Category Archives: Bed Bugs Idaho

THE BED BUG POEM

Good night. Sleep tight. Dont let the bed bugs bite. Wake up bright In the morning light To do whats right With all your might. (author unknown)

While this poem has been passed along from generation to generation of kids being but to bed rather tongue in cheek, What has recently happened in a local apartment complex, and what is becoming a serious health issue nationally, is not a laughing matter.

Bed bugs, or Cimicids as they are known to in the scientific community, are rapidly increasing in population and pose a renewed serious health risk.

What is worst about bed bugs is that they specifically feed and prey on blood, and the most common Cimicids prey specifically and exclusively on HUMAN blood, hence the reason they are so often found nesting in human bedding. They tend to be nocturnal in nature, which makes the problem even worse, and often as a consequence go unnoticed and untreated for lengthy periods of time. Bed bugs are parasites, and generally immune to most commonly available pesticides. The result of an infestation are rashes, bites, and other disorders, mostly dermal in nature.

JAMA, one of the most notable and respected medical journals, published a health article just a few years ago and concluded that due to the restrictions on previously available and toxic pesticides, immune resistance and the control over their nature predators, such as roaches and spiders, that the bed bug population is rapidly rising across most developed countries again, including America.

These parasites can double in weight on a single feeding on human blood and sustain itself for months without biting again, making control even more difficult. While historically these problems were generally isolated to poor sanitary conditions, such as homeless shelters, barracks and other habitations with less than stellar cleanliness, the durability of these parasites and like of natural or man-made controls has seen them flourish again in hotels, motels, and other hospitality industry facilities.and even personal residences.

While bed bugs are a growing problem, you can fight back. If you have a potential problem with them in your home, contact a pesticide agency. If you have had a problem with them in a rental facility, apartment or hospitality setting such as a hotel, contact us. Nobody knows a pest better than a lawyer.

Recently, BCA was hired to represent two women in Houston who moved into an apartment that contained Bed Bugs.

On December 11, 2015 Brent Coon and Associates filed a lawsuit against BKR Memorial, LLC Individually and D/B/A Memorial Heights at Washington Apartments for money damages under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act.

On January 13, 2015, Katelyn McClelland and Valerie Palmer executed a one year lease for an apartment at Memorial Heights at Washington Apartments (Memorial Hights) at 201 S Heights Blvd, Houston, Texas.

On their first night at the Memorial Heights apartments, Katelyn McClelland and Valerie Palmer were bitten numerous times by bed bugs, which required medical treatment. They immediately alerted property management Midway Properties of the infestation. Instead of contacting an exterminator and addressing the problem, Midway claimed that Ms. McClelland and Ms. Palmer were responsible for bringing the bed bugs into the apartment. The plaintiff's then personally paid for an exterminator inspector to investigate the bed bugs. The inspector found bed bugs, both living and dead along with shed exoskeletons around the apartment. The investigation concluded the bed bugs were in the apartment long before to Ms. McClelland and Ms. Palmer took residence in the apartment.

Ms. McClelland and Ms. Palmer suffered numerous bed bug bites which required medical attention. Ms. Palmar suffered over 55 bed bites alone. They both suffered an allergic reaction, in addition to having to receive treatment from a dermatologist to prevent permanent scarring. Ms. McClelland and Ms. Palmer incurred thousands of dollars in out of pocket medical expenses. Both also required to pay thousands of dollars in out of pocket expenses to replace the property that they had to leave behind because of the infestation as much of the property could not be saved and need to be replaced. Additionally, both women had to pay an exorbitant amount of money to have her clothes, furniture, electronics and other items specially cleaned and treated.

McClelland and Palmers prior property was also checked for bed bugs none were found. If there are no bed bugs at your old apartment, and lots of old dead bed bugs along with many more live bed bugs that are thriving in your new apartment there is no room for doubt as to where the bed bugs came from said Bob Schwartz of Brent Coon & Associates, the attorney representing both for McClelland and Palmer. Katelyn and Valerie are not trying to get rich here, they simply are trying to get compensated for their damages and suffering. Hopefully, the owners of the apartment will do the right thing

The bed bug lawsuit seeks compensation for economic damages, mental anguish damages and additional damages. The lawsuit was filed in the District Court of Harris County, Texas.

There was also a reports of a Bed Bug Lawsuit filed by a California couple who found bed bugs on their vacation in New York city. The couple traveled to the Astor on the Park Hotel on the Upper West Side in Manhattan for a dream vacation on New Year's Eve. They shot video of the bed bug infestation, which you can view below.

Read this article:
Houston Bed Bug Lawsuit - Brent Coon

How long can bed bugs live without blood? The answer depends on the age of the bed bug, if it is resistant to certain pesticides and the temperature range it is exposed to. How long can bed bugs live without feeding before becoming adults? is the first question to ask yourself.

A newly hatched bed bug is called a nymph. Nymphs go through five stages before becoming mature adults. When a bug molts, it sheds its skin. Immature bed bugs molt five times before reaching maturity and must feed in between every molt. For that reason, nymphs must feed more often. Despite their young age, newly hatched bed bugs can still survive for at least a few weeks without feeding.

But if nymphs can survive weeks without feeding, how long can bed bugs live without blood after maturity? That depends. When living in warm conditions, bed bugs will usually try to feed at regular intervals. Adult bed bugs can survive for about five months without a blood meal.

Once the bed bug settles on a host, it will feed for a few minutes. Length of feeding depends on the stage of development, how much it ate last time and how long its been since it last fed. After the bed bug is full, it will leave the host and return to a crack or crevice, typically where other bed bugs are gathered.

Bed bugs usually feed every three to seven days, which means that most of the population is in the digesting state, and not feeding much of the time. However, because bed bug infestations can spread so rapidly, it can often feel like you are waking up with new bites every morning. This can lead to high stress levels and a lack of sleep.

Dont let bed bugs get the best of you. A pest control specialist can help you kick bed bugs out of your house and keep them out.

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How Long Can Bed Bugs Live Without Feeding? | Terminix

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The old saying, "Don't let the bed bugs bite," is more than just a mother's goodnight. These creatures do exist, and they can be a real pain. They are rare, but once they're in your house, they're very hard to get rid of. So, preventing them from getting in is your best defense.

Inspect all places in your house that are warm, close to human contact and have plenty of hiding spaces. This includes mattresses, carpeting, pillows and sofa beds, as well as behind chairs and dressers.

Treat your furniture with insecticides to get rid of any possible bed bugs. Basic insecticide spray will get rid of any on the furniture, but insecticide dust will get them where they hide.

Cover your mattress in plastic. This will prevent any bugs from getting in or out.

Consider getting rid of any old furniture if you can. If there is the chance any bugs remain, this will help prevent them from multiplying in your home again.

Seal and repair any cracks on your home's exterior to prevent bugs from entering. Install or repair window screens to keep birds or rodents, who may have bugs on them, from getting in.

Clean your house regularly, reducing clutter and even vacuuming the mattresses. This may not completely prevent bed bugs, but it will reduce their hiding places.

Check any furniture you buy secondhand, especially mattresses. Also, inspect all luggage and clothing that comes into your home, especially if you have traveled outside North America.

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Read more from the original source:
How to Prevent Bed Bugs | eHow

Bed bugs have largely been thought of as being a problem of the past. Unfortunately, we are now experiencing a widespread recurrence of bed bugs in the United States and abroad. The most significant factor that explains their return is the increase in international travel. Bed bugs easily get into clothing or luggage and are brought home. Even the finest hotels are not immune

A bed bug does not actually live under your skin, but will simply drink a few drops of blood while you are sleeping. You cannot feel its bite, even though it is actually piercing the skin. Although some saliva will get into the bite, bed bugs are not known to pass on any diseases to humans.

The different species of bed bugs have different feeding preferences. Some prefer human blood while others prefer bats and birds. Bed Bugs primarily reside in their target's nests or nesting areas.

While many bed bugs hide in mattresses, some may also hide in a sofa or chair, or behind wall paper or pictures. Thoroughness is the only real way to get rid of Bed Bugs. Every corner and crevice needs to be searched. As you might guess, this means that simply getting rid of an infected mattress will not completely solve the problem.

Bed Bug bites often cause redness and some swelling. Antihistamines and corticosteroids may be given to help relieve the itching. Approximately 50% of Bed Bug victims do not show any evidence of bites.

These tenacious pests are about 3/8" long and are visible to the naked eye. Amazingly, they are able to go without food for as long as a year. After getting their fill of blood, the females will lay eggs in batches of up to 200 at a time.

Since their reappearance, researchers have found that the new Bed Bugs are much more resistant to chemicals that have previously been in use. Insecticides that are often used for roaches and similar insects are ineffective on Bed Bugs. Bed Bugs, in particular, require professional pest control management.

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Bed Bugs - Pest Control Services

In what some call America's most bedbug-infested city, a man named Frank reluctantly discussed the high cost of his bloodsucking guests.

"I had a bedbug-sniffing dog come out and then exterminator treatment," he said. "I spent $350 for the stupid dog and a few hundred dollars to send my clothing out for cleaning. That's more than $1,000 just to be safe."

Now the bugs were taking another bite out of Frank. He contemplated the ceiling-high display of mattress bedbug barriers priced between $59.99 and $99.99 at a Manhattan Bed Bath & Beyond store.

From New York's handsome prewar buildings to the low-slung homes of the U.S. heartland, bedbug infestations are translating into big bucks for pest control companies and retailers selling protection against them.

"People are making a lot of money," said Larry Pinto, a Maryland-based pest control consultant and co-author of the Bed Bug Handbook. "Pest control companies specializing in bedbugs are making a lot of money.

This week, none other than extermination company Terminix ranked New York as the nation's bedbug capital. The firm based the ranking on the volume of calls to its offices around the country. New York surpassed Philadelphia, Detroit, Cincinnati and Chicago, which rounded out the top five cities.

Over the last three years, Terminix said, the company's commercial bedbug business more than doubled, with a significantly higher number of calls from individual householders.

Terminix and independent pest control experts say international travel is partly to blame. The bugs have been reappearing decades after which they were believed eradicated.

The Big Apple had been hit hard. Former President Bill Clinton had an outbreak at his Harlem office, as did lingerie outlet Victoria's Secret, teen clothing store Hollister, the iconic Empire State Building, movie theaters, and countless hotels which lost thousands of dollars in revenue combating the bugs.

"Now they're winding up in places without beds," Michael Raupp, an entomologist at the University of Maryland. "It's a boon and a bane because these things are not easy to control."

While they do not spread disease-causing germs, bedbugs can cause painful irritation and itching. They are hard and expensive to eradicate, often requiring the application of insecticides by pest control specialists or special steam treatments, according to experts. In rare cases, residents must leave their homes for weeks.

"I don't know if I'd say it's an epidemic or not," said Self, owner of Ameritex Pest Control in Beaumont, Texas. "I never actually had a call to go treat for any bedbug until about four years ago. In the last year and half, I'm getting three to five calls a month. Sometimes, I'll get 10 calls in a week. Bedbugs are great hitchhikers."

His initial inspection is free, Self said. "I'm kind of unusual at that. A lot of guys charge $100, $200 for an inspection."

A small town of 15,000, Beaumont, with eight pest control operators, is a competitive market, according to Self. "I bid on a small, four-apartment complex for 2,000 bucks but a guy came in behind me at $600 for all of them. Sometimes you get what you pay for."

Douglas Stern, managing partner of New Jersey-based Stern Environmental Group, started a new division of his extermination business six months ago in response to the growing number of infestations.

His company's new "bed-bug-prep concierge service" helps large-scale clients prepare infested furniture, large objects and spaces for extermination. Stern said he's worked with a number of high-profile clients including airlines and department stores. About half of the firm's business now is bedbug related and Stern said plans are in the works to expand into other cities.

"This is just the beginning," Stern said. "What we're experiencing in New York City other cities are not yet seeing. The problem is spreading."

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The Big Business Of Battling Bed Bugs - ABC News