., bed bugs (also known as “Red Coats”) are now being found in so many locations across the content that legislation has been introduced to deal with the growing problem. Some cities are also Springtails In Soil forming bed bug task forces to deal with them. One point of comfort – they are not known to spread any diseases. But they do attack us at night, and no one wants to think about becoming a meal for a bug while they are sleeping.
It’s not meant to scare you, but to act as a wake-up call: Bed bugs are being found in so many locations that sooner or later, you will end up dealing with them. Movie theaters, schools, hospitals, military bases, government offices, office buildings, apartment complexes, fire stations, taxi cabs, buses, retail stores, furniture rental stores, thrift stores, hotels (even 5 star hotels!), motels… The list is long. Think about how easily they spread: One person develops a bed bug infestation at their home (which, by the way, can be there for months before you know it’s there), and a few bugs hitch a ride in his or her cell phone, (or backpack, or briefcase, or the cuff of their clothing) and end up at their place of work. Now, one of those finds it’s way into a coworkers purse. That coworker takes them home. Then they hitch a ride on one of these when they go to a movie, or theater play, or opera… It’s pretty easy to see why their numbers are exploding.
So what is to be done? A good idea is to educate yourself about this bug, and take reasonable steps to protect your home. Buying a good quality mattress encasement and box spring encasement is a fantastic idea these days. Buy one that has been scientifically tested to be bed bug proof – not every brand has been, and these can actually make your problem worse. Follow the suggestions of pest professionals dealing with steps to take when you travel. Learn the signs to look for, and then inspect your home regularly, or have it professionally inspected. Canine (K-9) inspections are over 90% accurate in finding even low level infestations. If (I probably should say “when”) you find them at home, hire a professional to treat. Many of the over-the-counter products are not effective against bed bugs, and professionals not only have the effective products, but also the tools and training needed to combat this pest effectively.
I know how this sounds, but please, be wary of low priced bed bug treatments. In this economy, we all are trying to save money, but with what it takes to effectively treat this pest, it cannot be done cheap. A thorough treatment will take hours, depending on the kind of treatment perhaps the better part of a day. Plan on spending no less than $400, and even that will be a small treatment. Whole house treatments will run in excess of $1,000. It takes a lot of detailed and labor intensive work to properly treat them, and a company that is good at controlling them will charge accordingly.
Bed bugs are back, and it looks like they are here to stay. Be proactive, and be prepared.