Why is it so hard to get rid of bed bugs?

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Do you have a bed bug problem but it just won’t go away? Have you tried home remedies or maybe even other extermination companies but still have bugs? Are you left wondering, why is it so hard to get rid of bed bugs? Well, here is what makes it hard to remove them. Bed bugs are the perfect storm of characteristics that make them difficult to remove from somewhere once they have infested it.

First of all, bed bugs are small, flat, and adept at squeezing themselves into tiny spaces. They can hide in places we’d never think of looking for them, like behind loose wallpaper or under electrical switch plates.

To successfully eliminate an infestation, you’ve got to find and kill every viable bed bug, which is not an easy task.

Second, bed bugs multiply quickly. A single female can lay 500 eggs during her life, and within a few months her offspring can reproduce as well. A few individuals introduced to a new environment can increase exponentially. Depending on conditions, bed bugs can produce 3 or 4 generations in one year. Additionally, bed bugs reproduce most quickly in temperatures between 70*deg; and 82*deg; F, right in the range where most people keep their thermostats.

Bed bugs can go a remarkably long time without feeding, should no host be present to provide them with needed blood meals. Scientists have documented adult bed bugsliving up to 550 days without eating, and nymphs may last for months. So simply leaving an infested dwelling unoccupied for a few months in hopes of starving them out will do nothing to discourage the little freeloaders.

Just to make their extermination more difficult, bed bugs can sense chemical odors, and may avoid areas where cleaning agents or even pesticides have been applied.

Click here to learn more about bed bugs. 

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Bed Bugs May Carry Deadly Disease

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In recent years bed bugs have resurfaced in a big way. They are absolutely everywhere and they are extremely difficult to get rid of. Bed bugs can bite, they cause property damage and now a new study says that they may also carry a deadly disease. Bed bugs have always been viewed as harmless but more studies are showing that they are becoming more of a threat in the recent years, making it extremely important to get rid of bed bugs and the only way to ensure that they are gone is with a professional service. To get the best professional service that the valley has to offer, go to azheatpest.com  and check out our discounts page to get the best price!

As bed bug infestations have continued to crop up in firehouses, schools, movie theaters and homes across the country, a team of researchers is now warning that these proliferating pests could prove to be more than just an itchy, pricey nuisance.

According to a new study published on Monday, bed bugs are capable of transmitting a parasite that causes Chagas disease, an infection that in some cases can lead to cardiac or intestinal complications. The infection is found most commonly in Mexico, Central American and South America, but has been increasing its foothold in the U.S.

“There are a lot of people with Chagas disease, and a lot of bed bugs. They are in our houses, in our beds — and in high numbers,” said Michael Levy, a researcher at University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and senior author on the new paper. He also co-authored a report in January that found bed bug populations in Philadelphia are growing by 70 percent a year.

“But no one seems worried,” he added. “We always hear that the bugs don’t seem to be carrying anything.”

On their website, after lamenting that bed bugs “are resurging, causing property loss, expense, and inconvenience,” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention goes on to offer some “good news” — “Bed bugs do not transmit disease.” The CDC declined to comment on the new study, which details a series of experiments that suggests bed bugs and mice are capable of transmitting Chagas disease to one another.

Read more at: http://pi.vu/66uF

How to Choose the Best Pest Company for Bed Bugs

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Bed bugs can be a real hassle to deal with and get rid of. One of the last things you need when finding out about a Bed Bug infestation is to have to dig through the pile of pest companies to help solve the problem. There is a process you can follow that will help you find the best company for your situation.

Making sure to vet any company for saftey in chemical product usage and alternative measures will surly gain you a better result! We hope you find AZ Heat Pest Services alternative measures to be the best in Arizona.

bed bugAccording to Andy Architect of the National Pest Management Association, there are more that 19,000 pest management firms operating in the United States. Unfortunately, these companies are not all created equally. Here are some steps from entomologist, Jeff White, to narrow your options and find the best:

Use web and telephone directories to locate several pest management firms in your area. Some may designate themselves as bed bug specialists, but this designation should only be an indicator and not a deciding factor.

Only utilize companies that have been registered to apply pesticides by the pesticide regulatory agency in your state. Lacking this license should serve as an immediate red flag. To find your state’s agency visit: http://npic.orst.edu/state1.htm.

Search for companies that use integrated pest management (IPM) services. IPM is a form of pest management designed to minimize the use of pesticides. Companies that utilize an IPM approach are more likely to provide ongoing monitoring and a multidisciplinary approach to bed bug management (more on this later).

INTERVIEWING COMPANIES: QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD KNOW TO ASK

Once you hire a pest management firm they may be entering your home and spraying pesticides or performing services that can cost hundreds of dollars. Interviewing the selected companies is not only your right, it is strongly advised.

Ask companies about their membership in recognized national, state, and local pest control associations. Membership to these associations requires periodic evaluation of their pest management protocols as well as ethical business practices. Some key associations to look for include:

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA), state pest management associations, QualityPro, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and bedbugFREE. Companies may also be members of equivalent associations.

Membership with the bedbugFREE national network is a particularly important affiliation to consider when bed bug treatments are desired. This membership indicates that companies are not only members of NPMA and/or QualityPro, but have also had their bed bug treatment protocols evaluated to ensure they share multidisciplinary treatment methods and philosophies similar to Bed Bug Central’s protocol.

Read More Here: http://bedbugcentral.com/resources/how-to-choose-a-pest-control-company

How to Spot a Bed Bug Infestation

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Bed bugs are tiny bugs that like to hide to as best they can during the day. They come out at night to feed on their favorite food, blood. Being that these bugs are very sneaky it makes it very difficult even to the trained eye to correctly identify a Bed Bug infestation. This is why it is very important to not jump to conclusions as soon as you receive a bite during the night. Also, more importantly, why it is very important to remember that just because you don’t see any bedbugs upon investigation, does not necessarily mean you DO NOT have bed bugs.

This is exactly why you should have a professional Bed Bug inspection done by the best in Arizona. AZ Heat Pest Services is here to help you get control of your home again.

LifeCycleThe only way to know for sure if you have bed bugs is to produce an actual sample of the bug itself (methods for doing this are discussed below). Do not automatically assume that any bite-like mark is a bed bug bite. Also it is important to realize that medical professionals cannot give a positive diagnosis simply by examining bite symptoms, they can only suggest some possible explanations for what may have caused the bites/symptoms to occur.

If you are experiencing bites but have not seen any bugs, you should consider the circumstances in which the bites are occurring. For example, there is a very good chance that you have bed bugs if you  waking up each morning with bite symptoms on your body that were not present when you went to sleep. A situation like this would be a good reason to investigate the possibility that bed bugs are present. in the car, at work, etc. are much less likely to be caused by bed bugs. It is also important to realize that just because you have looked for bed bugs and could not find them, does not mean that they are not there. These insects lead a very cryptic and secretive lifestyle and will often go undetected. It is best to have a highly trained professional conduct the inspection for you.

Occasionally you may see evidence of a bed bug infestation without actually seeing any bed bugs. Bed bugs leave fecal stains in the areas they inhabit. These stains are actually partially digested blood but remember that it will not be red unless you crush a bed bug that has just recently fed. As the blood is digested it turns black and therefore the bed bug droppings usually consist of several black spots in one area. The fecal spots will not flake off if rubbed and will smear if wiped with a wet rag.

Remember the key to knowing if you have an active bed bug infestation is to produce a live sample of a bed bug and there are several ways that you can easily do this including:

  1. Visual inspection of sleeping and resting areas such as beds and upholstered furniture.Carefully examine the areas beneath fitted sheets, along the edges of mattress piping, if no bugs or evidence of bugs are found, remove the mattress and continue with inspection of the box spring paying close attention to the four corners under the plastic corner guards and the on the underside  of the box spring where the dust cover is stapled into the frame. Keep in mind that bed bugs can easily be missed during a visual inspection so using one or more of the other methods below is recommended if no bugs are found during a visual inspection.

Read More Here: http://www.bedbugcentral.com/bedbugs101/how-do-i-know-i-have-bed-bugs

Bed Bugs Causing People to use Drastic Measures, Misuse Chemicals

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If you are caught up in the middle of a bed bug infestation chances are your are stressed out, upset, ad tired from your lack of sleep and dealing with your bed bug bites. Not only yourself but you may be dealing with an infestation that has influenced your family as well. This hurried and emotional response to a stressful situation can sometimes lead to people taking drastic and dangerous measures to rid these pests from their lives. Leading to the misuse of OTC chemicals that have been proven to cause serious harm in humans when over exposed.

Check out this article for more information on how NOT to deal with an infestation. Remember that AZ Heat Pest Services are experts in removing bedbugs and our specialized heat treatment will guarantee the removal and extermination of the pests that have driven you up the wall and back. Speaking of backs, we got yours when the time comes!

WebAbout 40 used bedbug bombs greeted Mike Deutsch when he entered a small home in Hempstead, N.Y., last year.

“The first thing I thought was, ‘Is everyone okay?'” recalled Deutsch, an entomologist with Arrow Exterminating.

Fortunately, no one in the Hempstead house had been sickened by the chemicals enlisted in the family’s do-it-yourself eradication attempt — although new studies warn of the potential subtle or long-term consequences of exposures to bedbug pesticides, including hormone disruption, reproductive difficulties and behavioral problems. Everyone also escaped unscathed from a duplex in Marion, Ohio, that caught fire during a heat treatment for bedbugs in late December.

Research by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention suggests that people are not always so lucky.

A pattern of desperate, dangerous and often futile measures have Deutsch and other bedbug experts warning the public that bedbugs pose more significant problems than just their notorious nocturnal nibbling. While the epidemic fills fewer headlines today than when it resurfaced in the mid-2000s, experts also recognize that the bedeviling pests only seem to be multiplying further. A report released by Penn Medicine on Thursday suggested that infestations in Philadelphia are growing by 70 percent a year. Nearly all pest management professionals, according to a nationwide survey published in April, reported servicing a bedbug infestation in the past year.

Read More Here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/10/bed-bugs-health-risks-pesticides-fires_n_4565660.html

 

How to Avoid Hotel Bed Bugs

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We all enjoy getting out of the weekly grind, putting our feet up, and enjoying some well deserved rest and relaxation at our favorite luxury resort. The scarey part about sleeping in a hotel bed is that you must understand that hundreds perhaps even thousands of people have slept in the very bed you are relaxing on. There is no real way to tell how extensive of a clean the maids did when turning your room over for your arrival. So what are some things you can do to protect yourself from bed bugs while on the road? Check out the article below…

travel bugIf you’re sleeping somewhere other than home, beware. Bedbug prevalence is on the rise, and hotels and motels are some of their favorite hangouts.

These pesky critters can cause severe itching and welt-like bites, and it’s costly to get rid of them if they follow you home. What’s more, research suggests they can cause financial distress, anxiety, and social isolation.

But no need to get depressed just yet. With these easy tips, you can cut your chances of critter trouble while on the road.

Before you check out your hotel room’s minibar or oceanfront view, give it a thorough bedbug inspection—and until you’ve done that, stash your luggage in the loo.

“Bedbugs are least likely to be found in the bathroom,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association. “They don’t like the tile floors and there aren’t as many hiding places. They like to be closer to where people may be sleeping.”

Inspect the bed

Here’s how to check for a bedbug infestation: Pull back the linens, and check all the way around and under the mattress and behind the headboard.

Look for blood stains or small black dots that look like mold or ground pepper, says Christine Johnson, PhD, a behavioral ecologist in the American Museum of Natural History’s Division of Invertebrate Zoology, in New York City. Check for the critters too. Bedbugs are about the size and shape of an apple seed, and you may find them hiding in corners or seams of the bedding.

Read More Here: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20513823_3,00.html

Phoenix Bed Bug Treatment

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Bed bugs have been increasing in Phoenix since 2007, and in 2015 we expect to see the highest number of bed bug occurrences to date. Don’t be surprised when bed bugs are found in your home. With the increased number of bed bug occurrences comes with increased numbers of companies “specializing” in bed bug treatment in Phoenix.

There are half a dozen companies in Phoenix providing bed bug treatment only. Some of these companies are one or two man operations that have only held pest control licenses for a very short time. Other companies specializing in bed bugs are more established and have a large number of employees.

Most of the general pest control companies also offer bed bug treatment of some kind, however many of them are not as experienced with bed bugs as they are with cockroaches, scorpions, bees, and other pest control that is common in AZ.

Only companies who are confident in their bed bug treatment methods will offer guarantees on their bed bug treatments for extended periods. You should look for companies that offer bed bug warranties that last longer than one year. Although it is easy to reintroduce bed bugs into a home that has been properly treated, a reputable Phoenix bed bug company will offer a hassle-free warranty that covers you in the event of re-infestation.  Many companies in Arizona only offer 30 to 90 day warranties with their bed bug treatments. This is not enough time to tell if a bed bug treatment has been effective. Bed bugs can hide and lay dormant for periods of time, and then re-emerge later. Also, bed bugs can be reintroduced from items that are brought into the home after treatment.

These are the different types of Phoenix Bed bug Treatments Offered:

Phoenix Bed Bug Treatment – We use Heat

phoenix bed bug treatment using gas heat

Arizona Heat Pest Services heats the entire space so no bed bugs can escape.

Bed bug heat treatment is only the most effective bed bug treatment if it is performed correctly. There are many different types of heat treatment for bed bugs that are offered from various pest control companies in Phoenix.

Gas heating of the entire space – What We Do

Using the correct style gas heater to quickly heat the entire space and kill all bugs and eggs. Most efficient, effective, and complete treatment. Only choose a company to perform the gas heating if the are highly experienced and hold liability insurance of $2 million or more. (like Arizona Heat Pest Services, the Phoenix bed bug treatment specialists also serving Tucson AZ)

Localized Heat – The “$150 per room Blow Dryer Treatment” (Very Inefficient)

Using a blow dryer, heat wand, heat gun, or steamer to kill all bed bugs that can be found. The heat will not reach all bed bug hiding areas in the furniture, flooring, linens, and walls. Least effective heating option.

Electric Heating of the entire space – The least efficient Phoenix bed bug treatment.

Using electric heaters that are left unmanned inside the home for at least 24 hours. This is one of the most inefficient ways to heat an infested space. It also seems very dangerous to leave a heating device inside a home without anyone there in case of emergency.

Phoenix bed bug treatment using Chemicals – The “no heat” method

Arizona Heat Pest Services can kill all bed bugs without using heat by using very specific pesticides. These pesticides must be applied in certain areas to prevent human exposure to them.

You can not kill bed bugs using over the counter chemicals or bombs as bed bugs are highly resistant to most pesticides. It will actually make the problem worse if performed incorrectly.

The success of a chemical treatment for bed bugs all depends on the type of chemicals that are used and the way that they are used. Most pest control companies in Phoenix fail at chemical treatment for bed bugs because they use the wrong types of chemicals in the wrong areas.

Mega Bed Bug Nest Found By Arizona’s Bed Bug Experts

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In September 2014, Arizona’s bed bug experts, Arizona Heat Pest Services found a bed bug mega nest. This was a mother ship for bed bugs. The elderly occupants of this home had no idea it had gotten this bad. They tried everything do it yourself remedy they could find. Finally a concerned family member called us to treat the home.

In the picture you can see the molted exoskeletons of the bed bugs. As they mature they shed their exoskeleton. All of the black spots are the bed bug feces.

In the creases of this chair you can see a large nest of bed bugs. From the center of the above photo follow the center seam to the right. Every amber colored thing you see there is a bed bug ranging in size from .25mm up to 4mm in length. You may be able to see the very flat bodies of the bugs at the extreme right side of the picture in the crease. All of those white spots are likely two different things, diatomaceous earth (DE) and bed bug eggs. The black fecal stains can be seen on the left side of the above picture in the shadowed area.

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Every square inch of the wood framing inside the recliner is covered in black fecal stains. There are even fecal stains on the metal components as you can see on the screw at the top left quadrant of the above picture.

We can usually save all furniture when we treat a home for bed bugs however sometimes its best to throw it away.

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In this scenario, Arizona Heat Pest Services treated the structure with heat and salvaged all remaining furniture and personal belongings in the home. A long term warranty was granted just in case any bed bugs somehow survived our treatment. This family is covered by their warranty even if the bed bugs are brought in later from the original source.

Heat treatment was the only way to battle such a severe infestation. Once the problem persists this long, the bed bugs can penetrate the framing of the structure.