Bed Bug Awareness Week Starts June 3rd

Bed Bug Awareness Week Starts June 3rd

Are you scratching your head, wondering what Bed Bug Awareness Week is? If so, you’re not alone. There are lots of people who have never heard of it. Hopefully, you’re not scratching your head because you have bed bugs. Because, if you are, we’re too late. The whole purpose of Bed Bug Awareness Week is to empower home and business owners to prevent bed bug infestations from taking root. Bed Bug Awareness Week is coming soon and here’s what you need to know.

Bed bugs are hitchhiking bugs. The more we understand this, the better off we’ll all be. Bed bugs depend on us missing the signs. Sometimes, we even miss identifying these bugs when we see them. When we don’t recognize the threat, we become a carrier for these bugs. Sometimes, the place we carry them is into our own homes.

During Bed Bug Awareness Week, consider sharing the following bed bug facts with your friends and family on social media:

  • Bed bugs aren’t just found in hotels and motels. They have been found in libraries, movie theaters, taxi cabs, police call centers, senior living centers, daycares, college dormitories, and more. While you can definitely pick up a bed bug infestation while on vacation, be aware that bed bugs can get on you anytime you leave your home.

  • You may have heard that bed bugs are too tiny to see, but they aren’t. When they first hatch, they’re pretty small at only 1 mm in length, but they’re also semi-transparent. If a baby bed bug has your blood in its abdomen, you’re going to see it. And you’re going to want to see them. Recognizing a bed bug could alert you to an infestation or help to prevent an infestation from coming home with you. If you see a pale bug with a bright red abdomen, six legs, and two antennae on your skin, it is probably a bed bug. Use a piece of clear tape to trap it for closer inspection.

  • Bed bugs lay their tiny white eggs in cracks, crevices, creases, and other hidden places. These eggs are 1 mm in length and may be in a small batch. A quick inspection of sleeping bags, backpacks, book bindings, and other objects your kids bring back from a sleepover could prevent an infestation from taking root.

  • Always call a professional when bed bugs appear. These insects are extremely difficult to get rid of and DIY bed bug treatments have led to property damage and a loss of human life.

So, there you go. Now you have some sweet bed bug facts to share during Bed Bug Awareness Week which starts June 3rd. If you live in Tennessee, you can trust Russell’s Pest Control to help you get complete control of those tormenting pests.

Bed Bug Advice You Can Trust

Bed Bug Advice You Can Trust

The internet: it’s become a necessity for most everyone in the United States. It’s not uncommon to spend countless hours searching the web these days. It is really great for some things, such as finding DIY projects you can do around your home or sharing funny videos of people (or cats!). However, it can often be misleading for other stuff…for example, having a personal conversation with someone. It’s really hard to understand the tone in a person’s text, and without facial expressions to show emotion, messages can easily be misinterpreted. Another way in which the internet is horrible is when it comes to getting advice about bed bugs.

You can’t trust just any old website when it comes to bed bugs for a couple of reasons. First, you are usually hearing advice from other homeowners, as opposed to a pest control professional. While other homeowners can certainly share their stories, they don’t have the ability to give knowledgeable instructions with industry experience behind it. And no matter what they say, there is no do-it-yourself solution to rid your property of bed bugs. Second, internet users will often use Wikipedia as a reliable source of information about bed bugs—it is not! Again, Wikipedia is written by writers, not pest control experts, and contributions can come from literally anyone. Another reason to be wary is that many times there are articles online that are written just to push a product, none of which have been proven to work. It’s misleading advertising at best, yet many homeowners fall into this trap due to the urgency they feel to remove the bed bugs quickly and with as little fuss as possible.

Basically, homeowners be warned: when it comes to bed bugs, don’t go to the internet. Contact your local pest control company and they’ll help you find a solution and give you advice that is backed by years of experience and knowledge. In fact, for residents of Knoxville TN and Eastern TN, Russell’s Pest Control has been protecting your homes from bed bugs since 1971. Here at Russell’s, we take bed bugs very seriously, and over the years we have perfected the way we eliminate them from homes. Despite what DIY blogs and forums, or other homeowners may say, the best way to eliminate bed bugs is through heat. Many homeowners aren’t aware of this. Heat is a non-toxic method for killing bed bugs in all stages of development. It’s safer, faster, and more efficient than any other product or method. Unless you are a trained pest control technician, the use of heat is not safe for homeowners to try to use on their own. Some homeowners have even started fires trying to do so. It’s not only necessary to contact Russell’s Pest Control to fully eliminate bed bugs—it’s important because the safety of your home and family are in danger if you don’t. Our bed bug service includes an inspection, a careful review of the situation, determination of proper treatment process, and then total bed bug elimination. On the day of service, we will carefully place the heat sources around your home and maintain high temperatures (over 120 degrees Fahrenheit) for a period of 3-5 hours. The heat will reach into the deepest of cracks, and into floors, ensuring the 100%  elimination of all bugs. Not only that, but we guarantee our work; if the bugs return, so will we, at no additional cost to you. Don’t trust the internet, call Russell’s Pest Control instead.

Best Bed Bug Prevention Tips Of 2017

Best Bed Bug Prevention Tips Of 2017

Bed bugs are constantly in the news lately due to the growing population of bed bugs in both homes and public areas. Plus, everywhere you look there is someone saying they know the best way to prevent an infestation. Are you someone that has fallen for some of these time consuming and costly tips? Or maybe you’ve tried some of the over the counter products that say they can prevent bed bugs, but in the end, they fall short of their promised assistance in your fight against an infestation?

Well, bed bugs may not be so easy to deal with, but here are some tips that may actually help you avoid bed bugs this year. Avoid used furniture or mattresses, which could be hiding bed bugs inside, and without the proper treatment could cause an infestation. If you buy used clothing items, be sure to wash them in hot water right away to kill any bed bugs in them. When traveling, be sure to inspect your hotel room when you get there for bed bugs, carcasses, shed skins, and tiny maroon dots on bedding. Do not place your purse, briefcase or other items on the floor of public places, as this could be a place bed bugs will transfer from someone else’s things to yours. When you return home from a trip wash all of your clothing in hot water, and clean/vacuum out your suitcases and other luggage you brought with you.

Even if you follow these tips or any other DIY’s that you have seen or heard about in the news or on the internet, bed bugs can still sneak into your home, and once they’re in, you’re not going to want to fight them alone. Your best bet is to call on the professionals at Russell’s Pest Control in Knoxville and Eastern Tennessee. We have been getting rid of bed bugs for many years and have the expertise and technology to get rid of them completely. When you call Russell’s:

  • Our professionals will do a bed bug inspection to confirm their presence, as well as to pinpoint the areas where they are congregating.

  • They will review their findings and discuss a bed bug treatment plan with you.

  • On the day of treatment, our experts will use professional heat remediation equipment to eliminate all of the bed bugs.

Heat treatment is very efficient, effective, and non-toxic. It eliminates bed bugs of all stages of development, reaches hidden bed bugs, can be done in a day, and leaves behind no residue. These are some of the many reasons that we use this type of treatment to assure you of complete eradication, which will give you peace of mind that your home is free of bed bugs once we are finished. Give us a call today to find out more about bed bug treatment and control in Knoxville and Eastern Tennessee.

Avoid Thanksgiving Bed Bugs

Avoid Thanksgiving Bed Bugs

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and you know what that means; this is the time of year when we focus on the things we are thankful for. It is important to take this time to remind ourselves that we are surrounded by good things. Whether it is giving thanks for something small, like the smell of french toast in the morning, or something big, like a new job opportunity, there is something satisfying about taking a moment to take notice of the good things in life. And, there are a lot of things to be thankful for. Sadly, bed bugs aren’t one of them. If you agree, take a moment to familiarize yourself with these bed bug prevention tips.

When Having Guests Over For Thanksgiving

  • Learn what bed bugs look like. Recognizing a bed bug can alert you to an infestation, and prevent an infestation from occurring. Bed bugs may be as small as 1 mm and pale in color or they may be as much as 1.5 mm and rusty-brown in color. If they have had a blood meal, they will be bloated and have a brighter red coloring in their abdomen. This is quite noticeable with tiny pale bed bugs.

  • Once you know what bed bugs look like, do a search for these bugs in locations that your guests will stay. Also, look for secondary evidence of bed bugs: black streaks, tiny black droppings, dried blood stains, shed insect casings, or tiny white eggs. You’ll find these in seams, creases, nooks, and hidden places, especially in areas where a bed or couch is present.

When Travelling For Thanksgiving

  • If you’re going to be staying somewhere along the way, check bedbugregistry.com to see if a report of bed bugs has been filed.

  • Know what bed bugs look like and teach everyone in your family, so you know one when you see one.

  • Always do a quick inspection for bed bugs and signs of bed bugs no matter where you stay.

  • Bed bugs are attracted to clothing after we’ve worn them. Put laundry in a plastic bag while you’re on your vacation, and wash all your laundry on the hottest temperature when you get back.

These tips should help you avoid bed bugs this Thanksgiving. But bed bugs can invade your home any time of the year. If you ever see bed bugs or the signs they leave behind, reach out to Russell’s Pest Control for immediate assistance. Bed bugs are extremely hard to get rid of without an education in pest management. You can trust the bed bug control experts at Russell’s to help you resolve your issue quickly, and get you back to being bed bug-free.

Bed Bugs Becoming A Problem For Nursing Homes

Bed Bugs Becoming A Problem For Nursing Homes

There comes a time in life when it becomes necessary to trust those we love to nursing home care. Being advanced in age can come with many complications that must be dealt with by someone with medical training. Nursing homes provide this continual aid. And that gives those who care about their loved one’s peace of mind. But, not all who live in nursing homes need medical treatment every day. Some may not get a physical examination for weeks. So, when bed bugs begin to appear, it can go unnoticed by nursing home staff. You may be wondering, why don’t the elderly report the bed bug bites? It is actually a complicated issue that makes nursing homes a prime target for these blood-eating pests.

Three Reasons Bed Bugs Aren’t Reported By Elderly People

  • When bed bugs start to appear in the room of an elderly person, some respond to it with embarrassment. They come from an era where these bugs were considered pests that only dirty people got. We now know that bed bugs can infest the cleanest of places, but that doesn’t change the fact that this stigma still exists.

  • Some elderly people respond to bed bugs with pride. They’ve lived their whole lives solving problems like bug infestations. They don’t need any help. They can do it themselves. But, when elderly people try to take care of these bugs, the results are ineffective at best, and deadly in the worst of cases.

  • Perhaps the most pernicious reason bed bug infestations are such a serious problem for nursing homes stems from the fact that initial bed bug bites are not as serious for most elderly people. Bite marks are usually small. And, since it is much more likely that bed bugs will be reported when they leave red, painful welts on the skin, an infestation is able to take root where bites are less serious. But these bites can, and do, become worse over time. By then, the problem has spread to other rooms.

If you maintain a nursing home and you are in our Tennessee service area, let Russell’s Pest Control guide you in setting up a bed bug service plan that is routine and proactive. Not only are these bugs a torment for residents, they can be damaging to your reputation. With ongoing inspections from an educated pest control technician, and targeted control methods applied when bed bugs appear, your residents, and your reputation, will be protected.

A Whole Week In Honor Of Bed Bugs

A Whole Week In Honor Of Bed Bugs

The pest management industry is “celebrating” Bed Bug Awareness week from June 4th through June 10th. The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) designates this event every year to help spread awareness about bed bug infestations and how to protect yourself from this bug – particularly this time of year, as the peak travel season is coming up.

Why Bed Bugs Are a Bigger Concern When You Travel

When you think of bed bugs, you think of tiny, man-eating bugs that attack you when you’re asleep in your bed, right? That’s the perception most people have about bed bugs and the reason why many people unknowingly bring bed bugs into their home after traveling. You have to look at more than just the hotel bed when you’re checking for bed bugs!

Bed bugs can be found in the chair or sofa in your hotel room. They could be on the rug, in the closet, in the extra blanket or pillows stored on the top shelf of the hotel room closet, inside the dresser or end table drawers, and they can even travel from one room to another through the outlets.

So, as you put your suitcase down on the floor and move your clothes into the hotel dresser – you could be inviting bed bugs to travel home with you from the inside of your suitcase or on your clothing.

If you take public transportation to and from your destination, such as the train or a bus, you could unknowingly allow a bed bug or two to hitch a ride into your home. They’ve even been found in retail stores and pretty much any public place – making it necessary to devote a week to spreading bed bug awareness to the general public.

Bed Bug Infestation Troubles

You may think having just one or two bed bugs travel home with you isn’t a problem. They can’t possibly survive and reproduce enough to cause a full infestation right? Wrong! A single, fertile female bed bug can produce as many as five eggs per day… up to 500 eggs during her lifetime. Before you know it, that single bed bug that found its way into your suitcase and then into your bed can result in thousands.

If you notice a bed bug, bed bug skins (they molt and shed their skins), or tiny bed bug excrement on your sheets – you need to call the professional bed bug experts at Russell’s Pest Control. The sooner you treat the infestation, the easier it is to eliminate them completely.

Avoiding Bed Bugs On Spring Vacations

Avoiding Bed Bugs On Spring Vacations

Whether you are heading out to enjoy spring break or just taking advantage of spring to take a much-needed vacation, it is important to set aside a few moments to learn about bed bug prevention. Reading this article is a great first step. Here are 4 easy things you can do to reduce your chances of having bed bugs ruin your vacation or return home with you.

  1. Would you go into a neighborhood in a city without finding out whether or not that neighborhood is safe? It is also unwise to stay somewhere you haven’t checked out first. Bedbugregistry.com is a great resource to find out if bed bugs have been reported at the place you’ll be staying. You can also check other review sites and use the term “bed bug” in your search query.

  2. Would you walk into a forest at night without a flashlight? Of course you wouldn’t. And you shouldn’t go on vacation without a flashlight. Most smartphones have a flashlight app that uses the camera light on the phone as a light source. Use that light source to examine some key areas inside your room to make sure there are no bed bugs or bed bug signs present. Pull the bedding and sheets down to examine the mattress and box spring for black residue, black streaks, black droppings, shed insect skins, brown blood stains, or these tiny six-legged, oval, rust-colored bugs. They are about the size of an apple seed and look a little bit like one too.

  3. Would you operate dangerous equipment without following a few safety protocols? It is a good idea to follow a few safety protocols while on vacation. Never leave clothes on the floor or draped over a chair. Put clothing on a hard surface, or in a plastic bag, when you’re not wearing them. When you bring your luggage out, consider using the luggage stand. Most rooms have one.

  4. Would you rub your nose if you just shook hands with someone who has the flu? Maybe. But it is unwise. When you return home, put all of your clothing into the wash. Use the hottest temperatures to kill bed bugs in every stage of development. This little cleaning could keep a batch of eggs from turning into an infestation.

These tips should help you stay safer on your vacation and help to prevent an infestation from returning home with you but, as you probably already know, bed bugs can be picked up in a lot of places. If you ever do find bed bugs in your home, call a professional. These bugs are extremely hard to eradicate and improper bed bug treatments can cause prolonged infestations, more bites, or lead to devastating consequences, such as the loss of property or a loss of life.

If you’re in our Tennessee service area, let the bed bug control team here at Russell’s Pest Control deal with those blood-eating pests. Immediate help is just a call away.

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.

Where Bed Bugs Are Found

Where Bed Bugs Are Found

Bed bugs are more common than you think. Plus, they transfer from one place to another rather easily on pretty much any type of item. Mostly, they will stay on fabric and cloth items, like your clothing or luggage. They could even hop on and take a ride on your shoes from a hotel or your place of work right to your very own home.

Typically, you will find bed bugs lurking in your sheets, blankets, and pillows. You might find them on your carpeting around beds as well. Don’t forget your sofa, chairs, and throw pillows might make a great hiding place for bed bugs too. They can also be found in electrical outlets, computers, laptops, game systems, and other hard to access areas. They can be in waiting room furniture, on department store shelves, or in books at the library. No home or commercial space is exempt from these relentless pests.

You can even pick them up from buses, trains, planes, schools, hotels, and anywhere else that people frequent. If you notice these bugs in public areas, make sure to notify someone in charge immediately. If you ever notice bed bugs in your hotel room, leave the room immediately with all of your things and request another room. If you think you’ve carried some home or want to take precautions, you could brush off your coat and vacuum out your luggage or briefcase. Make sure to brush the bottom of your shoes and leave them outside if possible. Change your clothes and put them in the washing machine on the hottest setting possible for the fabric right away. It may not eliminate them completely, but it may cut down on how many you bring into your home.

By now you’ve got the picture that bed bugs can be found almost everywhere and can be easily transported to your home. And, even though they are lurking about, they are so small you might not even see them. The only warning signs of them may be their tiny shed skins or their exoskeletons lying about.

They feed on human and animal blood; so be aware that if you have an infestation, they will be feeding on you. Their bite may get red and make you itch, which is a sure telltale sign. Your bed sheets or pajamas may have tiny rust colored stains from when they bite. Then there are also the stains left by their feces on your bedding and mattresses. Oh, and you’ll probably lose some sleep over them, from the itching and worrying that comes when they take over your home. Not to mention it could be embarrassing if you have guests over and they discover your infestation of bed bugs.

But, don’t worry! Russell’s Pest Control can help. Give the bed bug professionals here at Russell’s a call and get peace of mind as they take control of your bed bug problems quickly, discreetly, and effectively.

How To Avoid Getting Holiday Bed Bugs

How To Avoid Getting Holiday Bed Bugs

If you could go back in time to stop something really bad from happening, would you do it? Of course you would. It is a lot easier to prevent something from happening than it is to fix things “after” they have happened. This is the secret to avoiding holiday bed bugs. No. We’re not saying you need to build a time machine. That would be complicated, if not slightly impossible. What we’re saying is that bed bugs are a problem that is best dealt with “before” it happens. Here’s what you need to know.

If you knew that a certain person would be hit by a certain car on a certain day, what would you do? Would you warn them? What if you knew how and where your friend or family could pick up bed bugs, would you tell them?

When you tell your friends and family about bed bugs, you will not only be protecting yourself from an accidental infestation, you’ll be protecting them as well. Public awareness is the most powerful weapon in the war against bed bugs.

3 Places Bed Bugs Get Picked Up During The Holidays

  • Sleep accommodations. It doesn’t matter how nice or how clean, bed bugs can be found in places where people sleep. If your friends and family will be staying somewhere on their way to your home, it is important that they do a quick inspection of any room they stay in. Use a flashlight to inspect bedding, sheets, pillowcases, mattress seams, and the stitching on upholstered furniture for black streaks, fecal pellets, brown blood staining, and shed insect casings.
  • Public transportation. Bed bugs have been found infesting trains, planes, buses, taxis, and other public transportation. Your family members should know what a bed bug looks like when they see one, and they should take a moment to examine their chair for black streaks, blown stains, and shed insect casings. In enclosed spaces, there may be a locker room smell if a large enough infestation is present.
  • Homes. If your friends and family will be staying the night with other friends and family, or at the home of a host family, they should take the same precautions as staying in a hotel or motel.

It is a whole lot easier to stop a bed bug infestation before it begins. Let your family and friends know what to look for when they travel.
If you ever find bed bugs in your home–and you don’t have a time machine–call a professional. These pests are nearly impossible to remove without an entomological understanding of these insects and what modern pest measures are most effective for eradicating them.

If you are in our Knoxville, Gatlinburg or elsewhere in our Tennessee service area, let Russell’s Pest Control assist you. Our team is BedbugFREE Approved by Bedbug Central, the most authoritative information resource on bed bugs in the country. When holiday bed bugs find a way in, get them out with bed bug control services from Russell’s Pest Control.