‘Blood Suckers’ Archives
Bed Bug Misconception Number Seven
“Bed bugs can’t survive temperatures over 115° Fahrenheit” It may seem like I’m making a mountain out of a mole hill here but that five degrees is really important if you’re trying to get rid of an infestation. According to the University of California IPM website’s bed bug page, the actual temperature is 120°. This is why a hot [...]
Bed Bug Misconception Number Six
“Bed Bugs Don’t Carry Disease” It is fact that bed bugs have never been proven to act as disease vectors. That is to say they have not been shown to actually transmit any disease from one host to another. But another fact is that they have been observed carrying disease organisms in their mouthparts and bodies. My concern is that, [...]
Bed Bug Misconception Number Five
“The Bed bugs of today are the descendants of those who survived DDT” One misconception that is so commonly bantered about and has taken on the air of being indisputable fact is the idea that the current bed bug upsurge is comprised of the descendants of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) survivors. It’s a fact that bed bugs have a [...]
Bed Bug Misconception Number Four
“Climate change is responsible” Today I deal with the fourth bed bug misconception, the idea that global warming, or climate change as it is alternately called, is somehow responsible for the bed bug epidemic sweeping North America. I find myself skeptical of anthropomorphic climate change, but even if it is real, one thing is certain. It [...]
Bed Bug Misconception Number Three
“We don’t know why they are returning.” This is the third in a series of articles discussing seven commonly held misconceptions regarding bed bugs. In today’s article I address three main reasons for the recent resurgence of bed bugs. The Fact is that we do know why they're returning: DDT and other organophosphates are no [...]
Bed Bug Misconception Number Two
“Bed bugs are resistant to most pesticides.” Yes, bed bugs do exhibit resistance to some pesticides and recent studies show that they can change their genetic makeup, enhancing the ability of their nervous systems to remove toxins. However, chemical controls are still effective if employed properly and if customers do their part by [...]
Common Bed Bug Misconceptions
As I peruse the Internet to stay abreast of the latest pest issues I am frequently confronted with misinformation regarding Cimex, lectularius, also known as the Common Bed Bug. Over the course of seven short weekly articles, this one being the first, I will discuss each of the commonly held misconceptions, one-by-one. Misconception Number [...]
Six-legged Monster Hatches!
Here's some actual footage of a first instar bed bug (Cimex, lectularius) nymph hatching from an egg. I found this from an article on the site "All Bedbugs.com," Posted on October 25, 2010
So You Think You Know What A Bed Bug Looks Like?
This video appeared in a recent article by Teri Karush Rogers |10/19/10 - 11:47 AM on Brickundergroundny. It gives quite a bit of good information and is well worth watching:
Seven Common Bed Bug Misconceptions
As I peruse the Internet to stay abreast of the latest pest issues I am frequently confronted with misinformation regarding Cimex, lectularius, the Common Bed Bug. The purpose of this article is to discuss some of the more commonly held misconceptions regarding bed bugs. 1. Bed bugs only occur in filthy conditions. While cluttered [...]
Bed Bug Outbreak Reported in L.A. County
As I've said before, bed bugs are probably here to stay. Unless we're willing to take some more "radical" measures to get rid of them they will become just a fact of life. Watch this August 10, 2010 video report by Jaime Chambers at KTLA News, Los Angeles
CBS News, “The Early Show” Features Bed Bugs
This video From CBS News' "The Early Show," illustrates the extent of the problem in the United States. ?id=6698301n&tag=related;photovideo
Victoria’s Secret Invaded by Bed Bugs!
A Gothamist.com post By John Del Signore in News on July 16, 2010 11:03 AM tells the tale about the latest clothing store to be infested by bed bugs. They were probably brought in on a customer's clothing. Click here to read the article.
Coming to a Theater Near You, Bed Bugs!
On Monday, July 5th, 4:00 AM, an article at newyorkdailynews.com, by Simone Weischelbaum reported that bed bugs are now turning up in New York theaters. As one employed in the pest control industry and I hear and read reports of bed bugs turning up in all sorts of places. Some of them in the places you'd expect, hotels, homes and [...]
Bed Bugs Infesting Office Buildings
By Harry Case Lately headlines like these have become more and more common: June 15, 2010, CBS News, By Richard Blake, “Latest Assault on Goldman Sachs: Bed Bugs?” May 29, 2008, By Samuel Maull, Associated Press, “Fox News Employee Sues Office Landlord for Bedbugs.” In New York, New Jersey, San Francisco, [...]
BED BUG FACTS (8 reasons why bedbugs are so difficult to control.)
In my previous post I voiced some concerns about cheap treatments for the Common Bedbug (Cimex lecturlarius). But the information I gave was somewhat vague. So here are some specific facts to reinforce my position: 1. Bedbugs are nocturnal and exhibit a shy behavior during daytime. Consequently they easily avoid detection, allowing [...]
BEWARE OF CHEAP BED BUG TREATMENTS (What’s the real cost?)
"If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." It's an old addage that still holds true today. In a previous e-mail alert we told about the resurgent problem of Bed bug infestation in North America and around the world. This is an issue that isn't going away any time soon and a lot of people are quite concerned; with good reason. A [...]
