Quick Guide To Bed Bugs In School

Quick Guide To Bed Bugs In School

By now, you’ve probably heard of bed bugs. Those tiny rust-colored blood eaters are making the news all across the country. These bugs are no longer the boogeyman that hides under the bed in motels. They can be found in many places, including schools. If you have school age children from pre-k to college, you should find some helpful information about bed bugs here.

How Do Bed Bugs Get Into Schools?

The bed bug, known scientifically a Cimex lectularius, is not a pest that squeezes its way in through exterior walls. These bugs spread by climbing into the items we wear, and the belongings we carry. So, if a home is dealing with a bed bug infestation, it is possible for that infestation to spread to the schools of any children living in that home–no matter how old. Even college students can pick these bugs up at home and bring them back to their dorm room.

Can Bed Bugs Crawl From One Kid To Another?

Adult bed bugs prefer to be nocturnal. They usually wait until it is dark, and when CO2 levels in a room have risen. But, immature nymphs are more daring than adults. This is probably because they need food to grow and mature. It is not uncommon for young bed bugs to appear in the daylight, or pass from one child to the next.

Can Bed Bug Eggs Pass From One Kid To Another?

While this is possible it is not likely. While bed bug eggs are sticky, they usually stick pretty well to their current location. Bed bugs usually deposit their tiny white eggs in the creases or seams of items to keep them protected. They won’t usually be on the surface.

What Can I Do To Protect My Kids?

There are many practical ways to protect your kids. Here are a few of the most important ones:

  • Make sure your kids know what bed bugs look like in all stages of development. Eggs are the size of the tip on a pen and white. Immature nymphs start transparent and grow more tan/brown and less transparent as they develop. They have six legs, two antennae, three body parts, and are shaped like an apple seed.

  • Make sure your kids know the signs of bed bugs; Bites on the skin; black streaks; blood staining; shed insect skins; and the tiny pale eggs they leave.

If bed bugs come home with your kids, be sure to call a professional. Bed bugs are an extraordinarily difficult pest to get rid of. If you live in our extensive service area, give us a call. At Russell’s Pest Control, we offer industry-leading pest control for all the pests we deal with here in Eastern Tennessee including bed bug control options.

Never Too Early To Think About Termites

Never Too Early To Think About Termites

There is something refreshing about seeing signs that spring is almost here. Things like more daylight, spring ads on television or in the newspapers and warmer weather apparel making its way into stores, are all hopeful signs of the soon coming season. Immediately your mind goes to yard care, t-shirts, and a glass of iced tea. No matter what kind of a winter we have had, it is safe to say that a lot of us are usually happy to see the end of it for another year. Spring is also a good reminder that with the temperature rising so will the influx of pests. Termites are one such pest that you can be sure will be on the move this spring.

Spring is the time of the year when a termite nest has reached its limit in size and capacity. Swarms of these pests are often spotted making their way through fields and woods, and frequently neighborhoods. Often, we do not really know what we are looking at and will dismiss it from our minds as soon as we are out of sight of it. Unfortunately, these termites might just be looking for a way into your home. If they do get in, these swarmers will quickly establish a nest and get to work on building their population and eating everything in sight all without the homeowner ever knowing they are there.

The termite has a voracious appetite for anything that contains cellulose. Cellulose is found in many things in nature, including building materials that may have been used in your home, like wood. Their extraordinarily strong jaws tirelessly work their way through wood, drywall, paste, glue, and many other materials that can do thousands of dollars in damage to a building undetected until it is visible in the frequented parts of the home.

There is good news though. Homeowners can save thousands in repairs and treatment for termite infestations by working with a reputable pest control company, like Russell’s Pest Control, to prevent termites from entering in the first place. If your home already has termites, we can work with you to eliminate the current threat and set measures in place to prevent future termite damage. Russell’s Pest Control has worked with hundreds of home owners over the years, keeping their most valuable asset termite-free. Imagine the relief knowing that your home is guaranteed to be safe from termites all year-long. That peace of mind is well worth it. Call today to learn more about our quality termite services!

Are Black Widow Spiders Dangerous?

Are Black Widow Spiders Dangerous?

All spiders have venom, but the venom of the black widow spider is particularly potent. This is because the black widow takes down much larger prey than most spiders. They don’t just eat flies and gnats. These robust arachnids can take down and feed on caterpillars, beetles, scorpions, cockroaches, grasshoppers, and other large insects. But what is most impressive is that they will also take down mice, lizards, and even snakes. This is not a spider you want to tangle with.

Will a bite from a black widow lead to death?

A black widow bite can be fatal, but it is rare, especially in the United States where medical treatment for black widow bites is quickly accessible. It is, however, a bite that is usually unpleasant enough to make you wish you were dead. Symptoms may include severe pain in the bite area, as well as in the chest, belly, and back; muscle aches that start near the bite wound and spread through the entire body; chills, sweating, fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, and even shock. A bite from the black widow is especially threatening to those who have a heart condition because the venom often causes a spike in blood pressure. If you, or someone you’re with, is bitten by a black widow spider, seek medical attention immediately.

How do I protect myself from a black widow bite?

If you are away from home, the best way to protect yourself from a bite is to recognize a black widow spider web when you see one. These webs don’t look like those perfect webs you see as part of Halloween decorations. These spiders make a tangled web from strong fibers and usually place them in locations that are near the ground.

Bites from this spider usually occur when this spider is brought into contact with the skin. If you are at home, here are some ways you can protect yourself:

  • Be careful, or wear gloves, when flipping things over in your yard.

  • Be careful when opening boxes that have come out of storage.

  • Shake clothing before you put those items on, especially if they have been on the floor.

  • Shake towels before you use them.

  • Turn footwear upside down and give them a good shake before slipping your foot in.

  • Pull your bedding down and examine the sheets before you get into bed.

  • Reduce habitats in your yard by reducing clutter and ground holes.

If you’ve seen black widow spiders on your property, and you live in our Tennessee service area, you can trust the QualityPro Certified team here at Russell’s Pest Control to help protect you from an accidental encounter with these potent spiders. Reach out to us for quick assistance.

2 Big Reasons Overwintering Pests Come Inside

2 Big Reasons Overwintering Pests Come Inside

Are you enjoying the mild winter we’ve been having? You can bet that bugs and wildlife are. They usually have to find a place to hide when snow and cold temperatures come to Tennessee. You are probably also aware that cold temperatures are one of the big reasons overwintering pests explore man-made structures in fall. But what happens in a winter when temperatures don’t dip way down? Well, there is another reason bugs and wildlife enter homes. And that is what we’re going to be looking at today.

You’ve probably already guessed what the second big reason is. Yup. Food. Those critters are always looking for it; spring, summer, winter, and fall. They can enter your home any time of year to find a bite to eat but, in winter, outside food sources are harder to come by, so their desperation has pests working overtime. This will have them exploring your exterior walls and foundation.

Three of the pests we’re seeing a lot of are roaches, rodents, and ants. These aren’t your typical overwintering pest. While stink bugs, lady bugs, and boxelder bugs will have a hard time finding a bite to eat inside your home, roaches, rodents, and ants will not. These pests can live on a wide selection of food, including many of the foods you and your pets eat.

When roaches and rodents get into a home, they rarely have any reason to leave. Most homes are target rich environments for these invading armies, and they are more than happy to build a home inside your home.

Most ants live in the soil. So, unless you have crawl spaces under your home, you won’t have to worry about ants moving in–except for one. Carpenter ants live in wood. Since your home is made of wood, there is a good chance they’ll find plenty of habitat options. Of all the ants that invade homes, carpenter ants are the worst. They aren’t just a nuisance pest. Their home-building efforts can hurt your equity.

If you’re seeing roaches, rodents, or ants, it isn’t surprising. This is the perfect winter for these overwintering pests to invade. You can also bet that all of these critters will be more abundant this spring, since they didn’t have to spend too much time in dormancy this winter.

Get protection for overwintering pests this winter, and all year long, with a little help from the friendly professionals here at Russell’s Pest Control. Our certified pest specialists know the habits and habitats of Tennessee pests, and are trained in the most advanced pest protocols. With our year-round pest control plans, Power, Power Gold, and Power Platinum, you’ll get exactly what you need.

At Russell’s Pest Control, we get pests out and keep them out, all year long.