Bed bugs have been in the news for a few years now. It shouldn't be a surprise anymore, but something that invades a private place such as your bed is something we'll never get used to. And with your college kids coming back home for the summer, you had better be prepared to check all of their belongings so that you don't become the next bitten victim!
They're excellent hitchhikers, even better hiders, and have an undying need to feed. Several reports just in the last year surfaced about bed bugs in college dorms. Do you know if your child's college got hit? Does the school have a protocol for instances like these? It's sad to think in that paranoid manner, but let's face it: The more you know, the better off you'll be in preventing the stress involved with such an invasion.
Here's what you should do as your kid starts lugging stuff into your house for the summer:
- Inspect all backpacks, luggage, furniture, suitcases, and storage containers before bringing them into the house.
- Vacuum items thoroughly before storing away.
- Consider using a garment hand steamer to steam bags, backpacks, or luggage, which will kill any bed bugs or eggs that may have hitched a ride home.
- Wash all clothing - even if they haven't been worn - in hot water to ensure that any bed bugs that may have made it that far are not placed into drawers/closets.
- Encase your mattresses and box springs to prevent major bed bug harborage opportunities. These are special covers with bed bug locking technology. Call us for more info. We can order them for you.
Don't become the next victim! Be Prepared!
And if you have any doubt in your mind, CALL US. We're professionals, after all.
Home mosquito control is not as expensive or laborious as you might think. There's a quick, easy solution that will allow you to enjoy your time outside this season without smacking yourself every time a mosquito lands on you.
Rose has a couple of options for controlling these pests.
- If you're having an outdoor party for your graduate in the next couple weeks, or maybe an outdoor wedding, we can significantly reduce the mosquito population to allow your guests the comfort you worked so hard to arrange.
- Ongoing maintenance control will continually protect your yard and family from getting eaten alive this season. Visits are typically three weeks apart.
Doesn't Jeff look like a Ghostbuster?! LOL!!! Trust me, he's not looking for Slimer...
Here are some tips and also some general information about mosquitoes.
Common mosquito breeding sites:
Mosquitoes spend the majority of their lives underwater. Anything on the property with standing water in it for more than one day is likely to contain mosquitoes. Like other pests, treatment is only successful when harborage is eliminated and breeding sources are identified.
Remember this: Mosquitoes do not use light or sound to direct their flight. So, sonic repellant machines and zappers are ineffective. Zappers could actually attract more populations. Mosquitoes are driven by carbon dioxide (what you exhale). So, don't be fooled by the gimmicks out there!
Common Bed Bug Myths
- Myth: You can’t see a bed bug.
Reality: You should be able to see adult bed bugs, nymphs and eggs with your naked eye.
- Myth: Bed bugs live in dirty places.
Reality: Bed bugs are not attracted to dirt and grime; they are attracted to warmth, blood and carbon dioxide. However, clutter offers more hiding spots.
- Myth: Bed bugs transmit diseases.
Reality: There are no cases that indicate bed bugs pass diseases from one host to another. Lab tests have shown that it is unlikely that the insect is capable of infecting its host.
- Myth: Bed bugs won’t come out if the room is brightly lit.
Reality: While bed bugs prefer darkness, keeping the light on at night won’t deter these pests from biting you.
- Myth: Pesticide applications alone will easily eliminate bed bug infestations.
Reality: Bed bug control can only be maintained through a treatment strategy that includes a variety of techniques plus careful attention to monitoring. Proper use of pesticides may be part of the strategy, but will not by itself eliminate bed bugs. In addition, bed bug populations in different areas of the country have developed resistance to the ways many pesticides work to kill pests. If you're dealing with a resistant population, some products and application methods may only make the problem worse. It is a good idea to consult a qualified pest management professional (PMP) if you have bed bugs in your home.
Kids coming back home from college dorms this summer? Planning a family vacation? You're going to want to know these things before any moving or travelling happens.
Rose is happy to raise awareness for bed bugs this week. We're firm believers that education is the first line of defense against pests. Here are some valuable bed bug facts and tips to ensure you won't become the next victim...
Bed Bug Facts
• Bed bugs primarily feed on humans but can also feed on warm-blooded animals including birds, mice, and family pets.
• Bed bugs are found worldwide and are thought to have come to the US from Europe in the 17th century.
• Adults are just under a 1/4” long and are relatively flat, nearly as wide as long, and oval in shape compared to most other insects.
• The color is brown to reddish brown. The body may have short golden hairs and will exude a “sickening sweet” smell from glands on its body. There are many types of bed bugs and related insects.
• A female bed bug can lay more than 500 eggs over its lifetime and each bed bug will molt or shed its shell five times as it grows.
• A blood meal is required for a bed bug to molt. If blood meals become scarce, bed bugs can slow their life process until a blood meal source is found, often surviving several months without a meal.
• The saliva of the bed bug may cause a swelling on many people when they are bitten but they do not leave a wound. Swelling may include redness in some sensitive people.
Everyday Prevention Tips
It is important to be aware of ways to prevent bed bugs in your everyday life. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
• Vacuum suitcases after returning from a vacation.
• Check home and/or hotel sheets for tell-tale blood spots.
• Consider bringing a large plastic trashbag to keep your suitcase in during hotel stays.
• Carry a small flashlight to assist you with quick visual inspections.
• Never bring second-hand furniture, especially mattresses and box springs, into a home without thoroughly examining for signs of a bed bug infestation. You might consider having a pest control professional inspect the furniture as it is difficult to detect an infestation without training.
• Regularly inspect areas where pets sleep for signs of bed bugs.
• Bed bugs are elusive creatures, so it is imperative to seek professional pest control assistance to address an infestation.
APRIL IS
NATIONAL PEST MANAGEMENT MONTH!
Industry encourages public education and awareness about household pest dangers
Whether it’s rodents, ants, termites, bed bugs or cockroaches, pest professionals help people safeguard their health and homes from disease-carrying and property-destroying pests. This month, Rose Pest Solutions is proud to observe National Pest Management Month, which is formally recognized each year by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).
The annual observance recognizes the pest management industry’s contribution to society in protecting food, health and property from the harm and destruction of household pests and the safe use of pest management products.
Spring is the perfect time of year to commemorate National Pest Management Month and to remind the public to take time this season to make pest-proofing part of their spring rituals. As pests emerge from their overwintering spots, it is important to ensure homes aren’t vulnerable to infestations. If an infestation is found, homeowners should consult with a professional pest management company to evaluate the extent of the problem and recommend the best course of treatment.
During National Pest Management Month, Rose is also reminding people to be aware of the most common household pests plaguing homeowners this season. To help, here are some interesting facts from the National Pest Management Association about these frequent home invaders:
Termites: Termites feed on the cellulose found in wood and paper products and cause more than $5 billion in property damage every year. With termite season upon us, homeowners should be on the lookout for swarmers (winged termites), which serve as a warning that a colony may have already settled inside.
Ants: Ants are the number one nuisance pest in the U.S. and are among the most difficult to control. According to a new NPMA survey of pest professionals, spring and summer are the busiest seasons for ant-related service calls. Ant infestations are most common in office buildings, restaurants, apartments and condos and single-family homes.
Spiders: While spiders tend to elicit fear in many people, only a few pose serious health threats to humans. For example, both the brown recluse and black widow spiders can cause painful bites that are especially dangerous for children and the elderly, sometimes causing gaping wounds and fatal reactions.
Bed Bugs: Bed bugs continue to plague Americans as they infest hotels, schools college dorms, residences and other places where people gather. A 2011 survey, conducted by NPMA and the University of Kentucky found that 99 percent of pest professionals had encountered bed bugs in the past year; a number that has steadily risen over a 10-year period.
Rose is here for YOU!
Although termites do not pose health threats like mosquitos or cockroaches, this pest can cause significant damage to a home in a matter of weeks or months. A lot of times, the damage is not covered by insurance policies either.
So, what are some signs of termites?
What do you look for?
Mud Tubes are a dead giveaway. They'll look like this:
The actual insects are another clue. Be careful, though. They are very often confused with flying ants. A swarming termite will have two pairs of wings that are equal in length like this:
If you're digging around in your flower beds and see a bunch of white-yellowish maggot type creatures, chances are, those are NOT maggots. They're probably termites. Those would look like this:
What can you do to prevent termite infestations?
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recommends the following steps homeowners can take protect their property from this unwelcome pest:
- Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home including entry points for utilities and pipes.
- Repair fascia and soffits and rotted roof shingles. Some termites are drawn to deteriorating wood.
- Routinely inspect the foundation of your home for signs of mud tubes (used by termites to reach a food source), cracked or bubbling paint and wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
- Maintain a one-inch gap between soil and wood portions of the home.
- Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and 5 inches off the ground.
- Direct water away from your house through properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
Do you suspect you have termites?
Don't waste any time!
A heavier tick season has been forecasted for us this year than the previous year. It's not because of our unusual mild winter though.
It's actually because of an increase in oak tree acorn production.
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
NPMA's news release states, "Oak trees produced an extremely large acorn crop in 2010, which led to a boom in the white-footed mouse population last year. As a result, the blacklegged (deer) tick population also increased because the ticks had an abundance of mice to feed on when they hatched. However, this spring those same ticks will be looking for their second meal as nymphs, but a decline in the mice population may force them to find new warm-blooded host – humans."
This is the blacklegged (deer) tick
Scary, isn't it??
Here are a few other types of ticks to watch out for.
The image below is of several different sized American Dog Ticks.
And this one is a Brown Dog Tick.
These ticks on the finger are different stages of a Deer Tick.
So, you want to learn some awesome tips on
how to rid your yard of ticks?
NPMA offers the following tick tips:
- Use tick repellent when outdoors and wear long sleeved shirts and pants, preferably light in color, so ticks are easier to detect.
- Use preventative medicine on pets, as prescribed by your veterinarian.
- Once indoors, inspect clothing and your entire body. Check family members and pets that have been outdoors.
- Keep grass cut low, including around fences, sheds, trees, shrubs and swing sets. Remove weeds, woodpiles and other debris from the yard.
- If a tick is found attached, remove it with a slow, steady pull so as not to break off the mouthparts and leave them in the skin. Then, wash hands and bite site thoroughly with soap and water. Ticks should be flushed down a toilet or wrapped in tissue before disposing in a closed receptacle.
- If you suspect a tick bite, seek medical attention.
Rose will help protect your family and pets!
Rose's professional ant exterminators are like doctors for the pestworld. How? When you're really sick and you go to the doctor, you get a prescription for your specific sickness. Right? Unfortunately there's not just one pill that cures every illness in the world. So, how does that make Rose technicians like doctors?
Every pest situation is unique in its own way. There are hundreds of ant species in the midwest alone.
There's not one magical ant trap that you can throw down and cure every infestation.
There's so much more to it! Every pest control service begins with a thorough inspection. This is where the technician studies your unique type of pest, why it's there, where they're gaining access to your abode, etc. Once these things are discovered and determined, the technician prescribes the best treatment for that specific pest. Some infestations require follow ups (just like your doctor may recommend) to ensure colony elimination. Other pest infestations require routine maintenance (just like a person's allergy condition).
The moral of this story is...ants may seem easy to defeat at first, but there's so much more that goes on in an ant colony that you don't even see. That's why Rose's ant exterminators are here for you. We've got over 150 years of studying this science. Trust us. You're in the best hands you could ever ask for.
I had the pleasure of visiting an amazing place on Monday. The Illinois Natural History Survey is home to over 7 million insect specimens and is one of the largest collections in North America. I was like a kid in a candy store...but I promise I didn't eat any of the bugs.
Each one of those drawers contains rows and rows of insects all carefully categorized and pinned to foam in little boxes. The specimens in the photo below are several types of termites.
Other drawers contained bigger specimens like these beetles.
What was the point of my visit to INHS? Well, besides my personal love for insects and science, Rose's website is in the process of being redesigned. And part of this detailed project will involve a fresh, new look for our insect identification library! Over 100 specimens were photographed by the very talented Ricky Kluge on Monday and I can't wait to share these beautiful macro images with the world! Stay tuned!
They're the big black ones, right?? They eat wood?
Not exactly!
Carpenter ant extermination begins with understanding the much bigger picture.
- They come in different colors and
- They don't eat wood like termites.
- They chew through wood.
Why are they in your house?
What do they want in your house that they can't find outside?
Those few stragglers you see crawling around your kitchen are just a teeny fraction of the colony population.
Let's learn some ant facts!
These are carpenter ants.
So are these!
If you're wondering if they bite, DON'T experiment by picking up a handful of them.
Those little ant mandibles can hurt!
So, let's say you keep seeing one or two carpenter ants crawling around your dining room window. WHY?
They're after water sources.
Here are some things to think about that commonly get overlooked:
- Are there any tree branches touching your roof or hanging over the roof?
- Are there any water damaged surfaces on the exterior of your home?
- Are your gutters backed up with gunk and not flowing properly?
- Do you have any dead trees around your house?
- Are any of your window frames rotten or water damaged?
- Do you have a woodpile close to your house?
Carpenter ants get their name for their ability to tunnel through wood to build their colonies. They leave sawdust-looking particles behind as they clear out these tunnels. This is called frass. This is what it looks like.
Picture what an ant farm looks like. Here...let me help you picture it.
Carpenter ants make tunnels like the ones in the ant farm above, only they prefer rotting wood, rooflines under shingles, waterlogged decks, etc. You can only imagine once these tunnels are established how it compromises the strength of the wood structure. This is why it's so important to get a professional out to your house to inspect suspicious ant sightings. They're notorious for creating multiple satellite colonies close to water sources, but finding the main colony is the tricky part.
Carpenter ant extermination is no simple task!
