Bedbug Laws By State

 

With the serious increase of bedbug infestations over the past decade, many victims of such infestations are wondering what the bedbug laws are in their state. Currently, twenty-two states have bedbug laws in the books. Several other states have bedbug legislation, or yet to be passed bedbug laws. Here is a compiled list:

*** Disclaimer*** The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only, and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. These are the bedbug laws as of March 11, 2013, and can change. If  you feel that you have been a bedbug victim; whether landlord, tenant, or otherwise, please contact a licensed attorney who specializes in bedbug cases.

Alabama

Law	Definition
Alabama Administrative Code 420-3-11-.12 Insect And Rodent Control: Section 2	Guest rooms and other areas of a hotel found to be infested with bed bugs shall be subject to immediate closure until effective treatment, eliminating pests, has been administered. A State health official shall declare the problem abated before the room or area is reopened to guests.

Read more: http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/

 

Arizona

Law	Definition
Arizona Revised Code 36-601 – Public Nuisances Dangerous to Public Health.	Any place that offers sleeping accommodations, and has bedbugs, is a public nuisance and dangerous to human health.
Arizona Revised Code 9-500.31 Prohibition on adopting landlord tenant bedbug control requirements.	Arizona cities/town cannot regulate landlord-tenant bedbug controls. They can regulate disposal of bedbug infested materials.
Arizona Revised Code 11-269.11 Prohibition on adopting landlord tenant bedbug control requirements.	Boards of Supervisors cannot regulate landlord-tenant bedbug controls. They can regulate disposal of bedbug infested materials.
Arizona Revised Code 33-1319 Bedbug control; landlord and tenant obligations; definitions.	A landlord cannot knowingly rent a bedbug infested property to a tenant, and must provide tenants with bedbug literature.

Read more: http://www.azleg.gov/ars/36/00601.htm

 

California

Law	Definition
California Code Of Regulations 40- Bedding	Hotels, apartments, and linen supply companies must ensure all materials are bedbug free.

Source: https://law.resource.org/pub/us/ccr/gov.ca.oal.title25.html

 

Connecticut

Law

Definition

Sec. 22a-46. Short title: Connecticut Pesticide Control Act

In Connecticut, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) classifies each registered pesticide as either acceptable for general use or restricted use. Restricted use pesticides are recognized in the industry to generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment. Restricted use pesticides may be applied only by a certified applicator or under the direct supervision of a certified applicator.

Read more: http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap441.htm

 

Florida

Law	Definition
Florida Revised Code/Title VI/Civil Practice and Procedure/Chapter 83- Landlord and Tenant	The extermination bedbugs. When vacation of the premises is required for such extermination, the landlord shall not be liable for damages but shall abate the rent. The tenant shall be required to temporarily vacate the premises for a period of time not to exceed 4 days, on 7 days’ written notice, if necessary, for extermination.

Read more: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&Sub

 

Illinois

The State of Illinois and the City of Chicago is in the process of drafting bedbug laws. The city of Chicago was recently labeled the #1 infested bedbug city in the U.S. The new laws are expected to be voted on March 13, 2013.

Illinois Proposed Bedbug Laws

The presence of bedbugs is a public nuisance.

Bedbugs require pest control management done by a pest control professional.

Bedbug infestations require records to be kept on infestations and actions taken.

City and State employees will be granted access to the above mentioned reports.

Requires each condo and co-op to develop a plan for detection, inspection and eradication of bed bugs.

Regulates disposal of contaminated materials and sale of used mattresses and beds.

A sample plan for detection, inspection, and eradication of bedbugs will be posted on the State’s Department of Public Health website.

Laws will spell out both landlord and tenant responsibilities when it comes to bedbugs.

The Commissioner of Public Health has the power to enforce these laws.

Iowa

Law	Definition
Iowa Administrative Rule 138.13 Conditions For Migrant Labor Camps Permits	A migrant labor camp must have bedbug controls in place; and take effective pest control measures against any bedbug infestations.

Read more: http://law.justia.com/codes/iowa/2013/titleiv/subtitle2/chapter138/138-13/

 

Kansas

Law	Definition
Kansas Administrative Regulations Article 36 /28-36-77.—Food Service Establishments, Vending machines, and Lodging	The presence of bed bugs, which is indicated by observation of a living or dead bed bug, bed bug carapace, eggs or egg casings, or the typical brownish or blood spotting on linens, mattresses, or furniture, shall be considered an infestation. The presence of bed bugs shall be reported to the regulatory authority within one business day upon discovery or upon receipt of a guest complaint. All infestations must be treated by licensed pest control operator.
Kansas Administrative Regulations Article 4-27-9 Bedbugs Imminent Health Hazard	Bedbugs are considered a health hazard, which must be reported to authorities within 12 hours of detection.

 

 

Maine

Law

Definition

Maine Revised Statutes-Title 14: 6021-A. Treatment of Bedbug Infestation

Landlord must: Inspect the unit for bed bugs within five days of being notified by tenant of infestation, contact pest control agent within 10 days of determining there is an infestation, take reasonable measures to effectively identify and treat bed bug infestation as determined by pest control agent. The pest control agent must carry current liability insurance. Before renting a dwelling unit, a landlord must disclose to a prospective tenant if an adjacent unit is currently infested with or being treated for bed bugs; including the last time the property was inspected and labeled bedbug free. Landlord may not offer for rent a dwelling unit the landlord knows or suspects is infested with bed bugs.Tenants must: Promptly notify a landlord when they know of or suspects an infestation of bedbugs in their unit, and then grant the landlord and pest control agent access to the unit. Tenant must comply with reasonable measures to eliminate and control a bed bug infestation as set forth by the landlord and pest control agent or risk being financially responsible for all pest control treatments of dwelling unit arising from the tenant’s failure to comply.Law also provides bedbug remedies.

Read more: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/14/14/title14ch0sec0.html

 

Michigan

Law	Definition
Michigan Administrative Code 400.57 Care Of Residents	Requires county infirmaries to implement procedures to prevent bedbug infestations and to take proper steps to eradicate existing infestations.

Source: http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/env-res/state-bedbug-laws.aspx

 

Minnesota

Law	Definition
Minnesota Administrative Code 4625.1700 INSECT AND RODENT CONTROL	Every hotel, motel, lodging house, and resort shall be so constructed and equipped as to prevent the entrance, harborage, or breeding of bedbugs, and specific means necessary, for the elimination of such pests such as cleaning, renovation, or fumigation shall be used. The commissioner may order the facility to hire an exterminator licensed by the state to exterminate pests when:A. The infestation is so extensive that it is unlikely that a nonprofessional can eradicate the pests effectively; orB. The extermination method of choice can only be carried out by a licensed exterminatorC. Upon re-inspection, it is found that an establishment has not been brought into compliance with a prior order to rid the establishment of pests.
Minnesota Administrative Code 4665.2300 INSECT AND RODENT CONTROL	Every supervised living facility shall be so constructed or equipped as to prevent the entrance, harborage, or breeding of bedbugs. Cleaning, renovation, or fumigation by licensed pest control operators for the elimination of such pests shall be used when necessary.

Read more: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=4625.1700&keyword_type=al

 

Nebraska

Law	Definition
Nebraska Administration of Rules & Regulations Title 175, Ch. 2, 004 SANITATION	Boarding homes must be built to prevent the infestation of bedbugs, and pest control operators can be used to treat infestations.
Nebraska Administration of Rules & Regulations Title 175, Ch. 3, 004 HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS – GENERAL	Health care facilities must be built to prevent the infestation of bedbugs, and pest control operators can be used to treat infestations.

Nevada

Law	Definition
Nevada Revised Code 447.030 Extermination	Any room in any hotel in Nevada that is infested with bedbugs shall be thoroughly fumigated, disinfected and renovated until such bedbugs are entirely exterminated.
Nevada Revised Code 444 Sanitation	In a camp, proper bedbug prevention measures must be taken.

Read more: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Legal/LawLibrary/NRS/NRS-447.html

 

New York

Law	Definition
Revised Statute New York City Administrative Code 27-2018.1 Notice of Bedbug Infestation History	A property’s bedbug infestation history for the previous year, regarding the premises rented by the tenant, and the building in which the premises are located, shall be furnished to each tenant.
New York Education Code/Article 19 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICE 920. Public Schools	Public schools; infestation of bedbugs1. In a city school district having a population of one million or more inhabitants, the principal of each public school shall provide immediate notification to parents, persons in parental relation or guardians of potentially affected students attending the school, disclosing a findingrelating to the infestation of bedbugs in such school; provided, however, that if pursuant to regulations of the commissioner it is determined that any infestation is contained within a discrete area, the principal may limit such notification to parents, persons in parental relationship or guardians of all potentially affected students within such area, and shall advise the parents’ association of the scope of such notification.2. Along with the notification required pursuant to subdivision one of this section, the principal of such public school shall also include information regarding proper procedures to prevent further infestationsat the school and to prevent the transfer of bedbugs. Such information shall be developed by the board of education in consultation with other city agencies and shall be available in various languages as deemed necessary.3. The principal shall ensure that the bedbug infestation at the school is properly addressed in the most effective and safe manner.

 

Ohio

Law	Definition
Ohio Revised Code 3731.13 Bedding, floors, and carpets must be kept sanitary	Hotel bedding must be kept sanitary and bedbug free.

Read more: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3731.13

 

Pennsylvania

Law	Definition
Pennsylvania Code 82.15 Insect Control	Measures must be taken and in place to eliminate and prevent bedbug infestations at farm labor camps.

 

Rhode Island

Law	Definition
Rhode Island Administrative Code 25-3-24:7 Rules & Regulations Relating To Pesticides	Certain restricted bedbug pesticides must be certified for commercial use.

Read more: http://www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/regs/agric/pestrg06.pdf

 

South Dakota

Law	Definition
South Dakota Administrative Code/44:02:08-Vacation Homes	A vacation home establishment must be constructed, equipped, and maintained to prevent the entrance, harborage, or breeding of bed bugs. Specific means necessary for the elimination of such pests, such as cleaning, renovation, or fumigation, must be used. The department may require the facility to hire a professional exterminator to exterminate pests.

Read more: http://legis.state.sd.us/rules/DisplayRule.aspx?Rule=44:02:08:05

 

Texas

Law	Definition
Texas Revised Code Sec. 341.011. NUISANCE	Bedbugs are a public health nuisance.
Texas Revised Code Sec. 341.012. ABATEMENT OF NUISANCE	(a) A person shall abate a public health nuisance existing in or on a place the person possesses as soon as the person knows that the nuisance exists.(b) A local health authority who receives information and proof that a public health nuisance exists in the local health authority’s jurisdiction shall issue a written notice ordering the abatement of the nuisance to any person responsible for the nuisance. The local health authority shall at the same time send a copy of the notice to the local municipal, county, or district attorney.(c) The notice must specify the nature of the public health nuisance and designate a reasonable time within which the nuisance must be abated.(d) If the public health nuisance is not abated within the time specified by the notice, the local health authority shall notify the prosecuting attorney who received the copy of the original notice. The prosecuting attorney: (1) shall immediately institute proceedings to abate the public health nuisance; or (2) request the attorney general to institute the proceedings or provide assistance in the prosecution of the proceedings, including participation as an assistant prosecutor when appointed by the prosecuting attorney.

Utah

Law	Definition
Utah Administrative Code Rule R392-200. Design, Construction, Operation, Sanitation, and Safety of Schools.	Effective measures intended to minimize the presence of bedbugs on the premises shall be utilized. The premises shall be maintained so that propagation, harborage, or feeding of is prevented.

Read more: http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r392/r392-200.htm

 

West Virginia

Law	Definition
West Virginia Revised Code 16-6-16 Bedbugs	In every hotel, any room infected with vermin or bedbugs shall be fumigated, disinfected and renovated until said vermin or bedbugs are extirpated.

 

Wisconsin

Law

Definition

Wisconsin Administrative Code Department Health Services 190.08

(5) PEST CONTROL(a) Screens. All windows and doors used for ventilation purposes shall be provided with wire screening of not less than number 16 mesh or its equivalent and shall be properly maintained to prevent entry of insects. Screens for windows shall cover at least one third of the window area. Screen doors shall be self closing.(b) Eradication. All means necessary for the elimination of rodents, flies, roaches, bedbugs, fleas, lice and other householdpests shall be used. Extreme care shall be taken in the use of poison to prevent accidental poisoning of domestic animals and people.(c) Labeling and storage of poisonous compounds. Containers of all poisonous compounds used in the extermination of rodents or insects shall be prominently and distinctly labeled for easy identification of contents. Poisonous compounds shall be stored independently and separately from food and kitchenware.

Read more: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/dhs/190.pdf

 

*** Disclaimer*** The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only, and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. These are the bedbug laws as of March 11, 2013, and can change. If feel that you have been a bedbug victim; whether landlord, tenant, or otherwise, please contact a licensed attorney who specializes in bedbug cases.

Other Sources:

http://www.pestworld.org/media/3309/statebedbuglawsasofaug262011_2_.pdf

http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/env-res/state-bedbug-laws.aspx

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ppdc/bedbug-summit/2011/2-gh-summittalk.pdf

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Anthony Ball

(Photo by Brooke Borel)

A Pill A Day Keeps The Bedbugs Away?  

Can popping a pill keep bedbugs from feeding on you during your sleep? That’s exactly what a group of doctors and scientists from Eastern Virginia Medical School believe with their new research.

A New Weapon For Battling Bedbugs?  

New studies suggest that a bedbug will die shortly after having a blood meal from someone who has taken the drug Stromectol. Many are finding this news refreshing as bedbug infestations are growing at exponential rates—some reports say as rates have risen as much as 75% from this same time last year.

Researchers hope that taking the Stromectol pill, along with conventional pesticide measures, will eradicate a bedbug infestation.

Stromectol Pill  

Stromectol, produced by Merck & Company (MRK), is also made with the drug ivermectin. It is typically used to combat parasitic worms. Doctors usually prescribe Stromectol to help treat lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), and river blindness caused by worm parasites.

Ivermectin has also been found successful in the treating of body lice, head lice, scabies, and now bedbugs.

 The Research  

Popular Science and Bloomberg both report that Eastern Virginia Medical School researchers ran three different experiments on groups of bedbugs. The groups included both adult bedbugs, as well as young bedbugs in their third and fourth growth stages. Different groups of bugs were fed ivermectin-laced mouse blood through an artificial membrane, directly from mice that had been injected with ivermectin. Bedbugs also fed on four people that had taken the drug orally.

In both the human and mouse trials, the drug killed most of the bed bugs in varying degrees. The bedbugs that didn’t die were unable to molt and reproduce.

Bedbug Pill Obstacles  

The promise of eliminating bedbugs by simply taking a pill seems promising, but there are still many obstacles left to hurdle.

First, bedbugs still have to bite a victim and feed on their blood in order to digest the ivermectin. Most people would prefer traditional pest control methods, over being bit continually. Bedbugs would have to bring our society to its knees before people start entertaining that approach.

Second, bedbugs only come out of hiding about once a week to feed. To guarantee every bedbug gets a dose of ivermectin, someone would have to take the drug for a couple of weeks. Even then, every single bedbug in the infestation may not be exposed to the drug.

Finally, in order for the FDA to approve a drug for us to use, it first must be subjected to hundreds if not thousands of tests to collect important data. Years of human and animal trials will be needed before the new drug is deemed safe for human usage.

Bedbugs  

Bedbugs are nocturnal blood feeders and crawl onto sleeping human hosts to feed. They feed by piercing the skin with an elongated beak through which they withdraw blood. Engorgement takes about three to ten minutes. Bed bugs are very resilient and adults can survive for more than one year without eating.

Bedbugs are flat, except when they are engorged with blood, and are reddish- brown in color. They look much like an apple seed. Bedbugs do not fly, but can move quickly over floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces.

Until bedbug technology improves, traditional pest control methods are still our best resource for combating these blood-sucking bugs.

 

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Anthony Ball

Celebrities Attacked By Blood Sucking Bedbugs

Bedbugs can be a common occurrence for celebrities, who do a lot of world traveling for both work and leisure. One of the biggest misnomers is that bedbugs only live in poor, dirty hotels. The truth is they can be just as common in a five star hotel as a dilapidated transient housing unit.

For an informative infographic about the rising bedbug epidemic, click here.

Here are a few celebrities who have recently had run-ins with bedbugs:

Howard Stern

Howard Stern reported on his Sirius XM Radio show that he has been “scratching every minute,” since his New York apartment and limousine had been infested with the tiny nuisances.

Renee Zellweger & Bradley Cooper

Last year, the National Enquirer reported that then couple Renee Zellweger and Bradley Cooper had to throw out a mattress crawling with bedbugs. Cooper had been doing a lot of traveling, staying in various hotels, and figured he picked them up and brought them home (which is very easy to do)… Maybe they were nesting in those dreadlocks he grew for the film “Hit and Run.”

Lauren Hildebrandt

The pop singer, best known for her song “Boy Shorts,” was attacked by blood-thirsty bedbugs while sleeping in four star New York City hotels last year. She said, “I couldn’t sleep at night, because I kept thinking they were in my bed.”

Maya Rudolph

A couple years back, Saturday Night Live star Maya Rudolph moved into their New York SoHo apartment only to find it filled with bedbugs. Rudolph, who had a baby at the time, began finding bedbug bites all over her and her family. The matter was resolved after pest control efforts… and a $450,000 lawsuit against the landlord.

To read more about landlord pest control violations ranking among the fastest growing consumer complaints, click here.

Aubrey Plaza

Parks and Recreation actress, Aubrey Plaza, was filming in Seattle, WA last month when she had an unpleasant encounter with these tiny pests. The actress reports getting bit by them at a local hotel, which she did not name, and says “it was a nightmare.”

 

 

Bedbugs 

The last several years we have been inundated with bedbug horror stories like this. Both local and national news stations, radio stations, and newspapers ran with stories that we were under attack! During that time a lot of pest control companies experienced an unexpected boom.

There is plenty of fear out there surrounding bedbugs. With the growing accounts of bedbugs in the US, the fear is warranted. Bed bugs are very difficult to control and spread very fast if not kept in check.

Even celebrities must deal with bedbugs too!

 

 

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Anthony Ball

As pest control professionals, we already know that the do-it-yourself “bombs” or “foggers” that target bedbugs by filling entire rooms with aerosol insecticide are ineffective. Although these products are indeed cheap, retailing at hardware stores for around $10, you’re likely to get what you pay for. We also know that the liquid solutions and all natural oils are equally ineffective in treating bedbugs. Now the Federal Trade Commission is taking action against some of the companies marketing them.

The Federal Trade Commission

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them.

They have charged the marketing companies RMB Group and Cedarcide, as well as the individuals behind them, with deceptive advertising for claiming that their products can eliminate and prevent future bedbug infestations. The Cedarcide defendants are also charged with making deceiving claims that the federal government endorses and is affiliated with their products.

RMB Group Charges

Rest Easy, marketed by RMB Group, is a liquid solution containing all natural ingredients like peppermint, cinnamon, lemongrass, and clove. It can be bought at retailers like: Walgreens, Big Lots, and Bed Bath & Beyond. The FTC complaint charges that the RMB Group defendants make unsupported claims that Rest Easy kills and repels bedbugs, and that a consumer can create a barrier against them by spraying the product around a bed.

The FTC has fined the makers of Rest Easy almost $265,000, and has banned the company from making claims that its product kills or repels bedbugs, and creates a barrier against them. The FTC has further banned them from making any claims about the performance of their products unless they have been backed by proficient scientific evidence.

 

 

Cedarcide Charges

Best Yet, marketed by Cedarcide Industries, is a cedar oil-based liquid that claims it will treat and prevent bedbug infestations. Their product is sold nation-wide, including commercially. A bottle costs around $30, but they also offer a hotel bedbug eradication kit for $3,400.

• The FTC has charged Cedarcide with making the following false claims:
• That Best Yet will prevent bedbug infestations, and that it’s more effective than synthetic pesticides
• That scientific studies confirm Best Yet is effective at stopping and preventing bed bug infestations, and that it is more effective than synthetic pesticides at doing so
• The Environmental Protection Agency has warned consumers to avoid all synthetic pesticides for treating bed bug infestations
• Best Yet was invented for the U.S. Army at the request of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and that the USDA has acknowledged the product as the number one choice of bio-based pesticides.

What This Means for Pest Control Companies

The actions by the Federal Trade Commission are clearly good news for both the consumer and for pest control operators. During this recent bedbug epidemic, consumers have been looking for the lowest cost solutions to their bedbug infestations. They have been turning to these ineffective products as a solution, instead of calling a local pest control professional to get the job done.

These FTC actions go a long way in educating consumers about ineffective pest control products, but we need to continue educating the consumer as well–Professional exterminators are your most effective option when it comes to effective eliminating bedbugs in your home.

Your thoughts?

 

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Pest Control Held to New Standards

New legislation has been passed in Annapolis, MD banning toxic pesticides within 25 feet of schools, daycares, government buildings, and waterways. Starting July 1, 2013 pesticides will only be used in emergency infestations. This new legislation is following the same pest control approach of other cities like nearby Washington, DC.

http://annapolis.patch.com/articles/pest-control-held-to-new-standards-by-council

Parasites and Products

Here is a great blog on what the pest control industry is using to treat tick and fleas. Some Pyrethroids like Permethrin are working well for fleas as well as ticks. The article emphasizes customer preparation and education.

http://brownpestcontrol.com/aug-21-2012-parasites-and-products/

Tips For Cleaner, More Energy Efficient Living

McDonald Pest Control offers some great tips on how all of us pest control operators can live more energy-efficient, cleaner, greener lives.

http://www.mcdonaldpestcontrol.com/st-petersburg-pest/tips-for-cleaner-more-energy-efficient-living/

Don’t Let Bedbugs Ruin Your Vacation

Our Pest Control Atlanta friends give us some great pointers on the steps we need to take to prevent bringing those pesky bedbugs home with us while on vacation.

http://pestcontrolatlantaga.com/2012/08/dont-let-bedbugs-ruin-your-vacation/

Flea Prevention Tips For Families

Here is a good read on the life-cycle of fleas, and how they can be prevented.

http://www.modernpest.com/blog/flea-prevention-tips-for-new-england-families/

West Nile Cases Surge in Mississippi, Pest Control Companies Prepare For More

Great information on how Pest Control Operators can cope with the surge of business due to all theses outbreaks. 78 people have contracted West Nile in the state of Mississippi.

http://www.fieldaware.com/2012/08/21/west-nile-cases-surge-in-mississippi-pest-control-companies-prepare-for-more/

Brown Recluse Spiders In The News

The drought and heat are forcing spiders, like the poisonous Brown Recluse, into our homes. We don’t need to be afraid of this home invasion, but the article does offer some helpful preventative measures we all can take.

http://lennyspestcontrol.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/brown-recluse-spiders-in-the-news/

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Portland Bed Bug Story

Carl Leibowitz said he was in a Portland, Oregon hotel room Friday afternoon when he “started to get these like — I felt like there were bites, and I was thinking I got a mosquito bite. And I just noticed there were three of them. And then later on, I started to notice, up by my shoulder, there were more bites. And I went out and got some Benadryl, took Benadryl, went to sleep, and then I woke up at 6:30 in the morning on Saturday and when I woke up, I’m like — got bites all over me.

“And I turn on the light and my pillow is covered in blood. And when I looked down at the pillow, there’s blood everywhere, I feel on my head there’s all these bites, and I start to freak out. I don’t know what happened to me.”

Leibowitz headed for the emergency room. He says he had 43 bites in all, “all over my back, my shoulders, on my feet, all over my head.” (http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500165_162-6822398.html)

What is the bedbug story today?

The last two years we were inundated with bedbug horror stories like this.  Both local and national news stations, radio stations, and newspapers ran with stories that we were under attack!

Bedbugs were invading our country’s homes, schools, offices, vehicles, and they were even hiding in our library books. We weren’t safe if we left on an expensive vacation because the hotels were infested too. Billy Crystal took to one of the nation’s biggest stages, The Oscars, and joked about bedbug migration in our movie theaters.

During that time a lot of pest control companies experienced an unexpected boom, but these last several months have seen a sharp decline in media reported bedbug infestations.

With this recent lack of media coverage can we assume that bedbugs are on the decline?

NOPE!

Most pest control companies have seen no decline in the expansion of bedbugs in their businesses. In fact, bedbug infestations are growing at exponential rates—some reports say as much as 75% from the same time last year. The Bedbug Crisis Hotline has increased ten fold in the last 6 months. Some of this can be attributed to both the media and the pest control industry raising awareness and educating the public about bedbugs.

It may be safe to say that the media’s interest in bedbugs is receding because they often report on stories they can in some way sensationalize. If the topic doesn’t make the hair on the audience’s neck stand up anymore, they don’t report on it.

The bedbugs are still here. They still bite us and we still have to get rid of them. The story is still the same, despite the media’s lack of recent coverage.

 

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• Bedbug
• Wichita: Central Library Closes Because of Bedbug Problem

Recently the University of Nebraska-Lincoln underwent extensive investigation into its Bed Bug problem.  The University hired a K9 Inspection company to bring in the dogs to search 3,256 rooms and of those rooms they only found bed bugs in 197 rooms. Considering the major problems that we are having with Bed Bugs this number isn’t too bad and it’s encouraging to see that the university is doing what is necessary to keep this problem from becoming a nightmare to its students and staff. Although the numbers above are encouraging I’m sure the numbers associated with the cost are more discouraging to the universities bottom line especially when budget cuts and higher tuition are already concerns for educational institutions across the country.

What does a bed bug problem cost a University? $100,000+

With bed bug inspections ranging from $25 to $55 per room (3,256 rooms) and treatments ranging from $300 to $600 per room (196 rooms), it’s estimated that the total cost for bed bugs at Nebraska-Lincoln will be in the hundreds of thousands.  When treating for bed bugs the costs for eradication are high. With the particular pest, 100% control is expected its unacceptable to have even one living bed bug remain after treatment. One female bed bug can lead to an entire new infestation. Because of this, more aggressive methods have been called upon to treat bead bugs such as fumigating an entire structure. To fumigate an entire structure an exterminator must put a massive tarp over the whole building being treated and fill it with a viakain gas. The gas will penetrated the walls of the structure and kill the bed bugs no matter where they are hiding. Beyond the price of the tarp alone, the man hours and equipment cost are not cheap. Cost of a bed bug fumigation service is expensive. For the University this type of service is less likely of an option because the problems are more than likely in a dorm room environment and with fumigation you have to tent the entire structure so in this case the better option would be Thermal Remediation. Thermal remediation is also a very effective service for treating bed bugs especially in a dorm room or hotel environment. A good heat system can treat a problem in this type of environment easily and with only a few hours. But this method is not cheap either due to equipment costs and man hours. With the bed bug problem at an all time high and is expected to continue to get worse Universities and other types of facilities that offer housing should expect this problem to continue.

Is Bed Bug Prevention the Better Cure?

Clearly, a fool proof prevention plan could prevent costly fumigation or heat treatments, the problem is that there is no fool proof prevention program for bed bugs. The is no pest control treatment that can be applied regularly to a structure that would prevent a bed bug infestation. The best prevention against bed bugs is vigilance. Knowing how to spot problems, how to steer clear, and how to report problems is a University’s best plan of action to keep bed bug costs to a minimum. So we encourage continuing education to both students and faculty and to maintain regular inspections at the dorms. This will help prevent future outbreaks and keep costly treatments down. Hiring a bed bug dog to assist with the inspections is a must. The dogs can do the work in a much shorter span than a human inspector alone.

Saving Enrollment Cost

While we have outlined treatment costs, lets not forget the potential enrollment cost. Having a bed bug problem in your dorms will cost the University occupants. It could cost future enrollments. Having had bed bugs will leave it mark on the school. The University must not only devise a plan to prevent bed bugs and stay vigilant to keep them out, but they must now express these measures to students, potential students, and parents as to regain faith and save enrollment. Having a future and on going plan for prevention is the only way to restore confidence and keep this a non-issue for enrollment. This shouldn’t just apply to UNL, this should be the case for every college and university out there. ASU has had it’s share of bed bug problems as well. All schools should take a proactive stance a develop a preventive program now to save them from future costs of treatments and enrollment.

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A guest post today highlighting some of Canada’s Spring Pest Specials.

 

 

Carpenter Ant Activity

 

Have you spotted suspicious bug activities in the nooks and crannies of your home? Or what looks like fine sawdust near some woodwork? If so, there may be carpenter ants in house crawling about gnawing and chewing away at the wooden bones of your home, hard at work establishing their fortifications.

Your home should be a safe, comfortable place to live in. While your home won’t literally fall apart about your ears – the carpenter ants in the house are quite different from termites – they can still do some damage to the wooden frameworks by weakening them with their tunneling, and it’s important to nip this in the bud. Carpenter ants like warm, humid environments for their nests and lakeside homes and boathouses are a popular choice for them.

Most commercially available ant baits won’t work on these carpenter ants. No, they’re cannier than an average ant. There is a new, specialized ant traps just for carpenter ants that you can try. But the best way to get rid of them is to use professional pest control services to treat the whole house, inside and out, in particular targeting the nest.

 

Bed bugs, on the other hand, is a whole ‘nother ball of wax.

Do the nightly appearances by bed bugs performing a gripping, biting dance on the stage that is your bed keep you up all night? It is awfully hard to grab some shuteye with tiny bugs nipping away at your tender flesh.

Bed bugs are perhaps one of the most difficult (and perhaps embarrassing – but you shouldn’t be!) pests to eradicate from your home without the use of professional pest control services. Some people end up surrendering and destroy their beds, linens, furniture, and even clothes. That’s expensive, sometimes ineffective – and very unnecessary.

There are five different bed bug treatments, and depending on the life cycle stage your bed bug infestation is in, one or other may be the most effective. It may be necessary to utilize more than one different type of bed bug treatments if your infestation is severe. A good pest control services can help you choose the best option for you and your household.

 

Guest Blog Bio
Environmental pest control offers pest control services and bed bug treatment in the Toronto region.
For more information visit www.environmentalpestcontrol.ca

 

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According to new research from the University of Sheffield in the UK, hairy skin can help prevent bed bugs from biting. In fact, the study helps explain why bed bugs and other parasites such as mosquitoes, ticks, and leeches, will seek out the less hairy areas of the body; such as wrists and ankles.

Research has shown that our bodies are covered in a layer of two types of fine hair. One type is short and nearly invisible, and the other is longer and more visible. Researchers argue that there are “relatively few explanations for the evolutionary maintenance of this type of human hair,” so scientists wanted to test the notion, that perhaps the hair acts as a defense; against ectoparasites like bed bug invaders.

The UK study recruited 29 healthy volunteers, who had one arm shaved and one arm left with hairs on. Then the participants allowed hungry bed bugs to be placed on the skin; of both their arms. The results of the bed bug control study, showed that the fine body hair is highly beneficial to people, because it helps deter bed bug invaders; in two ways: by increasing the time it takes for the insect to find a suitable spot to start sucking blood, and by helping people feel them crawling on the hair; across their skin.

Not only does the fine hair that covers our bodies help us detect the presence of parasitic insects (like bed bugs), it also acts as a natural bug control method, of preventing them from biting. In fact, this advantage appeared greater for those participants in the study, who had more layers of hair. This is because it took the insects longer to find an ideal feeding site; on the volunteer’s arms.

 

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Back in the 1950s, American exterminators thought that the common bed bug, had been completely eliminated. However, over the past decade, these blood-sucking pests have made a huge comeback. In fact, in hotels, homes, and multi-unit housing complexes across the United States, the number of reported bed bug infestations have surpassed (up to 100x) the numbers recorded; in 1990. If for no other reason, it appears that the bed bug’s ability to produce healthy young through inbreeding, is a major contributing factor to the continued strength; of their U.S. invasion.

“Inbreeding gives bed bugs an advantage in being able to colonize. A single female that has been mated is able to colonize and start a new infestation. Her progeny and brothers and sisters can then mate with each other, exponentially expanding the population. With many organisms, extensive inbreeding would cause serious mutations that would eventually bring about an end to the population.” – an entomologist at North Carolina State University.

A recent study on how bed bugs survive genetic inbreeding, was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. In the report, researchers reported that in each dwelling, there were high levels of inbreeding and that genetic diversification, was very low. This important discovery, suggested that only one or two bed bugs are required, for a serious bug control problem to develop.

The ability to produce healthy offspring through inbreeding, allows these bugs to expand the infestation to other areas within a building, without any outside assistance. In fact, in almost all of the infestations studied, just a single room within the dwelling; was found to be the source of the pest control problem. It is also interesting to note, that cockroaches are another species of pest, that have the ability to survive inbreeding; as well.

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