Category Archives: Bed Bugs Kentucky

Which of these common insect pests is a bed bug? In a survey conducted by researchers at the University of Kentucky, just 35 percent of US business travelers and 28 percent of leisure travelers could correctly identify the bed bug. Poor awareness of bed bugs enables their spread and causes problems for the hotel and lodging industry. The answers: 1-Ant, 2-Termite, 3-Louse, 4-Bed Bug, 5-Tick. Courtesy of Entomological Society of America Most business and leisure travelers in the United States can't identify a bed bug, and yet the tiny pest evokes a stronger response in hotel guests than any other potential room deficiency--putting the hospitality industry in a difficult spot. In a survey of U.S. travelers conducted by researchers at the University of Kentucky, 60 percent said they would switch hotels if they found evidence of bed bugs in a guest room. Meanwhile, no more than a quarter said they would switch hotels for factors such as signs of smoking or dirty towels or linens. In the same survey, however, just 35 percent of business travelers and 28 percent of leisure travelers correctly identified a bed bug in a lineup of other common insects. The results of the research are soon to be published in American Entomologist, the quarterly magazine of the Entomological Society of America.

"Considering all the media attention paid to bed bugs in recent years, the fact that most travelers still have a poor understanding of them is troubling," says Michael Potter, PhD, extension professor in UK's Department of Entomology and co-author of the study.

It is particularly problematic given the central role that online reviews play in travelers' selection of where to stay. More than half of survey respondents said they would be very unlikely to choose a hotel with a single online report of bed bugs.

"From a hotel industry perspective, it's worrisome that a single online report of bed bugs would cause the majority of travelers to book different accommodations, irrespective of whether the report is accurate. Furthermore, the incident could have involved only one or a few rooms, which the hotel previously eradicated," says Jerrod M. Penn, Ph.D., postdoctoral scholar in UK's Department of Agricultural Economics and lead author of the study.

Other findings in the survey include:

Despite a highly negative impression of bed bugs, more than half (56 percent) of respondents said they either never considered the threat of bed bugs while traveling or considered it but were not worried.

If a hotel were to proactively provide information on the steps it takes to prevent bed bug infestations, 46 percent of respondents said they would stay at the hotel and would appreciate knowing about those measures. The second most common response, however, was "do it, but don't tell me" (24 percent).

An overwhelming majority (80 percent) of respondents said hotels should be required to tell guests if their room has had a prior problem with bed bugs. Among those who wanted such a disclosure, 38 percent of business travelers and 51 percent of leisure travelers said they would want to know of prior infestations going back a least one year or more.

Responses to bed bug concerns were generally consistent across various demographic cross-sections in the survey.

Potter notes that the public's lack of understanding of bed bugs "contributes to their spread throughout society as a whole." But the hospitality industry must deal with both the pest itself and consumers' strong, if ill-informed, attitudes about bed bugs.

"Hotels and others in the hospitality sector should develop a reputation management plan to prudently respond to online reports of bed bugs in their facility. Hotels should also train their housekeeping and engineering staffs to recognize and report bed bugs in the earliest possible stages, when infestations are more manageable. Similarly important is training front desk and customer service employees to respond promptly and empathetically when incidents arise within the hotel," says Wuyang Hu, PhD, professor in UK's Department of Agricultural Economics and senior author of the study..

"Bed Bugs and Hotels: Traveler Insights and Implications for the Industry," by Jerrod M. Penn, Hannah J. Penn, Michael F. Potter, and Wuyang Hu, was published online on June 13 in American Entomologist.

Source: Entomological Society of America

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Bed Bug Awareness is Poor Among US Travelers, But Reactions are Strong - Infection Control Today

Whether youre traveling for work or just taking a vacation, one of the last things you want to see when you drop your bags in your hotel room is an infestation of bed bugs. But are those tiny insects really bed bugs at all?

In a recent survey, researchers from the University of Kentucky found that up to 60% of respondents would switch hotels if they found bed bugs in their room. But, ironically, the same survey found that only 35% of business travelers and 28% of leisure travelers could identify a bed bug in the first place.

"Considering all the media attention paid to bed bugs in recent years, the fact that most travelers still have a poor understanding of them is troubling," said co-author Dr. Michael Potter.

Potter and lead author Dr. Jerrod M. Penn of the UKs Department of Agricultural Economics say that this lack of understanding can be especially harmful to the hotel and hospitality industry.

In an age where online reviews can save or sink a business, they found that most travelers will go out of their way to avoid a hotel with a reputation for bed bugs.

"From a hotel industry perspective, it's worrisome that a single online report of bed bugs would cause the majority of travelers to book different accommodations, irrespective of whether the report is accurate, said Penn. Furthermore, the incident could have involved only one or a few rooms, which the hotel previously eradicated.

The survey does offer some hope to hotels, though. Approximately half of the respondents said that they would stay at a hotel if it proactively provided information on the steps it takes to prevent bed buginfestations. Making this information readily available and responding to online reviews to improve hotel conditions could go a long way towards gaining consumer trust.

"Hotels and others in the hospitality sector should develop a reputation management plan to prudently respond to online reports of bed bugs in their facility, said senior author Dr. Wuyang Hu.

Hotels should also train their housekeeping and engineering staffs to recognize and report bed bugs in the earliest possible stages, when infestations are more manageable. Similarly important is training front desk and customer service employees to respond promptly and empathetically when incidents arise within the hotel.

The teams full study has been published in the journal American Entomologist.

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Most consumers can't identify bed bugs, survey finds - ConsumerAffairs

NDTV

Angry man releases about 100 bed bugs at Maine city office Lexington Herald Leader A municipal office building in Maine has reopened after officials say a disgruntled man slammed a cup full of bedbugs on the counter, releasing about 100 of the pests. Augusta officials told that Kennebec Journal (http://bit.ly/2sNIB0f ) that ... Disgruntled Man Releases Bedbugs in Maine City Officehttp://hamodia.com Augusta City Center closes after angry man unleashes 100 live bedbugsKennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Angry man denied assistance releases 100 bed bugs in city officemyfox8.com all 48 news articles »

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Angry man releases about 100 bed bugs at Maine city office - Lexington Herald Leader

DETROIT, June 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ Whether at home or traveling for summer vacation, bed bugs could be a key concern. Although named for their habit of feeding on human hosts in bed, they can be found in all types of locations and items. To promote public awareness and to help avoid infestations, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has declared June 4-10, 2017 as Bed Bug Awareness Week. Rose Pest Solutions is joining NPMA in this important public education effort by sharing common signs of a bed bug infestation to keep an eye out for this summer.

Just like people enjoy traveling in the summer months, so do bed bugs, and they love using personal belongings like suitcases, boxes and shoes as a hiding place, just to be near a food supply, said Barb Craig, Direct of Communications for Rose Pest Solutions. With these biting pests being easily transported, its important that our clients in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana know the top signs of an infestation, so proper precautions can be put in place and to know when its time to call a licensed pest control professional to assess the situation.

Rose Pest Solutions shares the following noteworthy signs and symptoms of a possible bed bug infestation:

A 2015 study by NPMA and the University of Kentucky found that while bed bug infestations are a year-round phenomenon, six out of ten pest control professionals noted seasonal differences in frequency. At Rose, we see a rise in reported bed bug cases in the summertime due to summer travel.

During the summer, travel increases and so does the likelihood of encountering bed bugs. We strongly encourage the public to take extra precautions to avoid encounters with these biting pests, added Craig.

For more information on bed bugs and prevention tips, please visit http://www.rosepestsolutions.com/bed-bug-treatment-residential

Contact:

Barb Craig Rose Pest Solutions 800-966-ROSE bcraig@rosepest.com

About Rose Pest Solutions

Rose Pest Solutions has been serving Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Western Pennsylvania for over 150 years.Rose Pest Solutions has been solving pest problems since 1860. Today, we continue our longstanding tradition of providing effective residential and commercial pest control solutions for Michigan, Ohio, NE Indiana, Northern Kentucky and Western Pennsylvania. Rose Pest Solutions is locally owned and operated. That means we can quickly and confidently implement and provide you with the latest technological advancements and green initiatives available today.

Related Links

Bed Bug Inspections

Bed Bug Treatment

SOURCE Rose Pest Solutions

DETROIT, June 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ Whether at home or traveling for summer vacation, bed bugs could be a key concern. Although named for their habit of feeding on human hosts in bed, they can be found in all types of locations and items. To promote public awareness and to help avoid infestations, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has declared June 4-10, 2017 as Bed Bug Awareness Week. Rose Pest Solutions is joining NPMA in this important public education effort by sharing common signs of a bed bug infestation to keep an eye out for this summer.

Just like people enjoy traveling in the summer months, so do bed bugs, and they love using personal belongings like suitcases, boxes and shoes as a hiding place, just to be near a food supply, said Barb Craig, Direct of Communications for Rose Pest Solutions. With these biting pests being easily transported, its important that our clients in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana know the top signs of an infestation, so proper precautions can be put in place and to know when its time to call a licensed pest control professional to assess the situation.

Rose Pest Solutions shares the following noteworthy signs and symptoms of a possible bed bug infestation:

A 2015 study by NPMA and the University of Kentucky found that while bed bug infestations are a year-round phenomenon, six out of ten pest control professionals noted seasonal differences in frequency. At Rose, we see a rise in reported bed bug cases in the summertime due to summer travel.

During the summer, travel increases and so does the likelihood of encountering bed bugs. We strongly encourage the public to take extra precautions to avoid encounters with these biting pests, added Craig.

For more information on bed bugs and prevention tips, please visit http://www.rosepestsolutions.com/bed-bug-treatment-residential

Contact:

Barb Craig Rose Pest Solutions 800-966-ROSE bcraig@rosepest.com

About Rose Pest Solutions

Rose Pest Solutions has been serving Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Western Pennsylvania for over 150 years.Rose Pest Solutions has been solving pest problems since 1860. Today, we continue our longstanding tradition of providing effective residential and commercial pest control solutions for Michigan, Ohio, NE Indiana, Northern Kentucky and Western Pennsylvania. Rose Pest Solutions is locally owned and operated. That means we can quickly and confidently implement and provide you with the latest technological advancements and green initiatives available today.

Related Links

Bed Bug Inspections

Bed Bug Treatment

SOURCE Rose Pest Solutions

Continued here:
Avoid the Biting Burden of Bed Bugs This Summer - satPRnews (press release)

Lexington Herald Leader

Bedbugs force 3 South Carolina fire crews to relocate | Lexington ... Lexington Herald Leader Firefighters can tackle almost anything, but bedbugs have proven to be too much at three stations along the South Carolina coast. The Charleston Fire ... and more »

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Bedbugs force 3 South Carolina fire crews to relocate | Lexington ... - Lexington Herald Leader