Category Archives: Bed Bugs Maine

January marks the start of travel season. It's the time of year when most people book their travel plans, and for goodness sake, there are some cities to stay away from.

According to orkin.com, the top 50 cities in the country ranked for the most bed bug treatments are the big ones, and a few smaller ones you might not think of.

There's good news for New Englanders and anyone making plans to travel to New England. There were no New England cities in the top 50 places where bed bugs are found most, but the #2 ranked city was just down the I-95 corridor in New York City.

Chicago still ranks #1 as they can't seem to get a handle on the bugs, but New York is up there in rank too. #3 is Philadelphia, and at #4 the smaller city of Cleveland-Akron. Los Angeles trails behind right after.

Here's what's interesting.

The University of Maine studies bed bugs and here's what the cooperative extension writes:

Some factors that have favored their renewed expansion include a rise in international travel as countries ease or cancel their COVID-19 restrictions, the ongoing popularity of thrift shops and yard sales, and the number of people buying used furniture.

So the rise in bed bugs in the United States is not just travel but other factors as well, which puts these blood-sucking pests back into the news again.

Bed bugs are really good at hiding, "in the seams of mattresses, in box springs, in cracks of floorboards, behind peeled wallpaper, in picture frames, in couches, stuffed chairs, clothing and even the seams of curtains; wherever a dark crack or crevice might be", according to the University of Maine.

Orkin.com adds bed bugs are resilient, which makes them hard to control and eradicate. So while making those travel plans (or buying that old sofa), keep this in mind.

Now stop itching.

Gallery Credit: Megan

"Hygge...a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being; contentment from simple pleasures, such as warmth, food, friends, etc." Oxford English Dictionary

Gallery Credit: Megan

Link:
Here's the Closest City to New England That's Crawling With Bed Bugs - wokq.com

BATH Bath Iron Works is dealing with a bed bug issue, but a representative from the shipyards largest union said steps have been taken to control the pests.

While details of when the bugs were introduced to the shipyard and to what degree theyve spread are unknown, Tim Suitter, a representative from Local S6 said, BIW has been very responsive to the issue, and has isolated the incident. Proper pest control, and other steps were taken, and we are committed to working with BIW to make sure our members are protected.

The Times Record interviewed four BIW employees, most of whom asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal. One employee said a worker unintentionally brought the bed bugs into one building of the shipyard from their home. That person was sent home when the problem was discovered. Pest control was brought in to clean the employees station, locker and the surrounding area.

About the size of an apple seed, the flat brown bugs feed on human blood, leaving behind small, itchy bumps. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the pests can easily hide and hitch rides on people to spread from place to place. Bedbugs dont spread disease, but can be difficult to get rid of.

We are committed to preserving the safety and privacy of each of our employees and have taken all necessary steps to do so, said David Hench, BIWs communications representative. We regret that this is viewed as newsworthy and are concerned for the safety, privacy and dignity of the people involved.

Bed bug infestations were rare until the 1990s, but are now considered a common pest throughout the U.S., according to a 2015 report from the University of Washington.

Bed bugs can be found anywhere, even the most expensive hotel; they are not a sign of poor cleaning, the report states.

The bugs can be eradicated through chemical and natural means. Bed bugs die when their body temperature reaches 113F, according to the EPA, so to kill bed bugs with heat the room or container must be hotter to ensure sustained heat reaches the bugs no matter where they are hiding.

Freezing temperatures can also do the job, but the room must remain below freezing for an extended period of time, and the EPA warns home freezers may not be cold enough to kill bed bugs. Putting them outside in freezing temperatures could kill bed bugs, but there are many factors that can affect the success of this method.

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BIW battling bed bugs - Portland Press Herald

Learn your rights to know about a bed bug problem in the rental property.

Understandably, many people dont want to live in a building with a history of bed bugs. Knowing that full eradication of a bed bug infestation is rare unless the landlord acts swiftly and thoroughly, many tenants wont even consider renting a place that ever had a problem.

If youre lucky, you may have the benefit of an explicit local or state law that requires landlords to disclose a propertys bed bug history. These include Maine (under 14 M.R.S.A. 6021-A) and New York City (NYC Administrative Code 27-2018.1). To check out your state, see the list of state bed bug laws published on the website of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Unfortunately, most tenants cant count on a have state bed bug disclosure law. But if so, how will you know if a rental property has a current or past problem with bed bugs? You can start by asking the current tenants or neighbors in nearby buildings, and you can point blank ask a potential landlord or manager (see the Nolo article How to Check Out a Landlord or Property Manager for advice on doing this). Hopefully, youll get useful answers to your questions.

A landlord must answer your bed bug questions truthfully or face the consequences. If you find out that a landlord failed to tell you about a propertys bed bug history, you may have several options.

Read more here:
What Landlords Need to Tell Tenants about Bed Bugs in the ...

Date Posted: February 14, 2017 Category: Bed Bugs, Maine Pest Control

One of the questions that we get asked regularly is whether or not there are bed bugs right here in our own backyard. The short answer is, Yes. Here in South Portland the potential for finding bed bugs in your home, hotel room, or even your dorm room is just as likely as anywhere else in the United States.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, bed bugs seemed to be almost a thing of the past. For most of us, it was just part of a rhyme that our grandparents might have said to us before we headed off to sleep. In the past decade or so, the bed bug has enjoyed a comeback, and they have done so with a vengeance. The Bed bug can now be found in every single state in the country. Their rapid spread can be attributed to the amount of time that Americans spend traveling from one place to another for school, business, or vacation as well as the fact that the bed bug might just be the worlds sneakiest hitchhiker.

How do I know if I have bed bugs? That is another fairly common question. Quite frequently homeowners have no idea that they have brought these pests into their homes until the bugs have set up housekeeping and begun to feed. Though the host never actually feels the bite, they can certainly feel the itchy rash that shows up within a few days or so. The best way to keep a home or business pest free is to be proactive. Periodically inspect your home with a flashlight in key spots where bed bugs might be and know what you are looking for.

The bed bug is a tiny, oval-shaped bug that is generally reddish-brown. It likes to hang out near the bed, so check particularly around the headboard, in the seams of mattresses, and between the sheets in that area. Besides the bugs, you might actually find tiny little white specs which could be eggs, or you could even find brown staining from bed bug waste or droplets of blood from their human host.

Though bedrooms are the most common areas to find them, bed bugs will also invade other areas of your home. Any soft area such as sofas, chairs, and carpets are at risk. Perhaps you will find them in a favorite chair in front of the television or even in a pets bedding. Check these areas very thoroughly. Also, bed bugs are known to hide behind electrical outlets in the wall, leaving black streaks running from the outlets when they do. They can be found in the cracks of hardwood floors, in wall voids, and in bathrooms, kitchens, and closets as well. They have even been found hiding inside laptops, televisions, stereos, and home computers too.

If you find any sign of these pests in your home, do not try to remove them yourself. It might seem like there are a lot of DIY tips out there, but these tips rarely work as a permanent solution and might be a danger to your family. Give us a call here at Big Blue Bug Solutions instead. Our staff is highly trained and ready to help answer any questions that you may have and will schedule an inspection of your home to pinpoint exactly where bed bugs might be hiding. Once all of the hiding spots are located, we have several fast, effective, safe bed bug solutions to choose from to completely eradicate these pests from your South Portland home.

Tags: bed bug signs | bed bug control in me | where to find bed bugs |

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Are Bed Bugs In Maine? - bigbluebug.com

A small bed bug bite on the wrist of a man.

Why do bed bugs bite my spouse, but not me? Or even worse, Why do they bite me but not my wife, husband, kids, etc? Sometimes its more of a statement and oddly enough its presented as a point of pride as though not being delicious to bed bugs is something theyve worked hard to achieve While bed bug tastes may vary, well never know for sure until one of them develops the ability to speak and can confirm.

Until that day were stuck assuming what we know from clinical research and observation.

So why do some people get bitten by bed bugs and others do not? Turns out thats the wrong question based on observation. The better question is why do some people break out in rash when they have a bed bug infestation and others do not? Once you realize that is the question then the answer is simple:

Some people are allergic to bed bug saliva.

You and your spouse are, in fact, both being bitten. One of you is allergic and the other is not. If your spouse is getting a rash and you are not, it simply means their body reacts to the bite and yours does not.

In fact, in some cultures a majority of the people do not react to bed bug bites. Bed bugs are common and are not as often controlled. To most theyre not considered a problem. At least not a problem that needs to be dealt with given the time and money required to eradicate them. They take steps to control the population but typically not total elimination.

Increased overseas travel and immigration have brought about the resurgence of bed bugs to the United States. Most Americans break out in rashes. It doesnt mean we taste better. Oddly enough, a rash on one person from bites often look completely different from another. Google bed bug bites on google and look at the different rashes. If your dermatologist cant figure out what that rash is, you may want to check your mattress.

If the person with the rash is also bleeding, know that the bed bugs are not actually causing the bleeding. Its the person scratching at the bites in the middle of the night while asleep. And the blood on the sheets isnt necessarily from the bleeding. Often times its a smashed bed bug. Take that as a small victory.

So if your wife or husband is waking every morning with a rash it doesnt mean they are delicious and you taste horrible. Sorry to ruin that thought. If it makes you feel better, then it is possible you taste horrible but youre still getting bitten by bed bugs.

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Read more from the original source:
Why Do Bed Bugs Bite My Spouse and Not Me?