Category Archives: Bed Bugs Alabama

So, youve got bed bugs. Its OK. Bed bugs have been part of human society from the beginning.They have been found in Egyptian tombs and were mentioned in texts dating back to the time of Aristotle. However, in the fight against bed bugs, you have something that Aristotle didnt have the internet!Today, you can learn about bed bugs and the most effective treatment methods from experts in the pest management industry.Lets dive right inBed bugs have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years. Bed bugs were nearly eradicated in the United States due to the widespread use of pesticides such as DDT.Besides, general pest management practices have shifted to only using pesticides indoors only when necessary. In the past hotels would routinely treat guest rooms with pesticides, and this would prevent a bed bug infestation.Bed bugs have also become resistant to many of the pesticides they encounter in their travels. However, using scientific advancements and a biological understanding of bed bugs, it is possible to get rid of bed bugs and sleep peacefully again.In this guide, we will explore the best methods for getting rid of bed bugs. We will discuss why they are notoriously hard to get rid of and how long you should expect the extermination process to take.Now:There are many different treatment methods utilized to kill bed bugs and you can weigh the benefits and negatives of each method.We all want a healthy home for our family; with a little boost of knowledge, you can feel confident in the bed bug elimination method that you choose. Whether you are trying to get rid of bed bugs from a single-family residence, an apartment, or even a hotel or nursing home, with the treatment options available today, it is possible to get rid of bed bugs.How to Check for Bed Bugs

Do you wake up to mysterious bites on your shoulder or legs? Do you suddenly see reddish-brown spots on your sheets? If you suspect that bed bugs may be the cause, a thorough inspection and prompt treatment can be the difference between an introduction and a full-blown infestation. Finding and treating a minor bed bug infestation is less costly and simpler than dealing with a bed bug in every nook and cranny of your bedroom. However, a minor bed bug infestation can be hard to find. You need to know how to check for bedbugs.

Bed bugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects. Adults are about the size and shape of an apple seed. Although they are not known to spread diseases, they crawl from their daytime hiding places to feed on resting humans. Bed bugs are small, but visible with the naked eye; an adult bed bug measures between 6 to 9.5mm. Bed bugs are usually brown in color, but after a fresh feeding, their body becomes swollen and more red. Like other insects, they have 6 legs and 2 antennae.

Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers. They are often brought into your home in a purse, a bag, a backpack, or a suitcase. Bed bugs are most commonly found on and around the bed, but they can be located anywhere that has human contact for prolonged periods of time. Bed bugs can crawl into your bag on an airplane or train, while at the movie theater, or during a ride with a friend or rideshare service. You then bring your bed bug contaminated bag into your bedroom, and voila, the bed bug nightmare has begun.

Although they cannot fly or jump, bed bugs are capable walkers and climbers. They can easily climb the metal or wooden legs of furniture to access a blood meal if there is even a slight texture to the finish. Bed bugs have been observed to walk 3-4 feet per minute! They hide in tight harborages during the day, and happily travel between 5-20 feet from their hiding place to feed upon their host. They locate a potential host by homing in on the carbon dioxide exhaled when we breath and the heat that emanates from our bodies. Once they locate a potential host, bed bugs pierce the skin and feed for between 3-12 minutes.Most people do not wake up when bed bugs are in the act of feeding, and every person responds differently to a bite.

Bed bugs are so small and flat that they can hide anywhere that a credit card can fit. They are generally found close to the bed, where their food source is located, but as an infestation grows the prime hiding places become overcrowded and they expand their reach. When checking a room for bed bugs, carefully inspect cracks and crevices on or near the bed. Have a strong flashlight, a flat edged object like a paint scraper or credit card and perhaps a magnifying glass as well. To adequately check for bed bugs you may have to take apart the headboard or the bed frame.

When checking for bed bugs, look for every life stage. By locating and acknowledging the presence of eggs, immature bed bugs, and adults, you can gauge the severity of the infestation.

Some common bed bug hiding places include:

While checking your home for bed bugs it is important to determine the breadth of the infestation. Continue to check areas further away from the source of the infestation until you find no evidence of bed bugs. As you check your home for bed bugs, be sure not to cross-contaminate rooms and actually introduce bedbugs where they did not exist before. As you check your home for bed bugs, make notes of where and what you find. Save samples too. Larger specimens can be scooped up and placed in a ziplock bag. For smaller eggs and nymphs a piece of packing tape is great to stick it to the insects. Then place the tape in a ziplock bag to secure.

Now that you know how to check for bed bugs, test your skills the next time you check into a hotel room. Do this before you unpack any clothing and situate into the room. Lift the sheets and perform a cursory check of the mattress and bed frame. If you find any evidence of bed bugs, capture them and report the incident to management immediately.

If you think you may have bed bugs, call Nextgen Pest Solutions. Our professionals can thoroughly inspect your home for bed bugs and our treatments give you the peace of mind to rest easy again.

Cryonite is the brand name of the newest bed bug treatment. It uses special equipment to turn liquid carbon dioxide (CO2, one of the same elements we breathe in and out) into dry ice particles, similar to snow.

All of these benefits make bed bug freezing treatments better for residential properties, as well as many commercial properties. Only when a bed bug infestation is severe and in a small space that can be heated like a hotel room does a heat treatment make more sense.

Pay special attention to the legs, posts, any casters or wheels, and where these pieces connect. You may have to disassemble some pieces of furniture to thoroughly treat for bed bugs. Apply insecticide dust if you are able and place traps or monitors under the feet of any furniture.

Why is Cryonite is Better Than Heat for Your Bed Bug Treatment?Bed bugs are survivors. Once you have bed bugs, they are not easily removed, and cannot be eliminated with DIY methods alone.Even insecticides from professional pest control companies are not always enough to eliminate them. Bed bugs can build up a chemical resistance, making them immune to some of the common treatments. If bed bugs are well hidden, traditional treatments may not be able to reach them at all.Because bed bugs are do difficult to eliminate, pest control companies like Nextgen may choose to use treatments that involve temperature. Bed bugs cannot develop a resistance to heat or cold, making it an effective solution for both bed bugs and their eggs.At Nextgen Pest Solutions, we offer two types of temperature-based treatments for bed bugs:

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How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs - The Ultimate Guide for 2022

Stopping the spread of bed bugs can be a difficult task, although new studies on bed bug reproduction are exploring how to reduce the frequency of mating. To understand how bed bugs spread, it is helpful to understand their mating habits.HOW DO BED BUGS REPRODUCE?On average, female bed bugs lay about one to seven eggs per day after a blood feeding has taken place. However, the mating process can sometimes be difficult for the female bed bug. Frequent mating can cause injury. As a result, female bed bugs do not necessarily produce more eggs with increased mating sessions. Instead, a female bed bug is more likely to travel away from her original location to an area where she can guarantee a food source and a lack of mates. With lack of disruption and access to food, a female bed bug can lay many eggs.HOW MANY EGGS CAN A FEMALE BED BUG LAY?On average, a female bed bug with access to regular meals will lay anywhere from 200 to 250 eggs during her lifetime. Because mating causes scarring, a female that has mated multiple times during a short period will lay fewer eggs than a female who has had time to recover from the reproduction process. The need for females to protect themselves from future mating sessions has helped to increase the spread of bed bugs.

Pregnant female bed bugs are more likely to travel in an attempt to avoid being mated with again. A single pregnant female can cause an infestation of more than 5,000 bed bugs within a six-month period.THE BED BUG REPRODUCTION CYCLEBed bug eggs take approximately six to 17 days to hatch. Hatched eggs are called nymphs. A nymph is not able to reproduce until it has fully matured. The length of time it takes for a nymph to mature depends on temperature. Eggs can hatch and become mature bed begs in as little as 21 days in warmer temperatures. It can take more than four months for the same process to occur in cooler temperatures. Nymphs can begin blood feeding as soon as they hatch. A single female bed bug can mate with any of her offspring after a nymph has fully matured.REDUCING THE BED BUG REPRODUCTION CYCLEA 2010 study conducted by Vincent Harraca from Lund University in Sweden revealed an alarm pheromone released by nymphs, and male bed bugs when approached, to prevent prowling males from attempting to mate. Mature males will attempt to mate with any bed bug that has recently fed. The fact that male mating is non-productive in propagating the bed bug population has inspired scientific research, which resulted in the discovery that immature nymphs and male bed bugs release a fear pheromone to prevent a mating attack. In the future, scientists hope to use this pheromone to reduce mating overall and lessen infestations.

Research by Warren Booth, a biologist at the University of Tulsa and a co-author of a 2015 study published in Molecular Ecology on bed bugs, has led scientists to suspect that a new species of bed bugs is beginning to emerge. According to the BBC, archaeologists have discovered fossil evidence of what appears to be bed bugs, indicating that they are as old as 3,500 years. Scientists believe bed bugs originated in bat caves and began feeding on humans as humans moved into caves. However, when humans switched to other dwellings, bed bugs followed.

Since that time bed bugs have evolved. In the 1950s, bed bugs all but disappeared. The reason for that, according to one theory, was the heavy use of a common household pesticide, DDT. Due to health and environmental impact, that pesticide was banned in the United States in the 1970s, but by that time bed bugs had built up a resistance to the chemical and it was no longer effective. Bed bugs have since made a massive comeback, causing a growing concern for households and businesses alike.

The bed bug reproduction cycle is effective due to the large number of eggs a female can lay. A pest management professional can help to determine the source of bed bugs in your home or business and provide the proper treatment to ensure that bed bugs get out and stay out.

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How Do Bed Bugs Reproduce? | Terminix

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Metro pest control companies say theyve seen a surge in bed bug infestations during the pandemic.

After a 2017 study found bed bugs in the United States developed resistance to neonicotinoids, the most widely used insecticide in the world, discussions on how to fight these blood-sucking pests growing immunity flung open worldwide.

Jay Everitt, technical director at Rottler Pest Solutions in Kansas City, said the company will use any means necessary to battle the bugs, including heaters, silica gel, HEPA vacuums, compressed sprayers, dusters, mattress covers, a product called Climbups, and even dogs.

Climbups are round bowls one can place underneath a bed post to prevent bed bugs from migrating to the mattress. It forces them to crawl into the bowl before they ever reach the leg of the bed, trapping them in the process.

Youre making an island out of your bed, he said. Some people, in multi-housing units, use these for control, too. Theyll just randomly put them out, all around the perimeter of the building, and thats one way to catch bugs and harvest them.

Everitt said these are especially helpful in places, like long term healthcare facilities, because caregivers can check them on a daily basis to monitor where the bed bugs are aggregating.

Mike Rottler, president at the pest control company, said they have also turned to bed bug sniffing dogs that help identify locations in the home where they might be present.

Hes able to find the scent of bed bugs and where bed bugs are far, far quicker and far more often than humans, he said.

Heat is also an effective method of bed bug removal, Everitt said, because exterminators can use fans to direct the bugs from migrating to higher ground, and fleeing from the heat.

The natural habit of a bed bug is, in turbulent air, they just kind of bunker down and hold on, he said.

He said this helps keep the bugs concentrated to one area, making heat treatment even more effective than if the fans were not being used.

Maria Kellogg, Kansas City resident, said she and her friend found bed bugs in their Vrbo during a trip to Marco Island in Florida.

My friend, she went to bed in her room, and I go to my room and I pull down the comforter and I see two bugs on my pillow, she said. Im thinking, You know, its Florida, maybe theres just bugs. Its Florida. Its humid, whatever.

Kellogg said she didnt wake her friend immediately because she was unsure if the bugs she found were actually bed bugs or not.

I mean, I can see them crawling, she said. Im looking around, but still, I dont want to wake up my friend. I dont want to be too dramatic about it, in case it really isnt.

It wasnt until she did some research that her curiosity turned to panic.

I woke her [friend] up and there were some in her bed, not as many as mine, Kellogg said. In the living room, we found just a couple and then, we were sitting in the dining room and I got up and there was one on the chair, where I had just been sitting.

Kellogg said her friend and her left the Vrbo to find a hotel, but quickly realized they couldnt bring their belongings into the building.

I cant go to a hotel and take all my clothes that have been on the bed, she said. I cant go to a hotel unless I wash the clothes.

Ultimately, she said she decided to pitch the entire suitcase with everything in it.

I just couldnt take the chance, she said. I knew if I came home and I had one little itch or one little anything, then Id be worried for six months until I knew for sure.

They were on the covers, themselves, which was why it was so gross, to see it on the pillow, the first thing I saw. Thankfully, I was paying attention, cause if youre not, you know, youre really tired and you jump into bed, a person might not have noticed that.

Everitt said exterminators can use HEPA vacuums to remove bed bugs in large, concentrated groups, because they are strong and can remove the eggs, as well as adults.

If we went into a unit and they were thick on the bed, we would take those [vacuums] and remove 80 to 85% of those bugs with this HEPA vac, he said.

Of all the tips and tricks, Everitt said Rottlers favorite one is to use a silica gel dust product because bed bugs do not have the ability to grow resistant to it.

Its a desiccant, which actually knix the exoskeleton, which helps them dehydrate and dry out, Everitt said.

Bed bugs exoskeletons protect and keep them hydrated. Silica dust destroys the waxy layer of the bed bugs exoskeleton, causing the bugs to dry out and die from dehydration.

Silica dust is especially effective because, unlike some insecticides that must be ingested by the insects for it to work, desiccants are safe, low in toxicity, and penetrate the crevices where bed bugs hide.

Everitt said exterminators can provide mattress encasements to customers who fear getting bit at night.

The insect cannot get through it, he said. You cannot be bit through it, so thats how you preserve your $2,000 mattress, as far as that goes.

From now on, Kellogg said she will be taking more precautions while traveling.

I will put my suitcase at the door, as I come into the place, or whatever, she said. It sounds extreme but do that and do a thorough check before I unpack anything.

Despite bed bugs growing immunities, Everitt said exterminators have a large arsenal to tackle infestations.

Its just a bunch of tools in a toolbox, is what were using to go after these bugs, Everitt said.

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Exterminators turn to new treatments to get rid of bed bugs

Bed bugs. Broken or painted over sprinklers. Broken doors and windows that wont lock. Mold on ceilings and walls.

These are just some of the dangerous and unsanitary conditions people living in Alabamas worst public housing properties live with every day.

Across Alabama, most public housing passes federal inspection with flying colors. Look below to see how each property did. However, there were several failures, according to the latest federal data from March 2019.

In all, there are 259 single family public housing properties in Alabama, and 18 of them received scores lower than 60 as of March 2019. Of the 476 multi-family public housing properties in the state, 17 scored lower than 60.

That means a failing property rate of 4.76 percent. Thats actually better than the nation as a whole - the national rate is 4.86 percent, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Developments Real Estate Assessment Center.

However, those at the bottom, such as Central Plaza in Mobile, were noted to have serious problems.

Public housing properties in the United States are subject to physical inspections by HUD, and these inspections come with REAC inspection scores, a 0-100 score that determines whether a facility is fit to live in.

These inspections - and the scores that go with them - are looking to make sure [housing units] are decent, safe, sanitary and in good repair, said Joe Phillips, with the HUD Atlanta regional office of public affairs.

Any property that scores below a 60 in a REAC inspection is considered failing, Phillips said. A number of things can happen when a property receives a failing score. They can be fined, their Section 8 funding can be terminated or abated, or they can be put under new management, among other things. But a property manager or owner is given time to address the problems if they score between 31 and 59.

Any score 30 or below is a different story. Those properties are automatically reported to the Departmental Enforcement Center, which takes over the responsibility of handling their case from that point forward.

Only one property in Alabama scored 30 or below, as listed in the data thats publicly available from HUD. That property was Central Plaza Towers in Mobile, a low income housing project for senior citizens. It scored a 30 on its REAC inspection on May 29th, 2018, according to data from HUD.

A copy of the REAC inspection summary acquired by AL.com showed bed bugs were reported in 61 percent of inspected units at Central Plaza, and that 24 of 26 inspected units had inoperable call-for-aid stations.

Michael Pierce, executive director of the Mobile Housing Board, said he had taken office in late March 2019 - nearly a year after the REAC inspection in question - and could only address the report in general terms.

What had transpired in the previous administration, Im not certain of everything that transpired, but what I can tell you is that progress is being made in terms of the overall physical conditions out at Central Plaza Towers, he said.

The May 2018 inspection would have taken place during the short tenure of MHB Executive Director Akinola Popoola, who was fired in September 2018 after less than a year on the job. Popoola has filed suit over his dismissal, which the board attributed largely to a lack of responsiveness and failures of financial oversight.

Pierce said hed been working to straighten out problems that had damaged the Mobile Housing Authoritys relationship with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development even before Popoolas hiring. That has taken precedence over everything else, literally to get our house in order, thats where weve been expending all our energy and time, making certain that we are a sound, well-run organization, he said. I have worked extremely hard to improve our relationship with our regulatory authority, meaning HUD.

Another property, Joseph Loveman Village in Birmingham, showed a 33 in the HUD dataset, but a 30 on the REAC inspection summary. Loveman Village was in the process of vacating its residents for a complete demolition and redevelopment at the time of the inspection - August 2018.

Some of the violations reported there included bed bugs, refrigerators and stoves in some units either missing or not working and windows that couldnt be locked.

You can explore the inspections scores of the single-family housing units in your area and around the state in the map below. Search for the header Inspection_score once you click on a map marker.

And here is a map showing the scores of multifamily units.

Do you have an idea for a data story about Alabama? Email Ramsey Archibald at rarchibald@al.com, and follow him on Twitter @RamseyArchibald.

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Bed bugs, fire hazards and mold: Inside Alabamas worst ...

If you are looking for Bed Bug Control in Gulf Shores Alabama, you have many, many options you can choose from. The number of pest control companies in and around Gulf Shores are many and varied, and all offer many choices when it comes to termite control for your home or building.

Pest Control Techniques

Pest control approaches mostly vary for residential and farming applications. Traditional techniques of pest control in farming primarily included plant rotation, selective breeding and also companion planting. Reduced flying aircrafts are utilized in spraying chemical pesticides over huge areas.

Chemical pest control methods are rather old and are stated to be in technique because 4000 or 4500 years. Closer to pyrethrum, derris and date were presented which were complied with by much better synthetic pesticides like DDT as well as other herbicides.

The Domestic Scenario

Domestic pest trouble is virtually totally different. The significant pests that trouble us are termites, rodents, mosquitoes and also bed bugs. You can almost call termites as terror-mites. These soft looking, plain ant like bugs, belong to two kinds: subterranean and completely dry wood termites, belonging to over 2000 types. Both of them subsist on cellulose.

How Do You Know?

A complete inspection of crucial areas (without taking apart) by professionals reveals whether your house is infested by termites or is at risk for strikes. Evaluation might need tools sometimes.

Pest Control Companies

Living beagles can ferret out the termites. Protimeter for mold and mildew discovery, scanning and acoustic infrared sensors, fractometers and resistographs are various other tools generally made use of by the agencies.

What Do They Do

But dry timber termites require wood passing through fumigants. For subterranean kinds, following maker's directions is essential consist of pouring pesticides right into openings drilled at routine periods around the ravaged location.

Insects, flys as well as insects are regulated by chemicals proletarian, and also the usually offered rat toxins. Do not utilize them without professional advice.

Picking a Professional

realty at away areas or when pest regulating the whole residence. Keep these factors in your mind when picking one.

Pest Control Services near Gulf Shores is important because once pests get into your home, they can cause devastating damage that must be stopped before they take over your home and make it expensive to repair. Lets take a look at a few of the pest control companies weve found for termite control in Gulf Shores TX that can help you with your termite problems.

Tackle the rodent concern when you spot signs of their advancement - don't wait up until you discover yourself leaping onto a chair to prevent that rat racing throughout the kitchen area. Then, you'll be getting a battle instead of simply protecting your borders.

If you've copped on to the existence of pests early sufficient, you might be able to make use of non-lethal force. It might be an issue of blocking their entries and urging them to go elsewhere.

If you have animals or youngsters you might want to try all-natural rodent repellents. Another service is a smell based repellant - these use the odor of predacious animals to scare rats off.

Be mindful that rodents spread out illness, which you could desire to assume concerning before you go shuttling them around community. A lot of rodents have inadequate sight and keep close to the walls, just venturing into open area when necessary so set your products in their flow, not in the center of the space.

For others who wish to maintain their hands clean, or who have a persisting rodent concern, obtaining a cat can be an exceptional option. should tip up your video game. Depending on where you live, you may want to strengthen the perimeter of the building by constructing nest boxes to draw in natural predators such as barn owls.

When all else falls short (or if you haven't the persistence to wait that long), it's time to resort to poisonous substance. The nature of rodents implies that they will certainly consume a little, wait as well as if they do not get ill, return for one more dish. Before utilizing a poison, you might want to overlook routine food for a few days, to ensure that the rodents discover to rely on the food source before including poison.

There are numerous reasons you might not desire to utilize standard anticoagulant poisons, the major ones being that the poison could trigger toxicity in kids and various other animals. Some animals could get additional poisoning by consuming the poisoned rodent, which can happen when the toxic rodent goes outside to die.

When you have lastly won the battle, attempt to prevent rounded 2: make an effort to keep stored in secured containers and recognize pet food, garden composts and various other possible attractions. Usage bird feeders that recapture any kind of unwanted seed, as opposed to allowing it to become treat food for unwanted bugs. By getting rid of the food incentive you could abandon inviting those rascally rodents for a return see.

If you have pets or youngsters you might want to try natural rodent repellents. For others that desire to maintain their hands clean, or that have a persisting rodent problem, obtaining a feline could be a superb remedy. Prior to using a poisonous substance, you might want to leave out normal food for a few days, so that the rats discover to trust the food resource prior to including toxin.

Some animals can obtain secondary poisoning by consuming the infected rodent, which could take place when the harmful rodent goes outside to pass away. By eliminating the food motivation you can abandon welcoming those rascally rodents for a return browse through.

You have many options. Just make sure that you choose a company you are comfortable with so you dont waste your money on a fly-by-night operation. Check out their references and find someone you trust. All homeowners need to take the risk of pests seriously. Getting Pest Control Services in Gulf Shores Alabama is easy, so get on top of it right away!

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