Natures Wisdom Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is totally organic and safe. It contains less than 1% percent of Crystal & Silicon. Some of the uses for Diatomaceous Earth include; household pets, gardens, flower beds, field crops, grain storage, and livestock feeding.

Diatomaceous Earth is Mother Nature's product with no harm to the environment, pets or to people. Diatomaceous Earth is not an earth, it is the fossilized remains of microscopic shells created by one celled plants called DIATOMS.

Diatomaceous Earth kills by physical action, not chemical, by puncturing the insects exoskeleton and absorbing its body fluids, thus posing no harm to warm-blooded life. Moreover, on any surface, these natural pesticide products have a remarkable repellency factor.


Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth 10 lb. by Natures Wisdom Features:

• 100% Food Grade DE, D E
• A Staple of Organic Gardening
• Home: Organic Insect Killer
• Pets: Flea, Tick, and Lice Control
• Plants: Natural Insecticide

As long as it is present, insects tend to stay away, making a serious infestation unlikely. Also, the more it is used, the more an environment is created that tends to make insects feel unwelcome. Out of 600 deposits in the US only 4 are considered "food grade" by the FDA standards. Other food grade deposits still may contain higher amounts of sediment and clay that make them less effective.

We have analysis of many other "Food Grade" deposits and are satisfied that we still obtain the diatomaceous earth for our products from the purest fresh water source.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.



>>> Click Here to Get The Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth 10 lb. by Natures Wisdom at a Great Discount! 

Natures Wisdom Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is totally organic and safe. It contains less than 1% percent of Crystal & Silicon. Some of the uses for Diatomaceous Earth include; household pets, gardens, flower beds, field crops, grain storage, and livestock feeding.

Diatomaceous Earth is Mother Nature's product with no harm to the environment, pets or to people. Diatomaceous Earth is not an earth, it is the fossilized remains of microscopic shells created by one celled plants called DIATOMS.

Diatomaceous Earth kills by physical action, not chemical, by puncturing the insects exoskeleton and absorbing its body fluids, thus posing no harm to warm-blooded life. Moreover, on any surface, these natural pesticide products have a remarkable repellency factor.


Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth 10 lb. by Natures Wisdom Features:

• 100% Food Grade DE, D E
• A Staple of Organic Gardening
• Home: Organic Insect Killer
• Pets: Flea, Tick, and Lice Control
• Plants: Natural Insecticide

As long as it is present, insects tend to stay away, making a serious infestation unlikely. Also, the more it is used, the more an environment is created that tends to make insects feel unwelcome. Out of 600 deposits in the US only 4 are considered "food grade" by the FDA standards. Other food grade deposits still may contain higher amounts of sediment and clay that make them less effective.

We have analysis of many other "Food Grade" deposits and are satisfied that we still obtain the diatomaceous earth for our products from the purest fresh water source.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.



>>> Click Here to Get The Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth 10 lb. by Natures Wisdom at a Great Discount! 

Bed bugs; they are everywhere. You can find articles on bed bugs to the left and right; science magazines and online. Why is everyone so interested in bugs? Because they are pests, and if we have them in our homes, for what you need to know what they are and more importantly, how to dispose of them.

The first type of articles on bed bugs that arise describes what is an error in the bed. A physical description of the parasite can help give us differentiate it from other parasites. Therefore, F.Y.I., adult bedbugs are 1/4 inches long, reddish brown, with oval bodies and flat. Often these articles on bedbugs provide pictures that make it easier for us to identify the insect... but more difficult to maintain our dinner down.

According to several experts of bed bugs, there is not only a kind of bed bugs... no, there are many different types of bugs. Bad news. Apart from the common bugs that hunt in human blood, there are bugs that prefer the blood of animal like birds or bats. To allow a better understanding, articles on bedbugs offer a glimpse of life cycle of the creature. Female bedbugs take their eggs, and in hidden areas. You can give birth to 500 eggs during her lifetime. The eggs are very small, whitish and enlargement may need to be identified.

Are you ready for more understanding of the depth of bed bugs? The eggs are sticky when first; that stick to any surface are placed. When they hatch, they are no larger than a pinhead. Bed bugs grow, he stripped their skins. Some say that this bloodshed can spend five times before becoming adults.

Bed bug experts suggest that the speed of development of bed bugs dependent on the proper temperature, about 70-90 ° f the. At that pace can complete its transition from eggs to adults of bed bugs in a month.
Cool temperatures and limited access to a dam may delay the full maturity of bed bugs. However, this does not mean that they die easily. Bed bugs have been compared to cockroaches in resistance. Bed bugs can survive months at a time when not feeding. Adults can survive even a year or more without blood.

Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures. As parasites, moving small inside our homes, furniture, carpets, beds, etc.... Although they cannot fly, are very fast insects and it can move easily across almost any surface.
Bed bugs are patients parasites. When feed bed bugs, Pierce human skin with their beaks and suck blood through. Unlike mosquitoes, bed bugs take your time eating. They get capacity after three to ten minutes. This slow method could be the reason by which people do not wake up from a bite of bed bugs.

The most useful articles on bed bugs are those that show us how to detect these pests in our homes. A sign of sure there are bugs under the sheets is satin of dark brown and stains on the mattress. Bed bug experts identify this as the plague excrement or excrement.

The physical manifestations of a bite of bed bugs can be confused with other types of insects. But if tiny drops of blood on the sheets, pillowcases, or walls accompanied pica, swelling welt on her exposed skin, then you can only be sleeping with a plague in his bed.
Once you have confirmed that bed bugs exists in your mattress, most experts strongly suggests that they throw your bed. The spraying of pesticides in bed can be poisonous to the owner, if he intends to sleep afterwards.

Where there's one bed bugs, there are hundreds more. From articles on bed bugs they say bed bugs are difficult to inks flat, you may want to hire pest control to check its full House for any infestation. These bugs can also be living in your pet day bed or doghouse and is confused with ticks.

Bed bugs; they are everywhere. You can find articles on bed bugs to the left and right; science magazines and online. Why is everyone so interested in bugs? Because they are pests, and if we have them in our homes, for what you need to know what they are and more importantly, how to dispose of them.

The first type of articles on bed bugs that arise describes what is an error in the bed. A physical description of the parasite can help give us differentiate it from other parasites. Therefore, F.Y.I., adult bedbugs are 1/4 inches long, reddish brown, with oval bodies and flat. Often these articles on bedbugs provide pictures that make it easier for us to identify the insect... but more difficult to maintain our dinner down.

According to several experts of bed bugs, there is not only a kind of bed bugs... no, there are many different types of bugs. Bad news. Apart from the common bugs that hunt in human blood, there are bugs that prefer the blood of animal like birds or bats. To allow a better understanding, articles on bedbugs offer a glimpse of life cycle of the creature. Female bedbugs take their eggs, and in hidden areas. You can give birth to 500 eggs during her lifetime. The eggs are very small, whitish and enlargement may need to be identified.

Are you ready for more understanding of the depth of bed bugs? The eggs are sticky when first; that stick to any surface are placed. When they hatch, they are no larger than a pinhead. Bed bugs grow, he stripped their skins. Some say that this bloodshed can spend five times before becoming adults.

Bed bug experts suggest that the speed of development of bed bugs dependent on the proper temperature, about 70-90 ° f the. At that pace can complete its transition from eggs to adults of bed bugs in a month.
Cool temperatures and limited access to a dam may delay the full maturity of bed bugs. However, this does not mean that they die easily. Bed bugs have been compared to cockroaches in resistance. Bed bugs can survive months at a time when not feeding. Adults can survive even a year or more without blood.

Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures. As parasites, moving small inside our homes, furniture, carpets, beds, etc.... Although they cannot fly, are very fast insects and it can move easily across almost any surface.
Bed bugs are patients parasites. When feed bed bugs, Pierce human skin with their beaks and suck blood through. Unlike mosquitoes, bed bugs take your time eating. They get capacity after three to ten minutes. This slow method could be the reason by which people do not wake up from a bite of bed bugs.

The most useful articles on bed bugs are those that show us how to detect these pests in our homes. A sign of sure there are bugs under the sheets is satin of dark brown and stains on the mattress. Bed bug experts identify this as the plague excrement or excrement.

The physical manifestations of a bite of bed bugs can be confused with other types of insects. But if tiny drops of blood on the sheets, pillowcases, or walls accompanied pica, swelling welt on her exposed skin, then you can only be sleeping with a plague in his bed.
Once you have confirmed that bed bugs exists in your mattress, most experts strongly suggests that they throw your bed. The spraying of pesticides in bed can be poisonous to the owner, if he intends to sleep afterwards.

Where there's one bed bugs, there are hundreds more. From articles on bed bugs they say bed bugs are difficult to inks flat, you may want to hire pest control to check its full House for any infestation. These bugs can also be living in your pet day bed or doghouse and is confused with ticks.

Bed bugs bites can cause swollen rash called bed bugs precipitate and severe itching. The eruptions of bed bugs are itchier to mosquito bites, and do not heal quickly. For this reason, it is not better to leave it to biting. They are tips to keep bugs bites at Bay.

Bed bugs are not invisible; they are highly visible to the naked eye from anyone. Bed bugs are similar and are the same size as apple seed. Bed bugs seem too the seed of apple in color and form. The only difference is that bed bugs, compared with apple seeds are a little thin.

Keep the bugs away from it. Their bites are truly pica and can even lead to infection if scratched. It is important that bed bugs are kept away from the kids also. Children cannot control his hands of scratching the rash. Therefore, you can scrape the skin that lies close to the eruption, which can seriously infect.

Follow these tips to keep the bugs at Bay.

1 Avoid bed bugs bite you when it is sitting on the couch

It is really shameful to see its zero guests personally or after being bitten by a bed bug when they sat on the couch. It would be even more embarrassing that if your guest can catch a bugs crawling over him as he spoke, in a situation, you will feel really insulted, because it does not bother to properly clean your sofa.

This will lead to a situation where is goes gossiping people only on their home and the couch that is infested bed bugs. Therefore, keep an eye on your sofa, clean regularly. Find Brown stains reddish on the couch when you dismantle it at some point. If you find any bugs, keep and begin to search your House for more bugs and begin exterminating them. It is only a test that can be done to find out if your House is infested with bed bugs, once, shows a positive outcome, you need to start acting.

2 Prevent bed bugs bite you in his bed.

It's really uncomfortable to sleep in the event that you are going to be bitten by bed bugs; you get the sensation of itching. It has shown that persons belonging to a family that is infested with bed bugs are more susceptible to insomnia and anxiety. Sometimes, it becomes the main reason so you can sleep late and follow a routine of sleeping poorly.

Bed bugs are cursed bites, so take all possible measures to keep them away from their children. The majority of children will have low tolerance to pica of bed bugs.

Your child can start crying uncontrollably when bitten by a bed bug; It is due to the sensation of itching that comes after a bite of bed bugs. Apply calamine lotion helps much and reduces the sensation of itching.

Bed bugs are generally directed to exposed areas. If you find some small, swollen, rounded bump, there is the possibility to have been created by bed bugs.

You can find the bugs under mattresses, wood panels etc. Wherever you see the reddish brown spots, insurance that can search your home for more than bed bugs. And if it is complemented by the sensation of severe itching for anyone in his place, it is time to look for ways to exterminate the visitors.

Bed bugs bites can cause swollen rash called bed bugs precipitate and severe itching. The eruptions of bed bugs are itchier to mosquito bites, and do not heal quickly. For this reason, it is not better to leave it to biting. They are tips to keep bugs bites at Bay.

Bed bugs are not invisible; they are highly visible to the naked eye from anyone. Bed bugs are similar and are the same size as apple seed. Bed bugs seem too the seed of apple in color and form. The only difference is that bed bugs, compared with apple seeds are a little thin.

Keep the bugs away from it. Their bites are truly pica and can even lead to infection if scratched. It is important that bed bugs are kept away from the kids also. Children cannot control his hands of scratching the rash. Therefore, you can scrape the skin that lies close to the eruption, which can seriously infect.

Follow these tips to keep the bugs at Bay.

1 Avoid bed bugs bite you when it is sitting on the couch

It is really shameful to see its zero guests personally or after being bitten by a bed bug when they sat on the couch. It would be even more embarrassing that if your guest can catch a bugs crawling over him as he spoke, in a situation, you will feel really insulted, because it does not bother to properly clean your sofa.

This will lead to a situation where is goes gossiping people only on their home and the couch that is infested bed bugs. Therefore, keep an eye on your sofa, clean regularly. Find Brown stains reddish on the couch when you dismantle it at some point. If you find any bugs, keep and begin to search your House for more bugs and begin exterminating them. It is only a test that can be done to find out if your House is infested with bed bugs, once, shows a positive outcome, you need to start acting.

2 Prevent bed bugs bite you in his bed.

It's really uncomfortable to sleep in the event that you are going to be bitten by bed bugs; you get the sensation of itching. It has shown that persons belonging to a family that is infested with bed bugs are more susceptible to insomnia and anxiety. Sometimes, it becomes the main reason so you can sleep late and follow a routine of sleeping poorly.

Bed bugs are cursed bites, so take all possible measures to keep them away from their children. The majority of children will have low tolerance to pica of bed bugs.

Your child can start crying uncontrollably when bitten by a bed bug; It is due to the sensation of itching that comes after a bite of bed bugs. Apply calamine lotion helps much and reduces the sensation of itching.

Bed bugs are generally directed to exposed areas. If you find some small, swollen, rounded bump, there is the possibility to have been created by bed bugs.

You can find the bugs under mattresses, wood panels etc. Wherever you see the reddish brown spots, insurance that can search your home for more than bed bugs. And if it is complemented by the sensation of severe itching for anyone in his place, it is time to look for ways to exterminate the visitors.

Bed bugs are brown insects, small, flat and oval ruddy without wings that night to feast on human blood. Bed bugs are nocturnal insects as they are mainly active at midnight.

Bed bugs are quickly disperse in houses, motels, inns, bus, taxi and train stations. You now speculates on how many eggs that bed bugs can lie as they are spreading rapidly

Bed bugs are similar to other insects that reproduce very quickly. And they lay many eggs too. Can now consult, bed bugs set how many eggs?

Bed bugs suck human blood. Several types of bed bugs feed both humans and bats. Therefore, if there are bats in the attic a possibility that your residence is infected with errors is there. If you your attic is cured of occupation of the bats, then effortlessly can stand up to the invasion of bugs.

Bed bugs are born from eggs. After hatching from the eggs they develop in nymphs

How many eggs by bed bugs? In a year the female bedbugs establishes a minimum 300 (three hundred) eggs and 1000 (thousand) during their lifetime. A maximum of three eggs puts it in a day after mating. The eggs of bed bugs are delivered in about ten days.

The life of a bed bug is long. Bed bugs can also live 18 months without eating. Image! Bed bug eggs can withstand on any surface, but prefer paper, wood or fabric more metals and plastics, while nymphs can survive without food for nearly six months

What are the likely areas of female bedbugs lay the eggs? Bed bugs lay their eggs in small cracks to protect the eggs of the damage. Bugs women hide the eggs under the beddings, in cracks in the headboard under the wrinkle in the nightstand next to the bed, within other furniture of wood and role tapestry bedroom nearby.

The number of eggs laid by bed bugs determines the rate of invasion. A mounted bed bug mattress full of eggs involves hundreds of bedbugs are everywhere eggs, and they are being woven on a daily basis

But if we destroy the bugs, bed bugs eggs must also be destroyed. If you leave the eggs unharmed, can be born and grow in already bugs a man or woman who can produce a thousand eggs. If there is more than a thousand bugs women there in your House, you will not know also how many bugs eggs can sit.

Bed bug eggs can be identified easily. They look like eggs of termites. However unlike the eggs of termites, bugs eggs live near ruddy reddish spots and have an unpleasant stench, as sweet, really a bit obsolete. The dark reddish dye is faecus excrement or bugs. Bed bugs are only this type of arrangement of excrement. However, the smell of bed bugs comes from the gland of the scent of bed bugs. They meet the aroma for breeding and it also works as a limit of protection.

Bed bug eggs must not be crushed or mashed. Bugs eggs must be destroyed through the use of insecticides. By crushing bugs eggs, several eggs could not be crushed, and have another opportunity to reproduce some generations of bed bugs instead.

Discover the best spray to kill insects. Use specifically those aimed at the eradication of bed bugs. On the use of chemical sprays of bed bugs, eggs and nymphs will die along with adults. Although many say that such chemicals to kill bed bugs are ineffective to liberate his home in bed bugs, however, are the best substitute for the physical extermination of bugs (crushing and mashing of adult and egg chinches points) and the best substitute for DDT. In the United States, DDT was used to kill every kind of insect from the year 1940 to 1950. While DDT was successful in eliminating pests, it is now prohibited in United States and other countries because of its harmful effects in humans.

Bed bugs are brown insects, small, flat and oval ruddy without wings that night to feast on human blood. Bed bugs are nocturnal insects as they are mainly active at midnight.

Bed bugs are quickly disperse in houses, motels, inns, bus, taxi and train stations. You now speculates on how many eggs that bed bugs can lie as they are spreading rapidly

Bed bugs are similar to other insects that reproduce very quickly. And they lay many eggs too. Can now consult, bed bugs set how many eggs?

Bed bugs suck human blood. Several types of bed bugs feed both humans and bats. Therefore, if there are bats in the attic a possibility that your residence is infected with errors is there. If you your attic is cured of occupation of the bats, then effortlessly can stand up to the invasion of bugs.

Bed bugs are born from eggs. After hatching from the eggs they develop in nymphs

How many eggs by bed bugs? In a year the female bedbugs establishes a minimum 300 (three hundred) eggs and 1000 (thousand) during their lifetime. A maximum of three eggs puts it in a day after mating. The eggs of bed bugs are delivered in about ten days.

The life of a bed bug is long. Bed bugs can also live 18 months without eating. Image! Bed bug eggs can withstand on any surface, but prefer paper, wood or fabric more metals and plastics, while nymphs can survive without food for nearly six months

What are the likely areas of female bedbugs lay the eggs? Bed bugs lay their eggs in small cracks to protect the eggs of the damage. Bugs women hide the eggs under the beddings, in cracks in the headboard under the wrinkle in the nightstand next to the bed, within other furniture of wood and role tapestry bedroom nearby.

The number of eggs laid by bed bugs determines the rate of invasion. A mounted bed bug mattress full of eggs involves hundreds of bedbugs are everywhere eggs, and they are being woven on a daily basis

But if we destroy the bugs, bed bugs eggs must also be destroyed. If you leave the eggs unharmed, can be born and grow in already bugs a man or woman who can produce a thousand eggs. If there is more than a thousand bugs women there in your House, you will not know also how many bugs eggs can sit.

Bed bug eggs can be identified easily. They look like eggs of termites. However unlike the eggs of termites, bugs eggs live near ruddy reddish spots and have an unpleasant stench, as sweet, really a bit obsolete. The dark reddish dye is faecus excrement or bugs. Bed bugs are only this type of arrangement of excrement. However, the smell of bed bugs comes from the gland of the scent of bed bugs. They meet the aroma for breeding and it also works as a limit of protection.

Bed bug eggs must not be crushed or mashed. Bugs eggs must be destroyed through the use of insecticides. By crushing bugs eggs, several eggs could not be crushed, and have another opportunity to reproduce some generations of bed bugs instead.

Discover the best spray to kill insects. Use specifically those aimed at the eradication of bed bugs. On the use of chemical sprays of bed bugs, eggs and nymphs will die along with adults. Although many say that such chemicals to kill bed bugs are ineffective to liberate his home in bed bugs, however, are the best substitute for the physical extermination of bugs (crushing and mashing of adult and egg chinches points) and the best substitute for DDT. In the United States, DDT was used to kill every kind of insect from the year 1940 to 1950. While DDT was successful in eliminating pests, it is now prohibited in United States and other countries because of its harmful effects in humans.

One of the most worrying when coming from a dream things deep and waking up in the morning is to find small red bite marks above and below the skin.

If you've had this happen then all know too well that there are few errors there do you while it is sleeping. Perhaps you have been traveling in different beds or recently discovered traces of your home, but it is likely that you are dealing with the common bugs (Cimex lectularius). In this article we will discuss some recent history, elimination and detection of bugs in these annoying errors soon and why they are behind.

There are many expressions in the years when it's sleeping. "Sleep tight" that it comes from the medieval period when beds used ropes between the bed rails to hold the mattress. If these were not adjusted your mattress to slide through of the floor. "I slept like a baby" implying that they were quite asleep and that nothing was going to wake him. And of course this one, "do not let the bed bugs bite!" That is of course a reference to these small little oval errors that slip into his bed and proceed to bite you everything in the middle of the night.

Strong synthetic pesticides such as DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) were used to eliminate bed bugs since 1939 in until that DDT was banned. He believed to be causing cancer in humans and animals and poses a threat to wildlife all crop dust, DDT was banned for agricultural use worldwide under the Stockholm Convention in 1972.

However this pesticide was a long way in the eradication of bed bugs and for decades had few if reported no cases of bed bugs along the United States.  The old adage "Not let the bed bugs bite" began to fade from memory much as other common phrases with references to things in society of the past. Unfortunately although bugs do not disappear and are worrying us ever deeper into the 21st century.

The resurgence of bedbugs can today be attributed to various factors. Bed bugs are building the weakest tolerances chemicals used in its management. Travel is also another consideration as more and more people travel between Europe, Asia and North America that can help spread these creatures bit annoying living spaces, hotels and residences abroad. Having a home clean and orderly does not guarantee a space free from bugs, since we know that they can reach clothing, luggage, or anything else that come into contact with. There are some things to look for when trying to determine if you have an infestation of bedbugs.

Bed bugs are nocturnal, meaning that they only leave at night. More specifically when is black because they avoid the light. Detect them can be tricky because if you turn on the lights in a room, you can hide and spread quickly in solemnly fissures or cracks on beds or furniture without being seen.

Try to use a flashlight and avoid movements like this too warning them. If you begin to notice red bite in a pattern or in the same area also is an indication that bed bugs may be present. The visual detection of errors, own bites or see them in the mattress or body shall determine whether it is necessary to begin containment and eradication. Bed bug eggs are quite small almost the size of a grain of salt, very difficult to see. The errors are usually dark in color and about 3/16 of an inch in length and oval shape. You can also view bugs droppings or even small pieces of blood in the affected areas. If there are signs that have them and you are careful you can see them when detecting them carefully with previous methods.

Elimination of bed bugs may try by the primary owner or lessee, but it is actually better that they imply a PMP (Pest Management Professional). They will have more industrial power products that will be able to neutralize the bedbugs. You can also help determine which areas in his home served as a test area for errors especially in walls and motherboards. The PMP can offer suggestions on how to fill cracks in the areas of floor plate and is trained to look for signs of where the bugs come from and what products can be used safely throughout your home to eliminate them. Adult bedbugs can live a year without food and having professional help may be needed to make sure that you are not again. Also, don't be surprised if it is recommended to purchase a new mattress and bed then take other furniture and mattresses current if you actually have an infestation of bed bugs.

If you have bed bugs there have been some different techniques that have evolved over time which may or may not help you in their own situation. The idea of small bugs crawling over it while it is sleeping can be very disturbing and can lead to poor sleep.

Perhaps some of these techniques will help. Some people have used cups of cheese cottage or containers under the legs of metals from their beds and a combination of flypaper and double-sided adhesive tape used to detect errors just as they tracked up. Others recommend the use of neem oil sprayed on carpets, mattresses and bedding to control bed bugs. Neem Oil is made from the neem tree in the India and has been used for hundreds of years as an effective insect control. It has been approved as safe by the FDA for external use. Just make sure that nothing is touching the ground to his bed, as a bed skirt or have your bed pushed against the wall. Do not give the bugs opportunity to find far in his bed.
In this article we look at the ever annoying bugs. We talk about how you were eradicated almost decades ago but has slowly reemerging in homes, hotels and other areas of life in recent years.

We learned that they are nocturnal in nature and come out at night to feed it is the best time to detect them. Signs of bed bugs are bites the skin in nearly six mutually, as well as eggs or excrement that can be in your mattress or close to the sleeping area. Best bed bug removal is handled by a PMP that is trained in the detection and appropriate products to remove an infestation. Also discuss some techniques to manage bed pleading that others have found useful over the years. Just remember, "sleep tight, and don't let the Bedbugs Bite!"

One of the most worrying when coming from a dream things deep and waking up in the morning is to find small red bite marks above and below the skin.

If you've had this happen then all know too well that there are few errors there do you while it is sleeping. Perhaps you have been traveling in different beds or recently discovered traces of your home, but it is likely that you are dealing with the common bugs (Cimex lectularius). In this article we will discuss some recent history, elimination and detection of bugs in these annoying errors soon and why they are behind.

There are many expressions in the years when it's sleeping. "Sleep tight" that it comes from the medieval period when beds used ropes between the bed rails to hold the mattress. If these were not adjusted your mattress to slide through of the floor. "I slept like a baby" implying that they were quite asleep and that nothing was going to wake him. And of course this one, "do not let the bed bugs bite!" That is of course a reference to these small little oval errors that slip into his bed and proceed to bite you everything in the middle of the night.

Strong synthetic pesticides such as DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) were used to eliminate bed bugs since 1939 in until that DDT was banned. He believed to be causing cancer in humans and animals and poses a threat to wildlife all crop dust, DDT was banned for agricultural use worldwide under the Stockholm Convention in 1972.

However this pesticide was a long way in the eradication of bed bugs and for decades had few if reported no cases of bed bugs along the United States.  The old adage "Not let the bed bugs bite" began to fade from memory much as other common phrases with references to things in society of the past. Unfortunately although bugs do not disappear and are worrying us ever deeper into the 21st century.

The resurgence of bedbugs can today be attributed to various factors. Bed bugs are building the weakest tolerances chemicals used in its management. Travel is also another consideration as more and more people travel between Europe, Asia and North America that can help spread these creatures bit annoying living spaces, hotels and residences abroad. Having a home clean and orderly does not guarantee a space free from bugs, since we know that they can reach clothing, luggage, or anything else that come into contact with. There are some things to look for when trying to determine if you have an infestation of bedbugs.

Bed bugs are nocturnal, meaning that they only leave at night. More specifically when is black because they avoid the light. Detect them can be tricky because if you turn on the lights in a room, you can hide and spread quickly in solemnly fissures or cracks on beds or furniture without being seen.

Try to use a flashlight and avoid movements like this too warning them. If you begin to notice red bite in a pattern or in the same area also is an indication that bed bugs may be present. The visual detection of errors, own bites or see them in the mattress or body shall determine whether it is necessary to begin containment and eradication. Bed bug eggs are quite small almost the size of a grain of salt, very difficult to see. The errors are usually dark in color and about 3/16 of an inch in length and oval shape. You can also view bugs droppings or even small pieces of blood in the affected areas. If there are signs that have them and you are careful you can see them when detecting them carefully with previous methods.

Elimination of bed bugs may try by the primary owner or lessee, but it is actually better that they imply a PMP (Pest Management Professional). They will have more industrial power products that will be able to neutralize the bedbugs. You can also help determine which areas in his home served as a test area for errors especially in walls and motherboards. The PMP can offer suggestions on how to fill cracks in the areas of floor plate and is trained to look for signs of where the bugs come from and what products can be used safely throughout your home to eliminate them. Adult bedbugs can live a year without food and having professional help may be needed to make sure that you are not again. Also, don't be surprised if it is recommended to purchase a new mattress and bed then take other furniture and mattresses current if you actually have an infestation of bed bugs.

If you have bed bugs there have been some different techniques that have evolved over time which may or may not help you in their own situation. The idea of small bugs crawling over it while it is sleeping can be very disturbing and can lead to poor sleep.

Perhaps some of these techniques will help. Some people have used cups of cheese cottage or containers under the legs of metals from their beds and a combination of flypaper and double-sided adhesive tape used to detect errors just as they tracked up. Others recommend the use of neem oil sprayed on carpets, mattresses and bedding to control bed bugs. Neem Oil is made from the neem tree in the India and has been used for hundreds of years as an effective insect control. It has been approved as safe by the FDA for external use. Just make sure that nothing is touching the ground to his bed, as a bed skirt or have your bed pushed against the wall. Do not give the bugs opportunity to find far in his bed.
In this article we look at the ever annoying bugs. We talk about how you were eradicated almost decades ago but has slowly reemerging in homes, hotels and other areas of life in recent years.

We learned that they are nocturnal in nature and come out at night to feed it is the best time to detect them. Signs of bed bugs are bites the skin in nearly six mutually, as well as eggs or excrement that can be in your mattress or close to the sleeping area. Best bed bug removal is handled by a PMP that is trained in the detection and appropriate products to remove an infestation. Also discuss some techniques to manage bed pleading that others have found useful over the years. Just remember, "sleep tight, and don't let the Bedbugs Bite!"

Bed bugs are making a comeback nationwide and the pest control industry is seeking new technologies to combat the increasingly pesticide-resistant insects. Cutting-edge technologies at both ends of the temperature spectrum include Cryonite which uses a non-toxic carbon dioxide snow to instantly freeze and kill the noxious pests and giant infrared heaters that raise the temperature in a room and bake the bugs to death.

The University of Minnesota is working on a trap that simulates a sleeping human, the bed bug's favorite meal.
Perhaps the most popular weapon in the bed bug-fighting arsenal - possibly because of its sloppy kisses and wagging tail - is the dog. Dogs, which have been trained to sniff out weapons, arson, drugs, missing persons, termites and cancer, are now being trained to detect and pinpoint bed bugs and their eggs, helping exterminators target treatment areas.

The average dog has 200 to 250 million scent receptors in its nose. Its nasal membranes cover seven square meters. In comparison, human nasal membranes cover barely half a meter and contain only 5 million receptors. A dog's scenting ability is so sensitive it can smell things that can't be detected by the most sensitive scientific instruments. Depending on the dog and its training, a dog's sensitivity to odors is 10 to 100 times greater than man's.

"A dog's nose is cutting-edge technology," Carl Massicott, owner of Connecticut's Advanced K9 Detectives, told the New York Daily News. "Our animals are 100 percent honest and trained to work for food and love instead of profits." It's the dog owners who are raking in the profits. Depending on facility size and travel time, the cost of K-9 bed bug detection is about $200 per hour.

Typically K-9 services provide initial and follow-up detection but not bed bug extermination services. Dogs can help pest control experts determine what areas to treat and in follow-up can indicate whether all bed bugs have been killed.

A trained dog can thoroughly investigate a room and locate bed bug infestations in two to three minutes, less time than it takes a human technician who must rely on visual clues which can require a thorough inspection of the home. Typically, dogs can detect infestations within a three-foot radius but may not be able to narrow it down further. For example, a dog may indicate that bed bugs are under a piece of furniture but be unable to indicate whether the bugs are hiding in furniture joints or floorboard crevices. Dogs are trained to alert their handlers to the presence of bed bugs by swatting a paw or barking. Smaller dogs are favored for their ability to negotiate tight spaces.

Pepe Peruyero, owner of J&K Canine Academy, got started in the pest control business by training dogs to detect termites. A former law enforcement officer who worked with K-9 units in Gainesville, Florida, Peruyero assisted University of Florida entomologists in conducting rigorous scientific tests to determine dogs' ability to detect insects. Those tests confirmed that dogs could detect not only termites, but several other types of insects, including bed bugs, and a business venture was born. Employing the same training techniques used to train drug- and bomb-sniffing dogs, Peruyero was able to develop training and testing standards for bug-sniffing dogs.

Today, business is booming. Last year Peruyero trained just one dog to sniff out bed bugs, but this year he has already trained 15 dogs and has another dozen or so dogs on the waiting list. His is one of only six facilities worldwide that train dogs to detect bed bugs. Training takes five days and includes training the dog's handler. Handler and dog teams must prove themselves in simulated hotel room settings, detecting the presence or absence of bed bugs with 100 percent accuracy before graduation. To prevent dogs from spreading bed bugs while they're working, handlers are taught specific grooming protocols that include brushing, cleaning and drying the dog immediately before and after a job.

Insect detection is a cutting-edge business opportunity. "We realize that bed bugs are on their way to becoming part of our daily lives," said Mary Silverson, vice president of Hunter Detection Services on Florida's Gulf Coast and new owner of one of Peruyero's bed bug-sniffing dogs. Trained pest-detection canines cost around $8,000 and their upkeep, including food, veterinary care, handler's salary and transportation, can range from $80,000 to $100,000 a year. To keep their sniffers sharp, dogs must run through their detection paces every single day.

Bed bugs are tiny, blood-sucking insects that feed on human blood. They are easily spread and difficult to detect as only about 50 percent of the people whose beds they share react to their bites. About the size of an apple seed, bed bugs hide in tiny crevices and cracks.

They are most commonly found in mattresses, box springs, furniture, baseboards, carpeting, floorboards, behind wallpaper, and in electrical outlets near the bed. Although bed bugs are not known to carry disease, the itchy red welts they raise and the emotional toll of knowing you're being nibbled on in your sleep can cause serious mental distress. Their slightly sweet scent, which has been likened to fresh red raspberries or coriander, makes bed bugs a natural for K-9 detection.
Well-trained dogs can enter a room and within two to three minutes alert their handlers to the tiniest trace of bed bugs. Dogs can be trained to tell the difference between live bed bugs, dead ones, cast skins, eggs and even bed bug fecal matter.

Paired with cutting-edge pest extermination, bed bug-sniffing dogs can perform an invaluable service for hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, colleges and universities, apartment complexes, military barracks, camps, cruise ships, airlines, and anywhere bed bugs might be a problem. The dogs quickly locate bed bug trouble spots, allowing the pest extermination experts to efficiently target and eliminate bed bug infestations. Dogs can also be used in follow-up procedures after treatment to guarantee that all bed bugs have been killed.

The exclusive Jurys Boston Hotel is one of 10 Boston hotels that uses canine patrols to check its 225 guest rooms for signs of bed bugs. In its nearly four years of operation, Jurys has never had a bed bug incident. Only twice in those four years have the specially trained canine pest hunters barked, apparently detecting the scent of bed bugs or their eggs. In both cases, Jurys took no chances.

They immediately fumigated the room for bed bugs and burned the mattresses. "At the first sign or suggestion of a problem, our reaction would be to treat the room with chemicals, no questions asked," said general manager Stephen Johnston in an interview with The Boston Globe. Johnston calls in the canine patrol for a bed bug inspection every three months.
While guest comfort may be the primary reason hotels contract for pest control, avoiding potential law suits runs a close second. A couple from New Jersey sued the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers last fall after claiming they were bitten by bed bugs during a two-night stay.

Another couple who suffered a similar experience sued the Sheraton Four Points in San Francisco. It takes just one unwitting bed bug-carrying guest to infect a hotel room. Adept hitchhikers, bed bugs can be carried into a hotel or home on clothing, suitcases, linens and used furniture.

The National Entomology Scent Detection Canine Association was formed to develop and set training and certification standards for bed bug-sniffing dogs. Before you hire a K-9 patrol, ask the following questions:
Is the dog certified?
Can it differentiate between living and dead bugs?
Can it sniff out eggs?
How are the dog's findings validated?
Remember, finding bed bugs is just the first step. Exterminating them is what's important.

Bed bugs are making a comeback nationwide and the pest control industry is seeking new technologies to combat the increasingly pesticide-resistant insects. Cutting-edge technologies at both ends of the temperature spectrum include Cryonite which uses a non-toxic carbon dioxide snow to instantly freeze and kill the noxious pests and giant infrared heaters that raise the temperature in a room and bake the bugs to death.

The University of Minnesota is working on a trap that simulates a sleeping human, the bed bug's favorite meal.
Perhaps the most popular weapon in the bed bug-fighting arsenal - possibly because of its sloppy kisses and wagging tail - is the dog. Dogs, which have been trained to sniff out weapons, arson, drugs, missing persons, termites and cancer, are now being trained to detect and pinpoint bed bugs and their eggs, helping exterminators target treatment areas.

The average dog has 200 to 250 million scent receptors in its nose. Its nasal membranes cover seven square meters. In comparison, human nasal membranes cover barely half a meter and contain only 5 million receptors. A dog's scenting ability is so sensitive it can smell things that can't be detected by the most sensitive scientific instruments. Depending on the dog and its training, a dog's sensitivity to odors is 10 to 100 times greater than man's.

"A dog's nose is cutting-edge technology," Carl Massicott, owner of Connecticut's Advanced K9 Detectives, told the New York Daily News. "Our animals are 100 percent honest and trained to work for food and love instead of profits." It's the dog owners who are raking in the profits. Depending on facility size and travel time, the cost of K-9 bed bug detection is about $200 per hour.

Typically K-9 services provide initial and follow-up detection but not bed bug extermination services. Dogs can help pest control experts determine what areas to treat and in follow-up can indicate whether all bed bugs have been killed.

A trained dog can thoroughly investigate a room and locate bed bug infestations in two to three minutes, less time than it takes a human technician who must rely on visual clues which can require a thorough inspection of the home. Typically, dogs can detect infestations within a three-foot radius but may not be able to narrow it down further. For example, a dog may indicate that bed bugs are under a piece of furniture but be unable to indicate whether the bugs are hiding in furniture joints or floorboard crevices. Dogs are trained to alert their handlers to the presence of bed bugs by swatting a paw or barking. Smaller dogs are favored for their ability to negotiate tight spaces.

Pepe Peruyero, owner of J&K Canine Academy, got started in the pest control business by training dogs to detect termites. A former law enforcement officer who worked with K-9 units in Gainesville, Florida, Peruyero assisted University of Florida entomologists in conducting rigorous scientific tests to determine dogs' ability to detect insects. Those tests confirmed that dogs could detect not only termites, but several other types of insects, including bed bugs, and a business venture was born. Employing the same training techniques used to train drug- and bomb-sniffing dogs, Peruyero was able to develop training and testing standards for bug-sniffing dogs.

Today, business is booming. Last year Peruyero trained just one dog to sniff out bed bugs, but this year he has already trained 15 dogs and has another dozen or so dogs on the waiting list. His is one of only six facilities worldwide that train dogs to detect bed bugs. Training takes five days and includes training the dog's handler. Handler and dog teams must prove themselves in simulated hotel room settings, detecting the presence or absence of bed bugs with 100 percent accuracy before graduation. To prevent dogs from spreading bed bugs while they're working, handlers are taught specific grooming protocols that include brushing, cleaning and drying the dog immediately before and after a job.

Insect detection is a cutting-edge business opportunity. "We realize that bed bugs are on their way to becoming part of our daily lives," said Mary Silverson, vice president of Hunter Detection Services on Florida's Gulf Coast and new owner of one of Peruyero's bed bug-sniffing dogs. Trained pest-detection canines cost around $8,000 and their upkeep, including food, veterinary care, handler's salary and transportation, can range from $80,000 to $100,000 a year. To keep their sniffers sharp, dogs must run through their detection paces every single day.

Bed bugs are tiny, blood-sucking insects that feed on human blood. They are easily spread and difficult to detect as only about 50 percent of the people whose beds they share react to their bites. About the size of an apple seed, bed bugs hide in tiny crevices and cracks.

They are most commonly found in mattresses, box springs, furniture, baseboards, carpeting, floorboards, behind wallpaper, and in electrical outlets near the bed. Although bed bugs are not known to carry disease, the itchy red welts they raise and the emotional toll of knowing you're being nibbled on in your sleep can cause serious mental distress. Their slightly sweet scent, which has been likened to fresh red raspberries or coriander, makes bed bugs a natural for K-9 detection.
Well-trained dogs can enter a room and within two to three minutes alert their handlers to the tiniest trace of bed bugs. Dogs can be trained to tell the difference between live bed bugs, dead ones, cast skins, eggs and even bed bug fecal matter.

Paired with cutting-edge pest extermination, bed bug-sniffing dogs can perform an invaluable service for hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, colleges and universities, apartment complexes, military barracks, camps, cruise ships, airlines, and anywhere bed bugs might be a problem. The dogs quickly locate bed bug trouble spots, allowing the pest extermination experts to efficiently target and eliminate bed bug infestations. Dogs can also be used in follow-up procedures after treatment to guarantee that all bed bugs have been killed.

The exclusive Jurys Boston Hotel is one of 10 Boston hotels that uses canine patrols to check its 225 guest rooms for signs of bed bugs. In its nearly four years of operation, Jurys has never had a bed bug incident. Only twice in those four years have the specially trained canine pest hunters barked, apparently detecting the scent of bed bugs or their eggs. In both cases, Jurys took no chances.

They immediately fumigated the room for bed bugs and burned the mattresses. "At the first sign or suggestion of a problem, our reaction would be to treat the room with chemicals, no questions asked," said general manager Stephen Johnston in an interview with The Boston Globe. Johnston calls in the canine patrol for a bed bug inspection every three months.
While guest comfort may be the primary reason hotels contract for pest control, avoiding potential law suits runs a close second. A couple from New Jersey sued the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers last fall after claiming they were bitten by bed bugs during a two-night stay.

Another couple who suffered a similar experience sued the Sheraton Four Points in San Francisco. It takes just one unwitting bed bug-carrying guest to infect a hotel room. Adept hitchhikers, bed bugs can be carried into a hotel or home on clothing, suitcases, linens and used furniture.

The National Entomology Scent Detection Canine Association was formed to develop and set training and certification standards for bed bug-sniffing dogs. Before you hire a K-9 patrol, ask the following questions:
Is the dog certified?
Can it differentiate between living and dead bugs?
Can it sniff out eggs?
How are the dog's findings validated?
Remember, finding bed bugs is just the first step. Exterminating them is what's important.

A Brief History

Bed bugs have been documented as pests since the 17th century and were introduced to this country by the early colonists. They were common in the United States prior to World War II, after which time widespread use of synthetic insecticides such as DDT greatly reduced their numbers. Improvements in household and personal cleanliness, as well as increased regulation of the used furniture market, also likely contributed to their reduced pest status.

In the past decade, bed bugs have begun making a comeback across the United States. The widespread use of baits rather than insecticide sprays for ant and cockroach control is a factor that has been implicated in their return. International travel and commerce are thought to facilitate the spread of these insect hitchhikers, because eggs, young, and adult bed bugs are readily transported in luggage, clothing, bedding, and furniture. Bed bugs can infest airplanes, ships, trains, and buses. Bed bugs are most frequently found in dwellings with a high rate of occupant turnover, such as hotels, motels, hostels, dormitories, shelters, apartment complexes, tenements, and prisons. Such infestations usually are not a reflection of poor hygiene or bad housekeeping.

The 'New' Old Threat
What are the risks? As insects go, bed bugs are technically more of a nuisance than a danger, and have not been shown to be capable of transferring disease from person to person. Unfortunately this fact does nothing to reduce the potentially huge negative impact on those affected. Even in cases of minor infestations, people bitten may receive numerous bites over a few nights before they determine what is causing them. Depending on the sensitivity of an individual, the effect of these bites can range from small red dots to large welts that itch and may become irritated and infected when scratched.

How big is the rise? Quantifying this resurgence is difficult, there is no national database where information is stored and individuals and businesses are understandably reluctant to openly share their experiences... Would you stay in a hotel that admitted they had a bed bug problem? The available data does not look good. Nationwide; there was a 19% increase in bedbug complaints during an 18-month stretch from summer 2003 to winter 2004, according to a March 2005 survey by Pest Control Technology magazine.

New York has attracted significant attention in recent years. While there is no official tally of bedbug complaints in New York City, pest control experts and scientists say the city is in the midst of a serious outbreak. Tom Nimetz, who has run Better Pest Control Management in Brooklyn for 35 years, said he has been called to more than 500 bed bug jobs in the last two years, up from one or two cases in a year.
 
New York was also the focus of national media attention in 2003 when a Mexican businessman sued the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel after he and a companion allegedly suffered numerous bed bug bites to their torsos, arms and necks while staying at the property, which overlooks Central Park. Helmsley Enterprises Inc., the owner of the hotel, settled the suit quietly in 2004. Stopping short of confirming bed bugs had been a problem, Howard Rubenstein, a company spokesman, said the hotel had not had any problems with bed bugs since the lawsuit.

The scale of the problem in New York can be further qualified by the efforts of New York City Council member Gale Brewer. In May 2005 Council member Brewer introduced legislation that would represent a major gain in the City's fight against a growing bed bug infestation. In addition to banning the sale of reconditioned mattresses, Brewer's legislation would create a Bed Bug Task Force that would be responsible for monitoring the scope of this dynamic problem and developing the long-term policy solutions needed to curb the spread of this infestation.

"Bed bugs are already a huge threat to New York City residents, and have a real potential to be a menace to the City's economy," said Brewer. Yes, OK, but what about me? Within the United States pest control companies have reported increasing bed bug activity on a national scale. Orkin, one of North America's largest and most experienced pest control companies reports having dealt with bed bugs in 47 states and is estimating a 25-30% increase in bed bug infestations over the next four to five years. Even without definitive data on the rise of bed bugs, one thing is certain. If your business involves transient people, furniture or accommodations, you will have to deal with this problem at some point -- and probably sooner rather than later.

Do I have them already and how would I know? Even though bed bugs are small, approximately 1/5th of an inch long, about the size of a lady bug, they can be readily seen with the naked eye. They are wingless, oval and flattened in appearance and crawl at a steady rate. They are rusty red or mahogany in color. Nymphs (young) appear identical to the adults except for their smaller size, and a lighter, yellowish white color. Eggs are white and are about 1/32 inch long. Newly hatched bugs are nearly colorless.

Bed bugs are active at night when they leave their daytime resting place in cracks and crevices to seek out human blood. By checking the bed linen in the middle of the night you have the best opportunity to find bed bugs on the move. Bed bug bites are normally two or three in a row and often blood spots are deposited on the sheeting. Any nearby crack or crevice can serve as a daytime refuge for bed bugs. Look for bed bugs under folds in mattresses, along seams and in between bedposts and bed slats. When large numbers of bed bugs are present, they produce a distinctive pungent odor. Numerous dark fecal spots on linen or near cracks are another indication of a bed bug infestation.

Dealing With Them
As with most pest issues, the goal is to act fast and be thorough. Enlist the services of a reputable pest control professional with experience dealing specifically with bed bugs. According to Stoy Hedges, B.C.E., Manager of Technical Services for Terminix, "Terminix has seen a significant increase in bed bug calls over the past few years with the bugs now showing up in single family homes. This insect is difficult to control and requires the expertise of an experienced pest control company."

Treatment Normally Involves the Following Steps:

1. Complete a thorough inspection of areas suspected of infestation. This should include furniture, bedding, personal belongings, and surrounding 1. Complete and thorough inspection of areas suspected of infestation. This should include furniture, bedding, personal belongings, and surrounding structures.
2. Treatment of all infected areas and items.
3. The application of IGR's (Insect Growth Regulators), which are residual chemicals that help reduce the risk of further infestation.
4. Follow-up inspections and treatment if necessary.
While this procedure seems pretty basic and similar to what you might expect for other insect pests, the difference really comes in when working directly with the customer.

The 'Gross' Factor. The 'gross' factor is extremely high with this issue. If comments like these are not enough to convince you, "I'm repulsed, I'm horrified and I'm disgusted," said a mother of three, who lives in an upscale building in Jackson Heights, Queens, where bed bugs have spread to 26 apartments, a quick surf on the world wide web should do it, with high dollar lawsuits being filed more and more frequently.
Policies, Procedures, and Liability Issues

With lawsuits in excess of $20 million having been filed, liability is a major concern. While you may not be able to stop yourself from being sued you can certainly go a long way to protecting yourself by dealing with any problems in an educated and consistent manner.

1. Develop and maintain a comprehensive company policy. At a minimum, this policy should clearly outline your company's stance with respect to the problem, training, responsibilities, and customer relations.

2. Develop and maintain concise and well thought out procedures that deal with your most likely scenarios. Even though each situation you deal with will be different, knowing what to do in the most common situations will give you a baseline.

3. Train your staff. The best policies and procedures mean nothing if they are not common knowledge and common practice. Thorough training and strict enforcement send a strong message to customers and employees alike. That message is, "We are dealing with this issue, and you are part of the solution."

A Brief History

Bed bugs have been documented as pests since the 17th century and were introduced to this country by the early colonists. They were common in the United States prior to World War II, after which time widespread use of synthetic insecticides such as DDT greatly reduced their numbers. Improvements in household and personal cleanliness, as well as increased regulation of the used furniture market, also likely contributed to their reduced pest status.

In the past decade, bed bugs have begun making a comeback across the United States. The widespread use of baits rather than insecticide sprays for ant and cockroach control is a factor that has been implicated in their return. International travel and commerce are thought to facilitate the spread of these insect hitchhikers, because eggs, young, and adult bed bugs are readily transported in luggage, clothing, bedding, and furniture. Bed bugs can infest airplanes, ships, trains, and buses. Bed bugs are most frequently found in dwellings with a high rate of occupant turnover, such as hotels, motels, hostels, dormitories, shelters, apartment complexes, tenements, and prisons. Such infestations usually are not a reflection of poor hygiene or bad housekeeping.

The 'New' Old Threat
What are the risks? As insects go, bed bugs are technically more of a nuisance than a danger, and have not been shown to be capable of transferring disease from person to person. Unfortunately this fact does nothing to reduce the potentially huge negative impact on those affected. Even in cases of minor infestations, people bitten may receive numerous bites over a few nights before they determine what is causing them. Depending on the sensitivity of an individual, the effect of these bites can range from small red dots to large welts that itch and may become irritated and infected when scratched.

How big is the rise? Quantifying this resurgence is difficult, there is no national database where information is stored and individuals and businesses are understandably reluctant to openly share their experiences... Would you stay in a hotel that admitted they had a bed bug problem? The available data does not look good. Nationwide; there was a 19% increase in bedbug complaints during an 18-month stretch from summer 2003 to winter 2004, according to a March 2005 survey by Pest Control Technology magazine.

New York has attracted significant attention in recent years. While there is no official tally of bedbug complaints in New York City, pest control experts and scientists say the city is in the midst of a serious outbreak. Tom Nimetz, who has run Better Pest Control Management in Brooklyn for 35 years, said he has been called to more than 500 bed bug jobs in the last two years, up from one or two cases in a year.
 
New York was also the focus of national media attention in 2003 when a Mexican businessman sued the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel after he and a companion allegedly suffered numerous bed bug bites to their torsos, arms and necks while staying at the property, which overlooks Central Park. Helmsley Enterprises Inc., the owner of the hotel, settled the suit quietly in 2004. Stopping short of confirming bed bugs had been a problem, Howard Rubenstein, a company spokesman, said the hotel had not had any problems with bed bugs since the lawsuit.

The scale of the problem in New York can be further qualified by the efforts of New York City Council member Gale Brewer. In May 2005 Council member Brewer introduced legislation that would represent a major gain in the City's fight against a growing bed bug infestation. In addition to banning the sale of reconditioned mattresses, Brewer's legislation would create a Bed Bug Task Force that would be responsible for monitoring the scope of this dynamic problem and developing the long-term policy solutions needed to curb the spread of this infestation.

"Bed bugs are already a huge threat to New York City residents, and have a real potential to be a menace to the City's economy," said Brewer. Yes, OK, but what about me? Within the United States pest control companies have reported increasing bed bug activity on a national scale. Orkin, one of North America's largest and most experienced pest control companies reports having dealt with bed bugs in 47 states and is estimating a 25-30% increase in bed bug infestations over the next four to five years. Even without definitive data on the rise of bed bugs, one thing is certain. If your business involves transient people, furniture or accommodations, you will have to deal with this problem at some point -- and probably sooner rather than later.

Do I have them already and how would I know? Even though bed bugs are small, approximately 1/5th of an inch long, about the size of a lady bug, they can be readily seen with the naked eye. They are wingless, oval and flattened in appearance and crawl at a steady rate. They are rusty red or mahogany in color. Nymphs (young) appear identical to the adults except for their smaller size, and a lighter, yellowish white color. Eggs are white and are about 1/32 inch long. Newly hatched bugs are nearly colorless.

Bed bugs are active at night when they leave their daytime resting place in cracks and crevices to seek out human blood. By checking the bed linen in the middle of the night you have the best opportunity to find bed bugs on the move. Bed bug bites are normally two or three in a row and often blood spots are deposited on the sheeting. Any nearby crack or crevice can serve as a daytime refuge for bed bugs. Look for bed bugs under folds in mattresses, along seams and in between bedposts and bed slats. When large numbers of bed bugs are present, they produce a distinctive pungent odor. Numerous dark fecal spots on linen or near cracks are another indication of a bed bug infestation.

Dealing With Them
As with most pest issues, the goal is to act fast and be thorough. Enlist the services of a reputable pest control professional with experience dealing specifically with bed bugs. According to Stoy Hedges, B.C.E., Manager of Technical Services for Terminix, "Terminix has seen a significant increase in bed bug calls over the past few years with the bugs now showing up in single family homes. This insect is difficult to control and requires the expertise of an experienced pest control company."

Treatment Normally Involves the Following Steps:

1. Complete a thorough inspection of areas suspected of infestation. This should include furniture, bedding, personal belongings, and surrounding 1. Complete and thorough inspection of areas suspected of infestation. This should include furniture, bedding, personal belongings, and surrounding structures.
2. Treatment of all infected areas and items.
3. The application of IGR's (Insect Growth Regulators), which are residual chemicals that help reduce the risk of further infestation.
4. Follow-up inspections and treatment if necessary.
While this procedure seems pretty basic and similar to what you might expect for other insect pests, the difference really comes in when working directly with the customer.

The 'Gross' Factor. The 'gross' factor is extremely high with this issue. If comments like these are not enough to convince you, "I'm repulsed, I'm horrified and I'm disgusted," said a mother of three, who lives in an upscale building in Jackson Heights, Queens, where bed bugs have spread to 26 apartments, a quick surf on the world wide web should do it, with high dollar lawsuits being filed more and more frequently.
Policies, Procedures, and Liability Issues

With lawsuits in excess of $20 million having been filed, liability is a major concern. While you may not be able to stop yourself from being sued you can certainly go a long way to protecting yourself by dealing with any problems in an educated and consistent manner.

1. Develop and maintain a comprehensive company policy. At a minimum, this policy should clearly outline your company's stance with respect to the problem, training, responsibilities, and customer relations.

2. Develop and maintain concise and well thought out procedures that deal with your most likely scenarios. Even though each situation you deal with will be different, knowing what to do in the most common situations will give you a baseline.

3. Train your staff. The best policies and procedures mean nothing if they are not common knowledge and common practice. Thorough training and strict enforcement send a strong message to customers and employees alike. That message is, "We are dealing with this issue, and you are part of the solution."