Bed Bugs… The Year-Round Pest

Bed Bugs... The Year-Round Pest

Many people mistakenly believe that bed bugs are only a concern during certain times of the year, but bed bugs are actually a problem throughout the year. With Tennessee winters offering mostly mild temperatures, bed bugs are not exposed to extreme cold; and since they only need human blood to survive, you can experience bed bug infestations at any time of the year.

Blood Sucking Bed Bugs

Bed bugs survive on human blood. They don’t need a lot of it to survive, either. Adult bed bugs can live as long as a year without a meal! Even immature bed bugs can go for several months in between feedings. Female bed bugs lay one or two eggs every single day, meaning she keeps the species going at the rate of hundreds of bed bug eggs in her lifetime. If you have bed bugs, you can count on them living for a long time; and to get rid of them, you’ll need to enlist the help of pest control professionals.

How Do Bed Bug Infestations Happen?

Bed bugs are tiny. They’re about the size of an apple seed, which means they can hide in the tiniest of crevices, seams, and lining of your bedding materials. It also makes it easy for these pests to get into your home. They may hitch a ride inside on your clothing, if you’ve been exposed to bed bugs on public transportation, in hotels, or at a friend’s house. Bed bugs may get into your luggage. They can come inside from books you’ve borrowed from the library or on secondhand furniture or clothing. Once inside, bed bugs quickly breed and take over your home if they are not properly eliminated. Do it yourself methods will not work to remove a bed bug infestation.

Bed Bug Myths

If you think bed bugs die off in the colder fall and winter months, think again – especially in Knoxville, Tennessee where the winter weather tends to be very mild. Not to mention, people travel to Knoxville all year round from all over the country and can very easily introduce bed bugs to public areas, where they can then find their way into your home.

Bed bugs do not discriminate and are found in clean homes as well as dirty ones. Many people believe bed bugs will only infest a dirty home or hotel but that’s simply not the case. They do not care about the conditions of their environment. As long as there is human blood there, they are happy.

Also, bed bugs do not necessarily stay in your bedding. You can find them in your couch, chairs, and closets. They wander around like they own the place – which makes it even harder to get rid of them. If you have bed bugs in your Knoxville area home, your best option is to call Russell’s Pest Control for professional bed bug elimination.

Bed Bugs On The Rise In Knoxville

Bed Bugs On The Rise In Knoxville

According to a recent poll, Knoxville is one of the worst bed bug infested cities in the United States. In fact, we came in 24th place. But the bad news doesn’t stop there. We were in 34th place last year. That is not good news at all.

You may be comforted to know that Knoxville wasn’t the only city here in Tennessee to find itself on this unflattering list. Nashville placed 22nd, but the reasons these two cities have bed bugs may actually surprise you.

For a very long time, bed bugs have been considered dirty pests that only infest dirty homes and businesses; but science has completely proven that theory wrong. These bugs don’t go where the filth is–like cockroaches do–they go where the blood is. Since these bugs live almost exclusively with humans, what better place to be than a city filled with humans? But, population isn’t the only factor. If it were, Memphis would have made it onto the list.

So, what makes Knoxville so attractive to bed bugs? We have less that 200,000 people. That isn’t much when compared to the 653,450 of Memphis or the 678,889 of Nashville. We don’t know for sure, but there is a good chance it is connected to the job boom. According to CNN Money, Knoxville has the best employment outlook in the nation.

Why do bed bugs care if the job market is doing well? They don’t actually, but increased job opportunities means more people are coming into Knoxville. Bed bugs are hitchhiking bugs that travel with people. Usually, they will do it in a piece of luggage, a pocket book, or a duffle bag; but when people move, they bring everything with them. That means that they will bring beds, furniture, and other popular places of bed bug infestation.

We won’t pretend to know all of the many ways bed bugs increase when population increases, or how a thriving job market factors into this. We also recognize that tourism, the hospitality industry, low gas prices, and other things factor in as well. But what we do know is that bed bugs are not a bug we ever have to live with. There are bed bug control methods and treatments that can get rid of these blood-eating pests and keep them from getting a foothold in the first place.

If you need help protecting your Knoxville home or business from the influx of bed bugs, let Russell’s Pest Control help. We have a proven track record of protecting folks from bugs. You’ll be able to sleep well with Russell’s Pest Control on the job.

Get Educated About Bed Bugs And School

Get Educated About Bed Bugs And School

We are seeing the signs everywhere. Much to the children’s dismay, it’s just about time to head back to school. The teachers and staff are looking at the calendar in disbelief that the summer has flown by too fast, and the kids are begging for a few more days to sleep in. Whether you have a kindergartener getting on that big yellow school bus for the first time or a college age young adult packing up their room to head to the dorms, you have a school supply list and a to-do list that is quite extensive. From pencils to crayons and dorm furniture to cell phone plans there’s a lot to keep track of. Check your list and make sure that bed bugs are on there too. No, you don’t want bed bugs, but you do need to address the issue of bed bugs for all school aged environments.

For your children that are in primary school, grammar school, middle school, junior high school, or high school bed bugs can be a factor. Bed bugs can be anywhere that people frequent; they don’t necessarily need beds to live. They have been discovered in such places as:

  • Libraries
  • Hospitals
  • Nursing Homes
  • Public transportation
  • Schools
  • Restaurants
  • Dormitories
  • Lounge/waiting areas

Bed bugs are hitchhiking pests. If someone has bed bugs at their home there is a potential that these bugs could come to school within that person’s belongings; like their backpack, book bag, or briefcase. As a parent, you can teach your children to be aware of the signs of bed bugs and you can also check with your school district for their bed bug policy. Here’s a notice from the University of Tennessee extension for school staff to help them to recognize bed bugs and to know the proper steps to take in the event of a discovery of bed bugs in their school or classroom.

For college students heading back to dorms or off campus housing, bed bugs are a definite concern. Students and parents should take the following steps to avoid bed bugs:

Be informed about the college or landlord’s bed bug policy before you agree to reside there. Be sure to inspect all of the living space for signs of bed bugs upon arrival, before you bring your belongings inside.

  • Keep your living space clean and tidy to limit the dark places that bed bugs can hide away in.
  • Keep other people’s belongings out of your living space because their stuff could have bed bugs in it.
  • Limit overnight guests because they can also bring bed bugs into your living space.
  • Regularly check your beds, bedding, and furniture for signs of bed bugs.
  • Alert college administration or your landlord ASAP if a suspected bed bug situation is discovered.

Be sure that bed bugs are on your radar this back to school season by educating yourself and your family about them. Avoid bed bugs at your home by avoiding them at school, and if the unthinkable happens and you think bed bugs may have somehow gotten into your home, give the experts here at Russell’s Pest Control a call. We have been keeping Eastern Tennessee protected from pests for almost 50 years and we would be happy to do the same for you.

Get Rid Of Bed Bugs

Get Rid Of Bed Bugs

When bed bugs attack, what happens first? Most often, it is a search of the internet to find out more about these little blood eaters. The words, “Get Rid of Bed Bugs,” are typed in and page after page of information comes up about how to get rid of these invasive pests, and a false confidence is established. Why do we say false? Because most do-it-yourself bloggers will tell you a few facts about bed bugs and use these facts to guide you toward the products or solution they are looking to dispense, but rarely do they give the entire picture.

Here are some examples DIY facts that don’t connect to a solution:

While it is certainly true that bed bugs are drawn out by raised carbon dioxide levels in a room, that doesn’t mean that CO2 traps will eradicate bed bugs from your home. Sure, you’ll kill some bugs. Some of these traps actually work, but they don’t solve the problem. What the blogger failed to mention is that not all bed bugs come out of hiding to feed, and all the bugs that come out will not be killed by those traps. Bed bugs have been around for centuries, and in that time, they have learned how to avoid danger.

Another fact that is definitely true is that bed bugs need to crawl up into your bed to get at you. They don’t fly like mosquitoes. So, you may be directed to put traps under the feet of your bed to kill these bugs before they climb up and feed on you. Makes sense, right? But these traps fail in many ways. If there is a backboard on the bed, the bugs will crawl up and over that. If there are bed bugs already living in the mattress or crevices of the bed frame, they won’t need to crawl up. These bugs can also feed on you anytime they wish. They don’t have to feed on you at night, while you sleep. They can get you while you’re watching television on the couch. They can get you while you’re eating breakfast–or pretty much anywhere you sit or lounge.

There are also products that will kill bed bugs. Your DIY blogger may direct you to these, and when you find bugs lying on the floor, you think you’ve won the battle. The problem is, even if every bug were to come out of hiding and be killed by these products, a new infestation could begin with a batch of unattended eggs in your walls. That is not even taking into consideration that these pest products can be harmful when not applied properly.

We understand the desperate urge to get rid of bed bugs when they are discovered, but please don’t take the do-it-yourself route. Getting rid of bed bugs requires experience, specialized knowledge, and state-of-the-art equipment.

These bugs are enough of a nightmare when they plague you for a week. Don’t turn a week into months of torment. Get a professional bed bug treatment and eradicate those bed bugs the first time.

Everything You Should Know About A Bed Bug Heat Treatment

Everything You Should Know About A Bed Bug Heat Treatment

We’ve all heard the horror stories. We all know that bed bugs have returned to our country, and bed bug infestations are quickly becoming the most frustrating pest problem in the United States. You may have even heard that heat is the best way to treat for these bugs. But it isn’t as simple as turning up the heat in your house. Applying a heat treatment to kill these blood-eating pests requires specialized equipment and specialized knowledge. Here’s why.

Specialized Equipment

If you’re thinking about cranking up the thermostat, using the oven in the kitchen, and setting down some heaters throughout your home, you should seriously reconsider. There is a reason there are so many new stories about houses and apartment buildings burning to the ground because of bed bug heat treatments. The temperature required to kill bed bugs in all stages of development is a consistent 120°F for 90 minutes. Getting an entire home up to this temperature is no easy task. At Russell’s Pest Control, we have to use state-of-the-art self-regulating heating units that shut down if the temperature rises above 135°F. Our team must also place down multiple real-time wireless sensors to remotely monitor the temperatures in every treatment space. The use of this advanced and specialized gear ensures the safety of the structure we are treating, while also ensuring complete eradication of all infesting bed bugs.

Specialized Knowledge

Effectively treating for bed bugs also requires a specialized knowledge. Even with proper heating equipment and temperature monitors, bed bugs can still evade treatment.

  • Bed bugs can live in wall voids. If a constant and consistent temperature is not created inside a structure, bed bugs can remain after treatment. It is important to know where to place heaters, monitors, and fans to ensure complete coverage.

  • Bed bugs are a hitchhiking bug. It is important to understand that these bugs can evade treatment by being carried out by residents. They can hide inside clothing, bags, and even electronics.

  • Without specialized knowledge, some belongings can be damaged. Our technicians know to remove all pets, houseplants, foods that can melt, cosmetics, prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, wax items, stringed instruments, and irreplaceable family heirlooms.

  • Without specialized knowledge, dangerous items may be left in a home like fire extinguishers, hairspray cans, oxygen bottles, solvents, lighters, alcohol, etc.

  • Our technicians know how to secure paper, pictures, paintings, glass items, and other objects that can be disturbed by the large fans that are used to circulate the heat throughout the structure.

If you’ve found bed bugs, a heat treatment is the most Eco-friendly and effective way to eradicate them. Let the specialists here at Russell’s Pest Control help you take care of those bugs in a way that will guarantee complete eradication of all infesting bugs, and do it in a way that is safe for your family, your home, and your belongings. Give us a call today, and we’ll start taking care of those bed bugs right away.

Avoid Bed Bugs This Thanksgiving

Avoid Bed Bugs This Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving holiday will soon be upon us and we will be engulfed in turkey and dressing, pies and more pies! Some of you will travel great distances to be with family and close friends. Others of you will receive guests into your home and enjoy spending your Thanksgiving holiday together. Traveling is just a part of the holiday.

There is one nuisance pest that seems to really enjoy traveling and not just during the holidays, and that is the hitchhiking bed bug. Traveling and staying in motels increases the risk of exposure to bed bugs. Unfortunately, receiving guests into your home can also expose your residence to bed bug infestation.

The good news is that bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases and they cause no damage to your physical property. The most an individual will usually experience is a few itchy red welts from a bed bug bite. Even then, the bite itself is normally never felt.

The adult bed bug is only about 1/4th inch long and is oval shaped and has a rather flat body. Being nocturnal, they are rarely seen in daylight and very adept at hiding. However, one can usually see signs of infestation once they know where to look. The first thing you should do upon soliciting a motel room is to give the room a thorough inspection prior to bringing in your luggage. Lift up the bed sheets and look along the ribbing and edges of the mattress for any sign of bed bugs or bed bug feces. Look behind the headboard and inside the nightstand and dresser drawers. Any sign or hint of bed bugs is grounds enough for moving to a different room and possibly even a different motel.

Never store your luggage on the floor—use the luggage stand to keep it off the carpet. This is another common place in which bed bugs can hide. Keep your clothing in the suitcase rather than placing it in the dressers. These precautions will reduce the chance of a stray bed bug hitchhiking back to your home with you. Inspect your suitcase and clothing immediately upon arriving home. Launder your clothing as soon as possible to remove any chances of a stray bed bug traveling back with you.

Bed bugs are extremely difficult to eradicate once an infestation has occurred. DIY techniques are rarely effective due to the nature of the bed bug and the multiple places in which they are able to hide. Russell’s Pest Control has provided quality services throughout the area for more than 40 years. Sleep with peace of mind and contact Russell’s highly trained professionals to come inspect your home for bed bugs. We will be happy to explain our highly successful bed bug heat remediation program to you.

 

Bed Bugs Can’t Stand The Heat

Bed Bugs Can't Stand The Heat

Have you heard the expression, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen?” At Russell’s Pest Control, we have a slightly different saying. “If you can’t stand the heat, that’s too bad, bed bugs!” We have a hard time feeling bad for a bug that thinks it’s okay to live inside a mattress that does not belong to it and suck blood from people without their permission. That’s why you won’t find any bed bug relocation programs at Russell’s Pest Control. When we find bed bugs, we kill them.

At a sustained temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit, all stages of bed bugs die. This includes eggs and nymphs, but you probably already know that. Here are some of the questions we often get that you might not know the answer to.

“Does heat kill bed bugs that are inside my mattress and in the walls?” Yes. A heat treatment will radiate deep into every part of your home and kill these bugs, even bugs that are hiding in mattresses, furniture and behind baseboards.

“Will my home and property be safe?” When done by a professional, a heat treatment is completely safe. At Russell’s, our technicians know how to get your home prepared so that sensitive items are removed and nothing is present that will pose a fire hazard. We use sensors to measure the level of heat at all times and make sure that it stays within that safety threshold.

“Will the bugs return?” When our specialists help you rid your home of bed bugs, they will also look to see what conditions may have brought the bugs into your home in the first place. Bed bugs don’t come in through your walls; they are carried in on clothing and inside luggage. Getting a professional analysis will help you better protect your home from a future infestation.

“Can I do a heat treatment myself?” If not done with state-of-the-art temperature-controlled heating equipment, the risk of fire is high. The stories of homes being burned down are numerous. There is also a risk that bugs will return after a home-treatment. Bed bugs are resilient and able to hide from the heat; that is why it is so important to have a trained professional who knows where to place heating elements for thorough coverage. If even a single female bug escapes, you could be looking at another infestation in a few months.

When it comes to protecting your home from bed bugs, you can trust Russell’s Pest Control. We are members of the National Pest Management Association, and Bed Bug FREE Approved by Bed Bug Central, the nation’s most authoritative source on bed bugs. Let our team of experts make 100% sure your home is bed bug free by turning up the heat on those bugs, contact us today for more details.

Russell’s Turns Up The Heat On Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs. Just the mention of their name and I start to feel as if they are crawling all over my skin. I start to scratch my arms, legs and behind my neck and feel certain they must have taken up residence in my home too! It’s even worse than mentioning lice for me, because at least lice are fairly easy to spot and eliminate. Bed bugs are far more sinister! They are sneaky little pests that can hide in any nook or cranny. They even love to hide out inside electronics like your stereo, t.v., or game system. Who would think to look for them there? And how on earth could you safely spray insecticide inside electronics!!!

These nocturnal little beasts feed on blood – and their blood of choice is human! They bite at night while we sleep and scamper away at the first sign of light. Did you know that they can go for weeks without feeding? Which can give you a false sense of security as you think they have left on their own; or perhaps, you wonder, was it some other type of insect that feasted on you while you slept! The whole idea makes my head spin!

A few facts about bed bugs that I have learned have been very helpful to me; perhaps you will find these helpful too!

  • There are 3 stages of life: eggs, nymph, and adult
  • You cannot see the eggs or nymphs with your naked eye– they are too small and whitish in color
  • Adult bugs are reddish/brown and resemble apple seeds
  • They usually bite on exposed areas like hand, face, neck or arms
  • They are highly resistant to insecticides and easily develop tolerances to new products
  • They NEVER go away on their own

What should you do if you find that these nasty little creatures have invaded your home? Contact the bed bug experts here at Russell’s Pest Control and consider Heat Treatment to eliminate your problem. Heat treatment is a very attractive solution to me because there are no poisonous chemicals used, so there is never any residue or pollution. Heat Treatment is proven effective when done by a professional like Russell’s Pest Control; and once the right temperature has been reached, there is full mortality within a minute! Of course, with set up time and placing of sensors to monitor the heat, it usually takes around six hours start to stop. When the professionals at Russell’s Pest Control treat your bed bugs you know that the heaters are positioned appropriately to ensure even heating and full destruction of your pests, while safety of your home and belongings is maintained! It’s a win, win for you – and a lose, lose for the bed bugs!

Bed Bugs Part 2: Keeping Your Home Secure

Hopefully, last week’s advice about avoiding bed bugs in hotels prepared you for holiday travel. Now, we’ll discuss how bed bugs could affect your daily life and how you can work to avoid them.

Bed bugs are getting attention now because they are infesting unexpected places like movie theaters, department stores, and warehouses. The media has created a frenzy by saying these pests are unavoidable. Yes, bed bug numbers have drastically increased over the last 5-10 years, but that doesn’t mean that we’re powerless to fight them. Homeowners can help protect themselves by being aware of their surroundings and acting quickly when they suspect a problem.

Remember that some environments are more prone to bed bug problems than others. Some high-risk areas include emergency rooms or hospitals, airports, and movie theaters. That doesn’t mean you should stop visiting those places. It just means that you should pay attention to your surroundings when you do. Many people forget that adult bed bugs are not microscopic; in fact, their size is comparable to an apple seed. So, if you go to a movie theater, check your pant cuffs, jacket pockets, and other hiding places before leaving. You’ll be able to see the bed bugs and notify the facility manager before you take hitchhikers home with you. When you’re in a high-risk environment, keep your purse or bag on your lap instead of putting it on the floor or in the chair next to you. By doing so, you protect a very desirable hiding place from bed bugs.

If you work in a high-risk career (including hospital personnel, school teachers, police officers, or social workers), you may want to consider a program to monitor for bed bugs. At Russell’s, we can attach bed bug monitoring to a regular pest control service so that you are aware as soon as you have a problem. That means the infestation will be easier to treat and, consequently, less expensive.

Otherwise, use common sense to protect yourself from invasions. For instance, if you see a nice piece of furniture sitting out for trash pick up, think twice before taking it home. It was likely thrown out by its original owners for a reason. If you go to garage sales or consignment stores, inspect your purchases for adult bed bugs or droppings before you buy them, and wash and dry them as soon as you get home. We actually confirmed the presence of bed bugs in a home where a woman had clothes in piles because she was setting up a garage sale, and our results didn’t change her mind at all! If you suspect a bed bug issue, call for help immediately. Taking action early will save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

There’s just one more thing to consider. Bed bugs are often found in very clean environments; even the best house keeper could have an infestation (which means there’s nothing to be ashamed of if you do have a problem). However, clutter offers options to bed bugs when they’re looking for secure hiding places, which could make even the most thorough pest control treatment less effective. If you suspect a problem, call for help before you do anything else—don’t remove the mattress or use over-the-counter sprays, which could cause the bed bugs to spread throughout the house. A professional can give you good advice about how to contain your problem so that your treatment is most effective.

As always, you can call or visit our contact page if you have questions about bed bugs or any other pests.

(At The Risk Of Being Trite) Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite, Part 1

At Russell’s, we know that many of our customers may be traveling for the holidays, so it might be time to discuss the high-profile topic of bed bugs. Our intention isn’t to cause anxiety, but we want you to be able to visit out-of-towners without bringing any home with you. So, this will be a two-part series. In this post, I’ll discuss some quick tips to protect you if you’re staying in hotels. Next time, I’ll discuss some facts (and fictions) about bed bugs that may help you to avoid them in your daily life.

Everyone wants to know how to tell if bed bugs are in a hotel room. This suggestion may sound a little daunting, but I think that your first line of defense is to ask the hotel employee when you book your room whether they have rooms quarantined for bed bugs. Several people have told me that is rude, but I disagree. You don’t have to attack or accuse; simply ask if they’re having a problem. If they say they do have rooms quarantined, you don’t necessarily have to change hotels. Ask for a room far from the affected area. Bed bugs aren’t long-range pests; their presence in one room doesn’t doom the whole hotel. They will stay put as long as they can obtain consistent meals. This makes it much easier for a pest control company to isolate and eliminate a problem quickly. However, you should always think of bed bugs in three dimensions. You don’t want to be directly next to them or above or below them.

After you check in, go up to your room before bringing anything inside; if you bring a purse with you, don’t lay it down on the ground until you’ve inspected the room. The most well-known signs of bed bugs are small reddish-brown stains in the seams of the mattress; those stains are the bed bugs’ waste (i.e. old blood). Pull up the fitted sheet and have a look at the little ties and grooves on the mattress top, and don’t hesitate to ask an employee if you find something that concerns you.

We recommend getting creative with your luggage. Don’t just pile it in a corner next to the wall. Bed bugs commonly hide under baseboards during the day before emerging at night to feed. Placing your luggage in an out-of-the-way corner gives them easy access to hitch a ride. Oddly enough, a good place for it is the bathroom. Bed bugs are less likely to inhabit the bathroom since they want easy access to their prey in the bed. Also, you can leave the light on in the restroom full-time. Since bed bugs are nocturnal creatures, light will naturally decrease their activity. Some of our inspectors recommend keeping luggage in the bathtub at night. Most bugs have a lot of trouble climbing up and down those sloped tub walls. They may be less likely to pursue your luggage into the bathtub, and you would be more likely to see them if they do.

With the publicity that bed bugs are getting, people have a lot of questions. We understand that sometimes travelers need an expert to talk to for good advice or some peace of mind. You can always contact us with questions, whether you are in need of service or not. Feel free to call or contact us here. We’ll get you the answers that you need as quickly as possible.