Category Archives: Bed Bugs New York

According to Gothamist, the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City has bed bugs and has had them for over a month. (Gothamists story is worth viewing if only for the revival of their intergalactic bed bug warfare imagery which we cant reproduce here.)

The New York Posts source suggests the bed bugs were spotted in employee-only areas like a managers office, but also in a public area, in a roped off table:

One worker said the issue has been going on for nearly a month and Friday was the first day they acknowledged they found something.

The employee said the issue started about three to four weeks ago during the overnight hours at the 24-hour store, which frequently has homeless visitors, when a table on the second floor was cordoned off because a bed bug was found, believed to have come from one of the homeless visitors.

Everyone is quick to blame the easy target. I cant believe that after so many years, this is still the level of discourse around bed bugs and who to blame for their appearance.

Sure, bed bugs can be a particularly persistent problem for some homeless folks, who - once having made contact with bed bugs - may have more trouble getting rid of them, depending on access to showers, laundry facilities, and other factors.

However, anyone could have brought bed bugs into the store - employees, managers, tourists, people who live nearby in fancy buildings, hipsters, and so on. Bed bugs dont target people of lower social standing. They are just easier to deal with when you have more money.

Which does raise questions about why the Apple Store - run by a big multinational corporation - would wait a month to address such an issue?

Glad to hear the problem is being addressed. If you had any doubts whether spring has sprung, the appearance of bed bugs in public places is a good sign the warm weather is once again hastening their spread.

Continued here:
New Yorks Fifth Avenue Store has bed bugs - Bedbugger.com

Sleep tight, dont let the bed bugs bite is a common -- if not totally gross -- thing many parents tell their children at night. But chances are, you never gave those creepy crawlers a second thought until you moved to New York City.

Unfortunately, the horror of a bed bug infestation is a pretty common experience in NYC. According to pest control company Orkins annual Top 50 Bed Bugs List, confirmed cases of bed bugs increased during 2015, making New York City the fourth-worst urban regionin the nation for these pests.Local exterminators at M&M Pest Controlagree.

The bedbug threat has definitely gotten worse over the years, confirmed client service representatives at M&M Stephanie Kollgaard and Hunter Konkle, as well as directors Kevin Carrillo and Timothy Wong. Incoming requests for bedbug treatment or inspections have grown consistently by 20% annually for the past several years.

But lets back up a little bit. If you dont already know, bed bugs are parasitic insects that have a particular penchant for human blood. While they have not been known to transmit diseases, they are literal ankle biters and will turn your mattress into a colony. And its not something a New Yorker should take lightly: Bed bugs can be picked up everywhere from the R train to a swanky hotel.

Despite common misconceptions, bed bugs do not target messy or dirty apartments (though that certainly makes it easier for the insects to go unnoticed). Everyone is at risk, and the chances of picking up a bed bug are infinitely greater in metropolitan areas, where people move often and quickly.Increased travel and foot traffic brings a spike during the summer months.

More than anything, bed bugs will screw with your head. After my own traumatic bed bug experience, I slipped into what can only be described as post-traumatic infestation disorder. I had nightmares about them, thought every piece of fuzz on my comforter was a nag, and scoured my sheets obsessively before bed.

Whether you think you have an infestation or want to protect yourself against the enemy, this step-by-step guide will tell you everything you need to know (and hopefully never have to use) about dealing with bed bugs.

One of the most obvious indicators of a bed bug infestation may be the physical marks left by feasting critters -- hives, bumps, an eczema-like rash -- though reactions to bed bug bites (or more specifically, their anesthetic numbing saliva) can vary greatly. And as much as 30% of the population may have absolutely no physical reaction to bed bug bites.

Seeing an actual bug isnt very likely, unless you wake at the crack of dawn. These insects are largely nocturnal, and tend to feast during the night. If you do find a bug in your bed, note that adult bed bugs are often reddish-brown, roughly the size of an apple seed, and relatively flat (unless theyve recently gorged themselves on your blood). Nymphs (the young ones), on the other hand, are practically translucent unless theyve just fed. In that case, they may look like bright red pinpricks of blood on your sheets.

Youll have better luck looking for shed shells and exoskeletons, and dark brown or black stains (like an ink blot) on your bedding. Start by examining your mattress seams, the cracks and crevices around your bed frame (they love the little slots where IKEA bed slats sit), and even behind outlet covers.

For more detailed information, read our full guide to identifying bed bugs.

If youre fortunate enough (ironically) to find an actual bug, be sure to catch it and put it in a Ziploc bag -- bed bugs are demonic, but theyre not very swift. Youll have no trouble snatching one if it just so happens to plod across your pillow. By bagging the evidence, you can provide your landlord proof of an infestation -- so you dont have to foot the bill -- and give your exterminator a sense of the severity.

If evidence is exactly what youre lacking, call a NESDCA-certified canine company. These bug-sniffing dogs can tell you whether or not youve got a pest problem, and exactly where theyre hiding.

There are some holistic methods that have proven effective at defeating bed bugs (highly concentrated peppermint oil, for example, and straight-forward rubbing alcohol) but you absolutely want to call in an expert.

Most over-the-counter pesticides will make the situation worse by scattering the bedbugs you dont see or that are not exposed to the pesticide, Kollgaard warned.

New York City bed bug specialists include M&M Pest Control (an eco-friendly pest management firm) and ODIN Pest Control, though nationwide companies like Orkin and Terminix have seen their fair share of bed bug outbreaks.

Depending on the extent of the infestation, your exterminator will likely make two visits to your apartment, and he or she will ask you to take steps prior to their arrival. Start by clearing clutter from the infected site. On the day of the first treatment, wash all clothing and bedding in hot water (and dry everything possible on high heat). Seal your belongings in plastic bags (I recommend double-bagging everything because bed bugs are relentless) until after the second treatment has been administered. Insecticides wont kill eggs, only bed bugs that are physically exposed to the chemicals. So dont go putting your clothes into a dresser or under-bed storage until this window has closed.

Unfortunately, its pretty crucial you stick around your apartment throughout this difficult process. While youll be tempted to flee to your friends apartment or a hotel, bed bugs wont come out to feed (see above: Bed bugs must make physical contact with chemicals). Basically, you need to stay there as human bait.

And then just vacuum like mad and steam-treat (or spray with rubbing alcohol) furniture and clothing that cant be washed. Bed bugs are pretty hardy (it takes several days of zero-degree temperatures to kill them), though an hour and a half of extreme heat exceeding 117 degrees will do them in for good. Heat-treating infested homes is highly successful, but youll likely get an insecticide-based treatment.

For an even more comprehensive battle plan, read our full guide to waging all-out war on bed bugs.

To be completely honest, there is not a lot you can do to prevent bed bugs: Theyre ubiquitous in crowded urban centers like New York City (remember the time they closed down the Times Square AMC movie theater because of an infestation? Or that horrific bed bug episode at a Central Park West hotel?)

Vacuuming, washing bedding often in hot water and drying on high heat, and protecting your mattress and pillows with specially designed bed bug-proof cases can prevent a stray bed bug from transforming your home into an all-night blood buffet.

If you travel, its also recommended that you thoroughly inspect your suitcases before bringing them into your home, or even fumigating them for a few weeks in sealed garbage bags with special products (pest-eliminating strips are a smart choice).

Bed bugs are insidious, and can be extremely difficult to get rid of once theyve decided your mattress is a cozy abode. But they dont have to destroy your life or force you out of an apartment. If youd like to know whether or not bed bugs have ever been identified in the apartment prior to moving in, weve also got you. Just go to New York Citys Housing Preservation & Development site and search for your current or prospective apartment. Youll see if any complaints or violations have ever been recorded (including pests of all varieties).

And under the 2011 Bedbug Disclosure Act, your landlord is supposed to notify you if the building was infested in the previous year. Thats because (heres the worst part) bed bugs easily spread to neighboring units. Its particularly bad if theres a bed bug crisis above or below your apartment: Theyre notorious for traveling along mechanical and plumbing lines.

Despite that, said the team at M&M Pest Control, many next door neighbors do get them when the shared walls are not well sealed.

We cant say having bed bugs isnt a total horror show. It really, truly is. But you will survive, and you may not even have to toss your duvet. And the next time you see a cockroach scurry across your countertops, youll feel something close to an enormous wave of relief. At least cockroaches just want to eat your food -- not you.

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Melanie Taryn Lieberman is a New York-based writer who likes to wake before sunrise and has thus seen a real life bed bug. Now the bed bug nightmares keep her up at night.

Read more from the original source:
Worried About Bed Bugs in NYC? Treatment & Signs in New ...

New Yorks Apple store on 5th Avenue is infested with bed bugs, according to a new report from the New York Post. And employees at the store are being told to wrap all their belongings in plastic bags to protect against the bed bug scourge.

Anonymous private messages published on Twitter appear to confirm the reports, with one suspected employee saying that the store has been crawling with bed bugs for as long as a month.

Ive been wanting to talk about it and get mad people talking about it, one message reads. But I cant cause theyd fire me in a heartbeat.

Photos and video posted to social media show rows of lockers with clothes stuffed inside clear plastic. The messages have not been independently confirmed, but are paired with photos that share the appearance of other images published by the New York Post.

According to the Post, Apple has deployed a bed bug sniffing beagle to the store. Apple did not immediately respond to Gizmodos request for comment. Well update this article if we hear back.

In the meantime, dont hesitate to drop us a line if you have any more information about this bed bug infestation in New York. Especially if you have photos of the bed bug sniffing beagle, which were sure is adorable.

Bed bugs dont transmit disease, but they do feed on human blood, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Could this be a sign that one of Peter Thiels young blood interests is announcing a new partnership with Apple? Only time will tell.*

[NY Post and Twitter]

*Gizmodo would never knowingly make fun of Peter Thiel, the most handsome and brilliant entrepreneur of his generation.

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Apple's Fifth Avenue Store Has Bed Bugs, Report

After a bed bug was found crawling on a table, the table was cordoned off and an exterminator was bought in. Later, an overnight employee found a bed bug on her sweater and took a video of it, which circulated among hundreds of staff. This lead to the flagship Apple store, which is open 365 days a year, for 24 hours a day, closing its doors for six hours in the middle of the night as an exterminator was brought in.

Apple hasn't responded to an inquiry from Engadget about the incident. Store management was informed that the threat was over. Bed bugs are hardly a surprise in New York City; the region is the sixth worst in the nation for bed bugs, according to Orkin. The Niketown on Fifth Avenue temporarily shut down in 2010 after a particularly bad bed bug infestation, following outbreaks in the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn district attorney's office and the Time Warner Center.

The infestation may come as a surprise given the spotlessly clean appearance of most Apple Stores. But as the EPA notes, bed bugs aren't attracted to dirt and grime. Blood, warmth and carbon dioxide seems to be the main lure for the pests. It goes without saying that the Fifth Avenue Apple Store, with its endless hours and its status one of the most photographed destinations in New York City, gets millions of human visitors per year, some of who may be hosting the urban critters on their person.

See more here:
Bed bugs force Apple to temporarily close 24-hour Fifth ...

The insects, which are about the size of an apple seed and resemble ticks, are hard to detect and even harder to kill. The most successful efforts include a combination of a thorough cleaning and sorting, along with repeated professional applications of pesticides and other bed bug treatments.

But the bed bug boom has attracted fraudulent exterminators peddling money-wasting treatments that do not work. And because even reputable exterminators charge a wide range in prices and offer a variety of services, it can be hard to know whats worth the money and whats hype.

Here, then, is some calm advice from experts on what you can expect to spend and what you should and shouldnt pay for.

IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM Simply determining whether you have bed bugs can cost you money.

Small and nocturnal, the insects are hard to spot. They love to hide in mattresses and box springs, of course, but they also burrow in woodwork, night tables, picture frames, cushions and even behind outlet and light-switch covers. They come out only to feed on sleeping humans.

The most common way people discover they have bed bugs is when they wake up with bites. But only about a third of people react to bed bug bites, and many of those who do have reactions mistake them for mosquito bites. You may also get the same kind of bites from bird mites, says Gil Bloom, who is vice president of Standard Pest Management, an exterminating company in Queens, and director of public affairs for the New York State Pest Management Association.You can sometimes detect other evidence like bed bug feces, which look like tiny black specks, or blood stains from a bug that has just had a full meal.

If you suspect bed bugs, youll probably need a visual inspection from an exterminator to make sure. Many pest control companies do this free, hoping that if you have the bugs, youll hire them to do removal. Other companies may charge $50 to $200 to do a visual inspection.

Some companies use specially trained dogs that can sniff out bed bugs and their eggs. Well-trained dogs can be amazingly accurate, letting you know exactly where the bugs are so you can concentrate your efforts in those problem areas, says Jennifer Erdogan of Bell Environmental Services, a pest control company in Parsipanny, N.J., that uses two trained dogs, including Roscoe, a bug-sniffing beagle.

But the dogs services are expensive. Youll pay $300 to $600 for a home inspection. If you go this route, ask about the dogs credentials. You want to hear that the animal was trained at a certified facility that prepares dogs for jobs that include bomb and drug sniffing.

FINDING AN EXTERMINATOR Counterintuitive as it may sound, you probably want to steer clear of pest control companies that emphasize their bed bug expertise. These may be one-person outfits or unqualified shops that have popped up in response to the epidemic.

Ms. Gangloff-Kaufmann advises finding an established company that has been in business at least five years and routinely battles all types of pests, including bed bugs.

Exterminators charge $250 to $900 a room to get rid of bed bugs, depending on the level of infestation and the types of treatments used. Some companies may charge by the bed if there are multiple people sleeping in the same room. Most exterminators use a combination of pesticides and steam heat.

Exposure to high temperatures is the only sure way to kill bed bugs, Ms. Gangloff-Kaufmann said. Cryonite, a freezing agent that kills bed bugs on contact, can add considerably to the cost of an exterminator visit, she said, and isnt 100 percent effective against bed bugs.

Whatever an exterminator uses, it must directly contact a bed bug to kill it. Pesticides have no residual effect on bed bugs. Thats why you or your exterminator should never use bug bombs or foggers, which are completely ineffective with bed bugs.

Be sure your exterminator makes at least one follow-up visit. Its virtually impossible to kill all the bugs in a given area with one treatment. Ask if any repeat treatments are included in the price quoted to you.

Check to see that the company you hire and the technician who is coming to your home are licensed in your state. To find your states licensing agency, check with the National Pesticide Information Centers Web site, http://npic.orst.edu/state1.htm.

Also check the Better Business Bureau for any complaints filed against the exterminators you are considering.

ENCASE YOUR MATTRESS All bed bug experts agree that you must encase your mattress and box spring with a durable, leak-proof cover that will trap existing bugs inside the bedding and prevent new bugs from entering. (Even if you dont currently suspect bed bugs, you might want to do this preventively, if you live in a highly infested area.)

The best covers are made from tightly woven cloth and have enclosed zippers and zipper locks to ensure there are no openings anywhere on the covering. A good cover will cost $70 to $150, depending on the size of your bed. Dont bother with cheaper covers made of vinyl, which is uncomfortable to sleep on and is likely to crack and tear over time.

BEFORE YOU TOSS ... Often, the first response to bed bugs is to throw stuff out. But replacing contaminated furniture, clothes and other possessions can be one of the biggest unnecessary bed bug expenses.

Nothing kills bed bugs and their eggs better than high temperatures, said Mr. Bloom, so the dryer is your new best friend.

Bedding, clothes, stuffed animals, backpacks and anything else you can fit into the clothes dryer can be decontaminated by 20 minutes on the high setting. Carry the items to the dryer in a cloth laundry bag that you can throw into the machine. If you use a plastic bag, discard it immediately; bed bugs or eggs might be lurking.

For items that cant go in the dryer, consider packing them in plastic bins or bags and storing them for a year to make sure any hidden insects die.

For furniture and other large items, you may want to consider a professional fumigation service that will decontaminate the items away from your home and return them within a week or so. This can easily add $1,000 to your bed bug bill. But for antiques, heirlooms and other hard-to-replace items, it may well be worth the cost.

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page B6 of the New York edition with the headline: Sleeping With the Enemy (Bed Bugs).

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Sleeping With the Enemy (Bed Bugs) - The New York Times