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Feeds for Mariusz Antonik's BlogFather Feed [This RSS feed is published by Lady Bug Pest Services ] 1. Westfield Pest Control - Bedbugs For a bug that is so well entrenched in our language in the United States, for many decades it was a rare occurrence indeed for anyone to actually see a Bedbug. For one reason or another, or perhaps a combination of reasons, we are seeing a distinct resurgence of this blood-sucking parasite throughout the U.S. While many people associate them with poorer living conditions it is not uncommon for bedbugs to infest upscale homes and even good hotels and happily feed on sleeping occupants. Earlier in the recent history of the United States, perhaps in the first few decades of the 1900's, bedbugs were so common in our homes that we all knew the little rhyme of "Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite". With the advent of highly effective modern insecticides, bedbugs became almost an endangered species as homes were routinely treated for these and other pests that are capable of causing us problems. If a pest control company received one call in 10 years for bedbugs they seemed to be about average. Now, companies may get a dozen calls each month, and the reasons are not entirely understood. One conclusion is that worldwide travel, often to more rural and undeveloped areas where bedbugs are quite common, has allowed us to bring back bedbugs in our luggage. Heavy immigration to the United States might have resulted in great numbers of bedbugs coming along too. Bedbugs feed only at night, and hide in daylight. It would be normal to expect many of them to crawl into nearby suitcases after feeding on a sleeping person. Hotels seem to be infested more often than homes, so there could be some credence to this hitchhiker theory. There are several different species of Bedbugs, however, they all bear a slight resemblance to ticks, and can be distinguished by the presence of only 6 legs as opposed to the 8 legs of ticks. As mature nymphs or as adult bugs they are very round in appearance, flattened from top to bottom, and are a reddish brown color. The adults are about 3/16 of an inch across. Once bedbugs are present they are tough insects to get rid of. The females can deposit up to 200 eggs over a period of several weeks, gluing them to surfaces within their hiding places. Bedbugs cannot fly, but they crawl very rapidly, and now are being found in rooms away from the bedroom as well. They squeeze into wall voids where it is difficult to place an insecticide, adding to the difficulty in their control.
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2. A Green Approach to Pest Control A Green Approach to Pest Control By CLARE TRAPASSO Associated Press Writer NEW YORK - Detergent water, vacuum cleaners, door sweeps. These simple household products are on the front lines of "green" pest control. Amid a new wave of environmentalism, eco-savvy consumers are realizing they no longer need to rely on traditional pesticides, which may pose health risks, to combat rodents and insects. Environmentally friendly exterminating services, dubbed integrated pest management, are popping up across the nation. The companies, who mostly work with commercial clients, say the demand for their services is on the rise. "Traditional pest control companies run around spraying pesticides," said Joel Sklar, vice president of sales at Assured Environments, a New York integrated pest management company. "We're using glue traps to find out where there are animals and pests ... and we seal holes and areas to prevent them from getting in." Instead of using chemicals, eco-warriors investigate how and why pests infiltrate a building. Then they rely on detergent water, vacuum cleaners and low or no-toxicity products to fight the problem. "Probably the best product out there is a door sweep," said Tom Green, president of the Integrated Pest Management Institute North America, Inc., in Wisconsin, referring to the vinyl strips installed on the bottoms of doors. The institute certifies green exterminating companies. "A mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a pencil diameter. So if you've got a quarter-inch gap underneath your door, as far as a mouse is concerned, there's no door there at all." About two-thirds of the 378 exterminating companies that responded to a survey by Pest Control Technology magazine last year, claimed to offer some sort of integrated pest management services. "It's a better approach to pest control for the health of the home, the environment and the family," said Cindy Mannes, a spokeswoman for the National Pest Management Association, the trade organization of the $6.3 billion exterminating industry. But most consumers are not aware these services even exist, said Mannes. She cautioned that each of the approximately 18,000 U.S. pest control companies may define IPM services differently. And a typical $75 exterminator's visit to a four-bedroom home can cost clients 10 to 20 percent more if they choose greener IPM services, which are more labor intensive, according to Sklar. Vinje also provides clients with more unusual solutions. Last October, for instance, his company sent more than 720,000 ladybugs to two Manhattan apartment complexes where the landscaping was being decimated by aphids and mites. The red-and-black bugs were unleashed on the 80-acre grounds to eat the pests. "We were looking for different ways for the property to be a little greener," said Glenn Mahoney, senior director of the properties. "It's been very effective. We're happy with the results." Research has shown that cockroach and rodent infestations can pose health risks, with children who live in poorly maintained, low-income housing particularly susceptible. "Their airways and lungs are still developing," said Anhthu Hoang, a former biologist and general counsel at We Act for Environmental Justice, an environmental justice organization in West Harlem. "They tend to be lower on the ground." Hoang gave some examples of the health risks: Roach wings and excrement "dry up and create an asthma trigger" when they get into the air, and chemicals and sprays can sometimes exacerbate the problem. Green, whose organization certifies green exterminating companies, says there are always going to be situations where a pesticide is needed. But he also believes the demand for natural pest management services and products is growing. "The pesticide manufacturing industry has really worked hard over the last 10 years to bring new products to market that are much less toxic," he said. "We're making a lot of progress."
At Lady Bug Pest Services we are always looking for new ways to enhance our service and improve treatment efficacy in order to provide the best pest control service for our clients. If you have any question about "Green" Pest Control techniques, please feel free to call us. Lady Bug Pest Services
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