Monthly Archives: June 2017

The pests account for 21% of liability claims, according to insurance provider Allianz.

Animal incidents, including biting bed bugs, are a leading driver of insurance claims and losses can be significant, says global insurance company Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) in a new report, Global Claims Review: Liability in Focus.

AGCS analyzed more than 1,800 animal-related liability insurance claims that occurred between 2011 and 2016 on which it was a named insurer (either primary or excess). The top cause of such claims was deer incidents (58%, or 1,090 claims) which largely involve collisions with vehicles, which caused losses on average in excess of ($4,225) over this period. In many locations in the United States, such accidents are a major concern that may lead to vehicle debilitation, property damage, bodily injuries or even passenger deaths. The peak period is during the rutting season, usually in October and November.

Bed bug bites/infestation (21%, or 397 total claims) was the second top cause of animal-related liability claims according to the AGCS study, followed by insect bites/infestation (8%, or 147 claims) at third place.

The number of bed bug incidents, in particular, is on the rise in the U.S., according to the Bedbug Registry, a nationwide database of bed bug reports and complaints. According to the database, bed bug sightings in New York hotels alone jumped more than 44% between 2014 and 2015.

This trend is reflected more widely in the AGCS report, which reveals a gradual increase in the number of related claims received over the past five years. While bed bugs are found year-round, infestations and incidents peak during the warmer months of the year April to August. The number of claims, for example, received in May are double those received in February.

Dog-related incidents ranging from bites to mauling (6%, or 114 claims) was the fourth highest cause of animal-related liability claims, according to the report, followed by incidents with cattle caused by charging, bumping and other accidents (4%, or 82 claims).

Other unusual animal-related liability claims include a hotel guest whose room was invaded by a flying squirrel, another whose hearing aid and slippers were chewed and destroyed by a rodent, and at least two people who were attacked by aggressive peacocks. Peacocks with an attitude?!?!

Animal-related claims comprised almost 2% of the 100,000 claims investigated in the report, making these the eighth top cause of loss, based on number of claims received by insurers (see infographic).

Read more:
Bed Bug Liability Claims on the Rise, Allianz Reports - PCT Magazine

A review of news and product information from industry suppliers.

Editors note: Suppliers and PMPs, if you have a bed bug-related news item or product youd like to have highlighted in an upcoming issue, please send a press release and a high-resolution photo to jdorsch@giemedia.com.

The year: 2008. The place: Nassau County, New York the Village of Hempstead in particular. As Nassaus assistant district attorney (ADA) for community affairs, Ren Fiechter wanted to address issues that most affected quality of life in Hempstead.

Conversations with community leaders revealed that bed bugs ranked high among issues that tenants often felt powerless to control. So Fiechter lost no time in convening a 60-member Bed Bug Task Force to help landlords and tenants better understand and manage this scourge. Task force members included Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, community IPM coordinator for the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYS IPM) at Cornell University.

Now, for nine years of focused leadership on the Bed Bug Task Force and his commitment to Hempstead and Nassau County as well as IPM Fiechter received an Excellence in IPM award.

Ren wasted no time in learning everything he could about bed bugs, said Gangloff-Kaufmann. Hes also just a thoughtful, friendly person. Those are attributes you need if youre going to bring together such an array of tenants, landlords, pest professionals and community agencies, then make it work.

The publics knowledge of bed bugs often is based on myths and misconceptions. Helping people get past these was among the most important issues the task force faced, said Bryan Matthews, director of environmental investigation with the Nassau County Department of Health.Myth number one? If you have bed bugs your house is a mess. Not so. Anyone, anywhere is fair game. Bed bug control requires a comprehensive approach and the involvement of community leaders is critical.

Ren is a shining example of how one person can serve and protect his community using IPM, said Jim Skinner, president of A & C Pest Management. Under his leadership over the years, the task force held public events that drew hundreds of people and promoted IPM as key to coping with this growing crisis.

Fiechter received his award on March 24 at the annual meeting of the Community IPM Coordinating Council.

Delta Five Systems offers a Telemetered Pest Monitoring System (TPMS) that provides early detection of pests, including insects and rodents. TPMS is a remotely monitored pest detection system that will alert pest management professionals the instant a pest is encountered. The lure-agnostic and placement-agnostic device maximizes PMPs ability to capture pests while minimizing cost, the firm says. Features include: Real-time alerts, including photos; discreet and compact; WiFi enabled; helps eliminate infestations; and proven 98% effective at capturing bed bugs and other insects before a customer/guest encounter, the company reports. For more information visit TheBedBugSolution.com.

The Bugo, a simple-to-use adhesive disc-shaped device that lasts up to eight weeks, is virtually invisible and acts as a barrier against bed bugs and as a detector to infestations, the manufacturer says. The Bugo disc sticks on the floor around the bottom of the bed legs to prevent bed bugs from getting into the bed. New from the manufacturer is the The Bugo Tape, a product for floor beds and beds with no legs. Each packet of The Bugo Tape is available in rolls of 32.8 feet, which is enough for one application around a king-size bed, the firm says. Like the original Bugo Discs, the tape acts as a barrier against bed bugs and as a detector. It is virtually invisible, lasts up to eight weeks and uses no pesticides. The Bugo Tape is easy to apply and discard, and it is available in soft floor application for surfaces such as carpets and rugs, or hard floor application for surfaces such as floor boards and tiles.

The Bugo is available through its distributors, which can be found on The Bugo website thebugo.co.uk/where-to-buy.

Bed Bug Fix, which eliminates and prevents bed bug infestations, is now scent-free, the manufacturer reports. Formulated to be 100 percent natural, non-toxic, non-flammable, non-staining, and used around children and pets, this product is approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS). Its also approved as a 25b product by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and part of the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDAs) BioPreferred program. Octopamine, the insects equivalent to adrenaline, regulates their heart rate, movement, behavior and metabolism. Bed Bug Fix targets and blocks octopamine neurotransmitter receptors, and kills on contact, according to the manufacturer. To place an order, call 800/825-9973.

P.E.S.T. Relief International embarked on its first disaster relief project in Kinston, N.C. in February. The Kennedy Home for Children was hit hard by Hurricane Matthew, and many of the homes were left vulnerable to flooding. P.E.S.T. Relief International responded to the call to partner with Bed Land located in Shallotte, N.C., to provide encasements for 48 new mattresses that were donated to improve the homes livable conditions.

A team of P.E.S.T. Relief Responders, including Marty and Cindy Jones of Prestige Pest Control and Kevin Yow with Seaira Global, visited the home to deliver and install mattress and box spring encasements which were donated by Mattress Safe.

P.E.S.T. Relief International was created for the pest management industry to bring comfort and relief to orphaned, abused, and at-risk individuals in-order to give hope and enable life-transformation. For more information, visit the organization at http://www.pestreliefinternational.com.

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Bed Bug News and Notes - PCT - Pest Control Technology - PCT Magazine