Category Archives: Bed Bug Home Remedies

As bed bugs have proliferated in the last decade, remedies against them -- special zipper covers for mattresses, sprays, even dogs trained to sniff out bed bugs -- have begun multiplying on shelves as well. But experts say that bed bug foggers, a common over-the-counter product better known as a 'bug bomb,' don't work at all -- and a lack of regulatory scrutiny means many consumers will keep feeling the pinch.

Bug bombs work by releasing aerosolized chemicals upward, where they remain suspended in the air for some time and then settle onto surfaces.

Ohio State University entomologist Susan C. Jones tested three kinds of insect fogger -- the Hotshot Bedbug and Flea Fogger, the Spectracide Bug Stop Indoor Fogger, and the Eliminator Indoor Fogger, all made by United Industries Corp. in St. Louis, Mo. -- on five populations of bed bugs collected from residences around Columbus, Ohio, and one population of lab-raised bugs.

None of the foggers were effective at killing the bed bugs found out in the wild, and the relatively weaker lab-raised population could escape death simply by hiding under a thin piece of cloth, she reported in the Journal of Economic Entomology on June 3.

"The public is ill-served when products do not perform in accordance with labeling and use directions claims," Jones wrote in her paper.

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The results weren't surprising to any entomologists.

"In a nutshell, Dr. Jones' study reinforces what I would have expected," University of Kentucky entomologist Mike Potter wrote in an email.

Over-the-counter foggers, Potter explains, are quite different from true fumigants that can penetrate deep into the hidden places where many insects hide. Bug bombs just can't penetrate into the cracks and crevices to get at the bed bugs. Plus, bug bomb ingredients also tend to act as repellents, causing insects to scatter and flee deeper into hiding.

Many wild bed bugs have also developed resistance to pyrethrins, the primary active ingredient in bug bombs. In her experiments, Jones found that even two hours of direct exposure to the insect fogger was not enough to kill most of the urban bed bugs.

Read more:
Bed Bug Bombs Are Duds, Yet Still On Shelves

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - College students returning home for summer break may be bringing more than just dirty laundry.

Bed bugs may have hitched a ride on your child's belongings and into your home.

We've learned pest control companies have had an increase of calls from panicked parents dealing with bed bugs.

Bed bug expert Tony DeJesus of Big Blue Bug Solutions says you can stamp out bed bugs before they infiltrate your home.

"Don't be afraid to turn things inside out, look through the piping area where things get caught, the stitching areas. Those are perfect spots where bed bugs would like to hide and cling," said DeJesus.

Once you've thoroughly inspected their clothes, don't forget their backpacks and suitcases.

"There are so many little pockets. You go right through and check everything. I check it all," said DeJesus.

Next, he recommends putting everything in a bag and heading to the dryer.

Throwing the clothes on a high heat cycle in the dryer will kill anything you might have missed.

If you've already spotted these unwanted pests in your home, there are some do-it yourself remedies that will easily get rid of minor cases of bed bugs.

Read the original here:
College students bringing home bed bugs

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - College students returning home for summer break may be bringing more than just dirty laundry.

Bed bugs may have hitched a ride on your child's belongings and into your home.

We've learned pest control companies have had an increase of calls from panicked parents dealing with bed bugs.

Bed bug expert Tony DeJesus says you can stamp out bed bugs before they infiltrate your home.

"Don't be afraid to turn things inside out, look through the piping area where things get caught, the stitching areas. Those are perfect spots where bed bugs would like to hide and cling," said DeJesus.

Once you've thoroughly inspected their clothes, don't forget their backpacks and suitcases.

"There are so many little pockets. You go right through and check everything. I check it all," said DeJesus.

Next, he recommends putting everything in a bag and head to the dryer.

Throwing the clothes on a high heat cycle in the dryer will kill anything you might of missed.

If you've already spotted these unwanted pests in your home, there are some do-it yourself remedies that will easily get rid of minor cases of bed bugs.

View original post here:
Students bringing home bed bugs

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Leading experts participating in a recent Bed Bug Summit have called 2012 a critical year in the goal to control the U.S. bed bug invasion. Entomologists, pest control professionals and manufacturers of products designed to stem the bed bug tide all weighed-in, and agreed that what we do this year will be crucial.

Each year the challenges of fighting bed bugs change and grow, said James Bell, CEO of Protect-A-Bed, a company that makes mattress encasement products to keep bed bugs away from their human prey. Now that the industry has begun working together its easier to see the best way forward.

Some Cities Winning, Others in the Crosshairs

Experts agreed that bed bug reports in some large U.S. cities such as New York will plateau in 2012 due mainly to increased education and prevention. However, they caution that the number of reports is expected to grow in other cities not previously experiencing high levels of bed bug colonies, especially in Southern states.

Out of Home Infestations to Rise

Most of the experts also predicted a significant increase in bed bug colonies outside the home, in places like hotels and office buildings.

According to Peter Trentacoste, assistant vice president of Student Affairs at Northern Kentucky University, staying vigilant for bed bugs is important to keeping the pests out of public places. He explained that in order to fight the bugs, talking about the issue and providing education is a key.

In relation to colleges and universities, there are quite a few places that continue to have their heads in the sand, Trentacoste said. They dont want to talk about bed bugs until they have a major issue.

Bed Bugs Struggle Worse for Some Americans than Others

Read more from the original source:
Top Entomologists Call 2012 Pivotal Year in Bed Bug War

20-02-2012 06:00 Bed bugs can be difficult to exterminate if they set up a home in a room with a lot of books. Treat bed bugs in a room with lots of books with help from an expert on green pest control in this free video clip. Expert: Louise Hodges Contact: greenbugallnatural.com/wordpress/ Bio: Louise Hodges is an expert on green pest control, in particular, bed bugs, mosquitoes, fleas and head lice. She has published several articles on eco-friendly pest control. Filmmaker: Melissa McCormick Series Description: If you begin to notice pests have invade your garden, lawn or even your home, don't worry -- you have a number of options available to you. Learn about garden and house pests and find out how to get rid of them once and for all with help from an expert on green pest control in this free video series.

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