Expert Tips for Dealing with Bed Bugs
Bed Bugs have, according to these exterminators, become a problem in the last five years. These tips will help you learn your options when dealing with these pesky critters.
By Victoria Reitano Email the author July 28, 2010
Many associate bed bugs with cramped, urban apartments or cheap motels, but as these exterminators explain, they could be lurking in your mattress.
Bob Wiemer, entomologist and general manager of Suburban Exterminating in Smithtown, Kevin O'Connor, entomologist and owner of Eliminex Pest Control in Smithtown and Arthur Katz, president of Knockout Pest Control, provide expert tips for how to deal with bed bugs in Commack.
Wiemer has had many calls from Commack residents in the past five years. "You get a few calls every day about bed bugs now," Wiemer said.
O'Connor agreed and said that bed bugs reintroduced into the United States are also resistant to many of the pesticides previously used. This means that treatments have also changed.
O'Connor and Wiemer said many people will notice raised, red marks on their skin and possibly, blood on their sheets as the first indicators of a possible bed bug infestation. The critters are not, however, limited to the mattress. Both have seen cases where bed bugs have crawled into clock radios, bedside picture frames and crown molding in the room. The bugs will also, Wiemer said, go into other rooms of the home should the bedroom become too crowded for their needs.
Wiemer said these creatures are quite hardy – they can live without feeding for up to two years. He said he has seen instances where the bed bugs are actually visible and jumping around the room during a treatment.
Bed bugs look like, Wiemer said, flattened ticks – before they have fed – and are light brown in color. O'Connor said he has personally noticed an uptick in cases in the summer – with the rise in heat and also with the amount of children and families vacationing. Wiemer also said that college students moving in and out of dorms sometimes bring the bugs into the family home.
The exterminations agree that ridding your home of the pests is not a do-it-yourself project – there are many things that can be done and most times a professional is required to do it.
Katz and Wiemer use carbon monoxide technology – dry ice or Cryonite – to freeze the bed bugs and their eggs. This allows humans to remain in the home and it does not leave any watermarks.
All three companies also use bed bug trained dogs to determine if the area is infected and also to verify that the area is not infected after treatments.
Treatments vary in price and length of time, but all three agree it can take between 1 and 3 visits to clear a residence of a normal bed bug problem.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Are Pesky Insects Driving you Indoors this Summer?
Are Pesky Insects Driving You Indoors This Summer?
by Bob Wiemer
Suburban Exterminating Co, Inc. offers some tips to avoid pesky bugs. (infovisual.info.com)Southampton - Are pesky insects driving you indoors this summer? Don't let bugs ruin your outdoor fun. As General Manager of Suburban Exterminating Co., Inc. I can recommend the tips below for homeowners to keep pesky insects and bugs away from their outdoor living spaces so they may gather without being eaten alive.
• Eliminate any standing water. Biting insects, particularly mosquitoes, breed primarily in stagnant water. If you notice swarms outside your home, look for sources that may have collected rainwater such as garbage cans, birdbaths, basketball hoops, tire swings, tree hollows, improperly drained gutters, picnic umbrellas, receptacles, fountains or ponds, and pool covers.
• For special occasions outdoors, have a party spray done 24 hours prior to the event. Botanical products can be employed and this method is effective at lowering the populations for a short time period.
• Insect Zapper or electrocutors can offer relief for evenings on the patio when directions are followed. Lights should be placed about eye level and away from sitting areas to give the most protection.
• Consult a professional about mosquito magnet CO2 devices, which can be strategically placed on the property and set on a timing device to control mosquitoes.
• Inform the local Board of Health if neighboring properties (sumps, parks, ponds, marshland, etc.) are causing mosquito infestations.
• Surround the deck or patio with citronella candles or torches. The scent is a deterrent and provides additional illumination
• Yellow jacket and flying insect traps are ideal for control at picnics, camping, and cookouts. Hang these around the perimeter of your yard and empty once a day and they will help reduce the population if they continue to be maintained.
• Put mosquito netting around porches.
• Avoid using scented soaps, lotions and shampoos and wear lightweight clothing that covers most of your body, as temperatures permit.
• The use of natural repellent materials available at most stores will further reduce the chances of being bitten.
Suburban Exterminating can also thoroughly inspect properties for breeding sites and provide a written report with recommendations for remedies. For any assistance with your insect problems, don't hesitate to contact our Residential Long Island Exterminators
Established in 1960, Suburban Exterminating Co., Inc. is Long Island leading full-service pest management company providing services in all phases of pest control to homes and businesses and is dedicated to exemplifying quality, professionalism and respect during the execution of a multitude of extermination services. A recent recipient of the International Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Excellence Award, it was the first New York company to be certified as “Green Shield” making the company a leader in environmental stewardship. For more information go to www.suburbanexterminating.com.
by Bob Wiemer
Suburban Exterminating Co, Inc. offers some tips to avoid pesky bugs. (infovisual.info.com)Southampton - Are pesky insects driving you indoors this summer? Don't let bugs ruin your outdoor fun. As General Manager of Suburban Exterminating Co., Inc. I can recommend the tips below for homeowners to keep pesky insects and bugs away from their outdoor living spaces so they may gather without being eaten alive.
• Eliminate any standing water. Biting insects, particularly mosquitoes, breed primarily in stagnant water. If you notice swarms outside your home, look for sources that may have collected rainwater such as garbage cans, birdbaths, basketball hoops, tire swings, tree hollows, improperly drained gutters, picnic umbrellas, receptacles, fountains or ponds, and pool covers.
• For special occasions outdoors, have a party spray done 24 hours prior to the event. Botanical products can be employed and this method is effective at lowering the populations for a short time period.
• Insect Zapper or electrocutors can offer relief for evenings on the patio when directions are followed. Lights should be placed about eye level and away from sitting areas to give the most protection.
• Consult a professional about mosquito magnet CO2 devices, which can be strategically placed on the property and set on a timing device to control mosquitoes.
• Inform the local Board of Health if neighboring properties (sumps, parks, ponds, marshland, etc.) are causing mosquito infestations.
• Surround the deck or patio with citronella candles or torches. The scent is a deterrent and provides additional illumination
• Yellow jacket and flying insect traps are ideal for control at picnics, camping, and cookouts. Hang these around the perimeter of your yard and empty once a day and they will help reduce the population if they continue to be maintained.
• Put mosquito netting around porches.
• Avoid using scented soaps, lotions and shampoos and wear lightweight clothing that covers most of your body, as temperatures permit.
• The use of natural repellent materials available at most stores will further reduce the chances of being bitten.
Suburban Exterminating can also thoroughly inspect properties for breeding sites and provide a written report with recommendations for remedies. For any assistance with your insect problems, don't hesitate to contact our Residential Long Island Exterminators
Established in 1960, Suburban Exterminating Co., Inc. is Long Island leading full-service pest management company providing services in all phases of pest control to homes and businesses and is dedicated to exemplifying quality, professionalism and respect during the execution of a multitude of extermination services. A recent recipient of the International Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Excellence Award, it was the first New York company to be certified as “Green Shield” making the company a leader in environmental stewardship. For more information go to www.suburbanexterminating.com.
Newsday Article - Removing Honeybees from your home.
Newsday
Home work: Removing bee colonies from your homeAugust 20, 2010 by JESSICA DAMIANO / jessica.damiano@newsday.com
You might have seen honeybees busily scurrying from flower to flower in your garden. They're collecting pollen and nectar to feed their queen and brood, or baby bees, and keep their colony thriving, all the while inadvertently pollinating your plants so you can get more flowers, fruits, herbs and vegetables. You even might have seen a honeybee colony nestled into a garage door jamb or hanging like a pouch from a tree branch. Generally, they're not a problem, as the bees don't tend to be aggressive unless they feel threatened.
Deborah Aldea of Syosset found herself in just that predicament last spring, when she and her brother noticed hundreds of bees entering and exiting the house near the living room window. The pair treated the area with hornet spray, to no avail. And when they called an exterminator, they learned the insects weren't hornets at all; they were honeybees.
Aldea called Suburban Pest Management of Smithtown, which is experienced in removing hives without sacrificing bee colonies. After examining the situation and opening up a wall where bee activity was suspected, the company's apiarist, Craig Byer, discovered the colony extending into the ceiling from behind a second wall Aldea didn't even know existed. Byer gingerly removed the nest, including honeycombs, nectar, pollen, honey and brood. The combs were placed in empty frames, and a special vacuum was used to suck the bees gently into a box. Then, he transported the bees to Suburban's apiary in Smithtown, where the colony settled into a new hive.
Honeybees need an opening of only 5/8 inch to enter a structure and build a hive, so proper sealing is vital. It's important to call a pest control company or beekeeper to confirm that what you're dealing with are honeybees.
"Other pests can be killed, and there will be no concern about nesting material left behind," Byer said. "But with honey bees, the nesting material will become a nesting site for other species, like hive beetles, wax moths and others," so it must be removed to avoid future infestations.
Inspection tips:Suburban Pest Management offers these inspection tips for finding a nest if you suspect honeybees have colonized in your home:
Home work: Removing bee colonies from your homeAugust 20, 2010 by JESSICA DAMIANO / jessica.damiano@newsday.com
You might have seen honeybees busily scurrying from flower to flower in your garden. They're collecting pollen and nectar to feed their queen and brood, or baby bees, and keep their colony thriving, all the while inadvertently pollinating your plants so you can get more flowers, fruits, herbs and vegetables. You even might have seen a honeybee colony nestled into a garage door jamb or hanging like a pouch from a tree branch. Generally, they're not a problem, as the bees don't tend to be aggressive unless they feel threatened.
Deborah Aldea of Syosset found herself in just that predicament last spring, when she and her brother noticed hundreds of bees entering and exiting the house near the living room window. The pair treated the area with hornet spray, to no avail. And when they called an exterminator, they learned the insects weren't hornets at all; they were honeybees.
Aldea called Suburban Pest Management of Smithtown, which is experienced in removing hives without sacrificing bee colonies. After examining the situation and opening up a wall where bee activity was suspected, the company's apiarist, Craig Byer, discovered the colony extending into the ceiling from behind a second wall Aldea didn't even know existed. Byer gingerly removed the nest, including honeycombs, nectar, pollen, honey and brood. The combs were placed in empty frames, and a special vacuum was used to suck the bees gently into a box. Then, he transported the bees to Suburban's apiary in Smithtown, where the colony settled into a new hive.
Honeybees need an opening of only 5/8 inch to enter a structure and build a hive, so proper sealing is vital. It's important to call a pest control company or beekeeper to confirm that what you're dealing with are honeybees.
"Other pests can be killed, and there will be no concern about nesting material left behind," Byer said. "But with honey bees, the nesting material will become a nesting site for other species, like hive beetles, wax moths and others," so it must be removed to avoid future infestations.
Inspection tips:Suburban Pest Management offers these inspection tips for finding a nest if you suspect honeybees have colonized in your home:
- Look for a continual flow of bees in and out of an entry point in the exterior of the building.
- Listen for a buzzing sound coming from within the walls.
- Inspect for stains that may develop from honey or nectar.
- Check for warm spots on walls or ceilings, as a hive will maintain a 94-degree temperature, even on the coldest days.
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