NO NONSENSE COMMON SENSE
BED BUG CONTROL
THE Termpest WAY

The bed bug has become the new nemesis of the pest control industry. These tiny, flat bodied insects can crawl into almost miniscule crack or crevice. Very often, untrained service technicians have not performed the thorough “and I mean thorough” treatments necessary to eliminate the infestations. The results of this improper training has caused many infestations to become resistant to many of the pesticides used.  And to make matters even worse, in many cases the bed bugs are often dispersed into other rooms. Obviously this makes treatment even more difficult.

(Human skin showing a trail of bed bug bites) 

(An engorged bed bug after a blood meal)

SO WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT BED BUGS?

	Bed bugs have become a worldwide epidemic
	South Florida has become an international megalopolis
	Thousand of travelers visit South Florida every day from all over the world
	Tiny bed bugs "hitchhike" inside luggage and are carried UNKNOWINGLY from one infested room and deposited into another room at a different location.

Here's a good example:

One of our customers had family visiting them who had previously stayed at a hotel in Orlando before coming to her home. They had complained about "bites" they received during their stay and thought it was just pesky mosquitoes.  About a month after they left our customer's condo, she noticed some bites on her body. While making the bed she actually found bed bugs. The same thing can happen to you.  You must use your common sense.

Since South Florida is a tourist haven, the hotel and motel operators are going  to keep rapidly increasing bed bug problem "under wraps" as much as possible. Let's face it - these little blood suckers are definitely bad for their business. 

The two most important things you must do to protect yourself from a bed bug invasion:

FIRST - WHEN YOU HAVE GUESTS

If you have guests coming to visit, you must make them check their luggage in your garage or out in a back patio.  Either have them wash their laundry first or place the unlaundered clothing into large ziplock type bags before bringing them into one of your bedrooms. Then spray the suitcases with a pesticide and leave them in the garage or on the patio. This may be an imposition to them, but if you don't follow this basic step, you may bring the tiny pests into one of your bedrooms.  Then it's only a matter of time before they find some warm flesh to take their first blood meal.  Please look again at the bed bug bitten body shown above.

SECOND - WHEN YOU TRAVEL... the common sense way 

Your luggage is your first concern. You need to spray each piece. The common sense goal here is to keep these nasty critters from getting inside your laggage.  Bed bugs are excellent "hitchhikers". On airplanes they can transfer from one piece of infested luggage to another, either from the overhead carry on area, or from the main baggage storage area. When traveling by car you may bring your luggage into an infested room and from there they can get into your luggage.  Result... you may bring them home with you.

The next step is to put your clothing and electronic articles such as computers, ipods, and the like into large ziplock type sealable bags before you place these articles into your luggage. Bed bugs frequently infest dresser drawers and can "hitchhike" into your clothing from there. Then you can put your clothing into the dressers if you wish. Remember to keep the bags sealed. Personally, I would suggest you leave the clothing inside the suitcases and work from there.    

When you arrive at your destination you must take the following precautions.

• Spray the exterior side of your luggage again and place on the floor at least five feet away from the bed and away from the walls. 
• Next you want to inspect the mattress.  Take the sheets off the bed and inspect the mattress for adult bed bugs and blood spots.  If you see anything suspicious immediately ask for another room.  This is the absolute minimum you should do and even these steps may not prevent you from bed bug bites as the little blood suckers may be hidden in other areas of the room. They may then attack you as you sleep. 
• Now you can put your clothing inside the dressers if you wish. Hang up your jackets, etc. in the closet, or better yet, on the shower curtain rod.  

 Before you leave repack your luggage in this manner.

• Place soiled laundry into sealed bags. 
• Respray the exterior sides of the luggage again.  Remembert -  when dealing with bed bugs you can't be too careful. 

Upon your return home treat yourself as a guest and follow the steps outlined in the "WHEN YOU HAVE GUESTS" section above.

NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS

Even if you follow all of the above precautions these nasty little "hitchhikers" may get past you and into your home. This next section deals with how to eliminate bed bug infestations using the common sense approach.

• Don't use the DIY ( do it yourself) approach. Bed bug infestations must be treated using a combination  of methods and you don't have the necessary equipment.  There's a good chance that you will spread the infestation to other rooms.  Even untrained pest control service technicians frequently do this and leave dissatisfied customers in their wake. And this is not to mention having to call in another pest control company to clean up the mess at a much more expensive treatment cost. 
• Always get three estimates. There are various treatment methods (which we discuss below) used in bed bug control. Except for fumigation (which is a last resort) no other method is 100% effective in all situations. Don't be "conned" by a pest control operator who says his method is the best unless he gives you a detailed proposal as to why it works best in your situation. Then you must compare his method of elimination with at least two others (their methods will probably be different). Only now can you make a common sense decision. Now let's discuss the various methods (pros and cons) used to eliminate bed bug infestations.     

  Heat

Pro    Heat is introduced into a room, an entire house, or a closed container until the temperature reaches at least 113 degrees for a minimum of two hours. This will kill any bed bugs when this temperature is reached. This method works well with closed containers where bed bug infested articles can be placed and treated.

Con     If the bed bug infestation is severe, it is more than likely they have gotten under the baseboards and into the walls.  Whereas the open areas of the room(s) may reach 113 degrees this temperature may not be reached within the walls. This method of treatment is expensive and  you also run the risk of damaging heat sensitive materials.  Pest control operators usually don't guarantee success.

Cold 

Pro      This technology uses CO2 from cylinders deposited as a "snow" to kill bed bugs.  The "snow' will kill all bed bugs upon contact.

Con    Again if the bed bugs are within the walls the "snow" will probably not reach them. 

Steam

Pro     This method works well with mattresses, box springs, carpets and clothing.

Con     You must be very, very careful not to ruin sensitive materials.  Also it's difficult to get the steam into the walls.

Vacuuming

Pro      A high powered vacuum is used here and will suck up any bed bugs the suction can reach.

Con     Again bed bugs within the walls and behind the baseboards will not be affected. 

Residual pesticide applications

Pro     The residual insecticides work only if they directly contact the bedbugs.  Residual dusts such as diatomaceous earth work only by direct contact and if the bed bugs cross over an area covered ny this material.

Con    If the bed bugs are not killed by direct contact their biology is such that they will not pick up enough of the residual material left by the spray to kill them.  Many times more than one application of residual material is necessary for control.

Diatomaceous earth

Pro     These all natural,  microscopic, dust-like particles have very sharp edges which cut into the waxy outer skeleton of the bed bug causing water loss until the insect dries out and dies.

Con    Moisture can cause this material to become ineffective. 

Whole house fumigation 

Pro   This is the same method used to kill termites and will kill bed bugs anywhere with the structure even within the walls if the proper dosage is used. 

Con    Most expensive method. Also there is no residual protecting you against future bed bug infestations.  

NO NONSENSE COMMON SENSE
BED BUG CONTROLTHE TERMPEST WAY

First, we thoroughly inspect the premises to determine the extent of your bed bug infestation.   Next, we will give you a detailed proposal on the methods we will use to eliminate your bed bug infestation.  We will tell you why these particular methods (and not others) will work in your situation.  After comparing our proposal with others you will find that ours is usually the common sense approach.

South Florida Tri-County area call
305-895-6430

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