tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post4821991271244319840..comments2023-04-03T08:08:53.677-05:00Comments on The War on Bedbugs: Heat and cold treatmentFrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00847310369699411544noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-61724342211415793522010-08-01T23:28:01.921-05:002010-08-01T23:28:01.921-05:00Hi, I have seen a few bed bugs but haven't fel...Hi, I have seen a few bed bugs but haven't felt bitten in a few days. This is when I put my head under the ceiling fan. Hence, I was wondering if having some device that moved the air around (away from) your head helps. Basically, I'm not sure if they find your body or your bed (sleeping area/room) using CO2. If it's body, this may be one more way of denying them a meal.Hasanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06700946383666648059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-8530380597809940292010-07-06T02:51:38.118-05:002010-07-06T02:51:38.118-05:00Thank you so much!!! I googled "bedbugs caulk...Thank you so much!!! I googled "bedbugs caulking" and was directed to this incredibly well-written blog. I honestly believe that bedbugs would not be the epidemic it has now become if people were better informed in how to protect their homes and informed in basic biology and common sense. When I realized I had bedbugs due to bites, I knew that I needed to caulk the seams in my 500 sq. ft. apt in nyc immediately. I probably used about 10 caulk guns and was shocked to see how many cracks had gone unnoticed since I first moved in 6 months ago. I'm positive the bedbugs came in through these cracks. I also coated my wood bed frame in polyurethane as well as some open seams in the wood floor. I doubt I am 100% bedbug free right now, but reading this site makes me feel that I've been taking logical, positive steps to prevent this infestation from exploding. Reading about the lifespan of the bedbugs is especially helpful in keeping me hopeful! The longer I can go without getting bites... the more confident I can be about their population dying. ugh...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-52751708173306216262010-05-17T19:31:30.696-05:002010-05-17T19:31:30.696-05:00I have been in the pest control biz for 17 years. ...I have been in the pest control biz for 17 years. Since bed bugs were brought into my area about 6-7 years ago I have performed about 3000 bed bug jobs and I have NEVER FAILED to get rid of them. We do a traditional chemical treatment. We use several products but Phantom and Temprid are the most common. All I have to say is, it is not the chemicals that fail. It is the technicians that are failing. That goes for heat as well. The method is only as good as the technician. I would never think of switching to heat because it costs the customer way too much $$$ and I hear all kinds of horror stories about damage every day of the week. I will admit that from time to time we have to make a second trip but, it seldom has anything to do with the treatment. It is normally because the customer was not prepared or they only gave it a day or two to work. If you are told that it will take multiple treatments... Don't buy from them. The problem is that very few companies have figured out how to do it right. We are lucky because we have really good guys and I am involved in almost every treatment. I also train them from my personal experiences. Not by what I read or people say. Bottom line is, if you spray a bed bug (or it's eggs) with these products, it will die today. If it walks on a treated surface, it will die in 7-10 days. The ones you miss with the spray have to molt 5 times before they are big enough to reproduce. It also has to have a blood meal each time it molts. That means if I kill as many as I can find, then surround the beds, couches and chairs with these products, I have 5 chances that they will walk through the treated areas before they can ever reproduce. This works every time it is tried. I just don't get why our industry has so much trouble with this. Bed bugs are one of the easier problems that we have to deal with. <br /><br />Good Luck and don't stop looking until you find the guy that says he can do it on the first try with insecticides. Then ask for 5 references and call them. All 5 need to tell you that one treatment worked. Also, stay away from heat. It is too new and we are finding out that it has major flaws. If that fails, move to Iowa and hook up with me. He He!!!!Keith Gordonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-8347337672519707032010-04-06T19:47:41.516-05:002010-04-06T19:47:41.516-05:00Thanks for being there! We have finished a month ...Thanks for being there! We have finished a month of permethrin/silica dust/gentrol treatments to no avail. This is even with a minor infestation. We've only seen 6 bugs total the whole tiem. We're moving on to Thermapure Heat treatments. This is our last hope - can't do Vikane in a multi-unit dwelling. This is all so ridiculously expensive! Thermapure is going to be $3000 for our 1900 sq ft townhome with garage. UGH!Lisa - Davie, FLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-86844322512590935672010-03-03T21:05:24.280-05:002010-03-03T21:05:24.280-05:00Hi Frank.
Thanks for the extensive post about you...Hi Frank.<br /><br />Thanks for the extensive post about your experience with bed bugs. <br /><br />I am a pest control technician and today I flipped a king size mattress and the bottom of it was covered with tons of bed bugs. Very infested! <br /><br />We have recently started to do heat remediation treatments for bed bugs and it has been working very well. It is crazy how the bed bug doesn't run from the heat as lets say a cockroach does. It is crazy how I can be heating up a room that is infested with roaches and bed bugs and when I'm heating it up the roaches start pouring out into the hallway but the bed bugs come out and die. Roaches are a lot more resilient to heat than bed bugs are. <br /><br />Also what is your experience with heat on bed bug instars. I find that adult bed bugs are easier to kill than nymphs or eggs.<br /><br />Its a crazy world here with bed bugs.Preferred Pest Controlhttp://preferredpest.com/bedbugs.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-4602950282911828462010-02-25T07:30:16.414-05:002010-02-25T07:30:16.414-05:00I don't know if this will get to you as I see ...I don't know if this will get to you as I see you have finished with the blog and it is filling with spam comments.<br />I don't have bedbugs, but I'd like to use your mind a bit. I go to Vegas often and want to avoid them. I have quite a few strategies, but this one is puzzling me. I have a sleep apnea machine and there is no real way to keep the pests out of it. Do you have suggestions on a barrier to be easily used in hotels?Deweyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804068330137824294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-53142550931424389562009-11-03T20:04:49.710-05:002009-11-03T20:04:49.710-05:00Hello and thank you for the info regarding bed bug...Hello and thank you for the info regarding bed bugs. Well I just found out that I have these pests in my home. I live in Saskatchewan, Canada and am being told that bed bugs have become an epidemic here where I live. I'm wondering if I have to wash my dark close in hot water as well as drying on high heat. I really don't want to take the chance of washing my darks in hot water for fear of ruining them. My pesty bug friends have caused me great emotional stress along with other issues in my home it has recently caused me to have a nervous break down. The exterminators are telling me that it's going to be a $1500.00 extermination fee which I can not afford. Is it possible to kill these critters with non stop cleaning and disinfecting everything I own? I'm also using bug spray it's called 1 One Shot makers name is Wilson, it's for crawling insects. The can states that it's good for killing Cockroaches so I thought that it would help me keep them at bay. I only found one adult Bed Bug on my sons bed. Since I found only one dose that mean that there is going to be alot more? I also can't find any pics of the larval state so I don't know how to identify the larvae? Can anyone give me some pointers as to what to look for. Thank you Extreemly Stressed Me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-57534399957038732592009-10-16T04:13:43.332-05:002009-10-16T04:13:43.332-05:00It is really hard to get rid of bed bugs. i also h...It is really hard to get rid of bed bugs. i also had this problem and the best solution is to replace all your bed room.bed bugshttp://bed-bugs.66ghz.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-20185090484414713782009-09-25T10:39:03.746-05:002009-09-25T10:39:03.746-05:00Lot's of things that are relatively safe for h...Lot's of things that are relatively safe for humans will kill them instantly if you can see them, or know where they are hiding. Rubbing alcohol is excellent. I put some in a spray bottle. Just be careful if you smoke!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-23025959063532233752009-08-13T23:59:49.673-05:002009-08-13T23:59:49.673-05:00THANK YOU FRANK TRYING TO HELP A FRIEND OUT AND EV...THANK YOU FRANK TRYING TO HELP A FRIEND OUT AND EVERYTHING IS VERY USEFULL THAT U HAVE WRITENAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-31938989650293802009-07-22T08:35:34.272-05:002009-07-22T08:35:34.272-05:00BED BUG SURVEY -looking for feed back for study
...BED BUG SURVEY -looking for feed back for study<br /> Please Help<br />---------------------------------------<br /><br /><br />Were you able to find bed bug products easily?<br /><br />What type of store would you go to to find bed bug products? <br /><br />Briefly describe the "ideal" bed bug solution product.<br /><br />Where did you find the products? (type of store and <br /> department in store)<br /><br />What type of products did you use? <br /><br />How was your success with the products?<br /><br />Please add your own comments as to your bed bug experience.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Phyllisphyllisbughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14029878008144008315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-20717425633901306602009-07-01T01:07:20.135-05:002009-07-01T01:07:20.135-05:00In researching how to eradicate bedbugs I came acr...In researching how to eradicate bedbugs I came across a product that uses cedar oil. The website has a video showing in a lab how it kills fleas, bedbugs, etc...in under a minute. I am surprised nobody has mentioned using pine sol. I have found one squirt and they are dead in their tracks. I'm not sure how bad my infestation is yet but I don't want to take any chances so I am throwing out my mattress, cleaning and laundering, etc. I don't know how effective the pine sol will be on eggs and getting into their hiding places, and will take additional measure as needed, but if you want to kill on contact use Pine Sol. :)butterscotchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05339012810231182043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-69652346674923271302009-06-06T18:14:13.770-05:002009-06-06T18:14:13.770-05:00Your research is prodigious and your advise though...Your research is prodigious and your advise thoughtful. I do have some experience to share about using heat treatment.<br /><br />I too was infected with bedbugs, a depressing experience to say the least, and arranged for standard chemical treatment by a licensed and experienced exterminator, which then had to be followed by a second treatment several weeks later, as the problem persisted. Both treatments did reduce the infectation substantially, probably by 90% to 95%, but a few bugs survived and the spectre of a long continuing battle loomed.<br /><br />I then went to plan B: heat treatment using space heaters. At first this did not work, as most heaters on the market turn off automatically, a safety feature, at a temperature too low to affect the bugs. Luckily, after much experimentation, I eventually found the right heater and managed to completed destroy the bedbugs. <br />Here is what happened:<br /><br />I purchased four DeLonghi space heaters, model DCH1030 (1500Watts). This is the only one I could find that would work, although there might be others on the market. Five or six heaters would be better than four, but you might find a problem with obtaining sufficient electic power (see below). I also purchased a radio shack remote thermometer so that I could read the room temperature from another room.<br /><br />I placed the four heaters at the four cornners of my bedroom, about 2 - 3 feet away from the walls. I removed all sensitive items (e..g candles), opened all drawers and covers the single window in the room with a blanket. As each heater draws about 10 amps, it is important to obtain power from different outlets in the house, as otherwise fuses will blow or breakers will trip. I placed the thermometer under my bed, turned on the heaters and closed and sealed all doors.<br /><br />It took about 5-6 hours for the termperature to reach 120 deg farenheit. At one point, when the temperature was approximately 112 deg, I entered the room to see what was happening. I noticed one bedbug moving in circles openly on my bed. It was clearely in a dire circumstance.<br /><br />I continued to let the room heat at a temperature greater than 120 deg for another five hours. When I entered the room, turned off the heaters and let the room cool down. I noticed also that the heat had well penetrated the wooden furniture in the room, a location wher bugs may well ahve hidden. <br /><br />I have not had a problem since.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-73460962457978042772009-05-19T21:48:49.542-05:002009-05-19T21:48:49.542-05:00Wow, great work. I never thought that small sucker...Wow, great work. I never thought that small suckers could influence quality of live so much. Good luck and happy meditating!Langelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12102987242350056745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-59683443836954121952009-02-17T12:15:00.000-05:002009-02-17T12:15:00.000-05:00Hi Frank,Thanks for your great work!I am suffering...Hi Frank,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your great work!<BR/><BR/>I am suffering from bed bug infestation in my apartment. It seems, my neighbors had them and they moved out. They had their apartment exterminated, but right now I have these bugs!! I need help. We had one extermination done and will be having a second one next week. I have all my clothes in big garbage bags tied well. Got rid of my mattress/blankets/linens/pillows..My bed had black spots everywhere. I am staying at my friend's place and using my friend's clothes. I went to visit my place yesterday and found a lot more on the ceiling...I dont know what to do. Though we are having a second round this week.. I am very concerned to buy a new mattress... I cant handle these terrible rashes and itchiness.... What can I do to make sure these bugs leaves my place for good?!!I desperately need some advice please!!<BR/><BR/>Many thanks again :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-69639050971240596982009-02-03T15:59:00.000-05:002009-02-03T15:59:00.000-05:00Hi Frank, I'm a new member of the Fight the Bed Bu...Hi Frank, I'm a new member of the Fight the Bed Bug Club.<BR/><BR/>I brought them home about 19 days ago. The original source has been identified beyond a doubt but it took me about a week of itching and scratching and reading before I realized the gravity of this situation.<BR/><BR/>I cleaned, cleaned, cleaned everything. Washed, washed, washed everything in hot water. My bed, frame, and couches have been sitting on my balcony in -10 for about 2 weeks now. Two days ago I had a professional come over and do his thing (vacuum, steam clean, and spray). <BR/><BR/>Next I will caulk all the cracks. But do you think I can that the cold will kill these creatures if they were hiding in my furniture?<BR/><BR/>I have been staying at my parents the last week and was bitten a few days ago. <BR/><BR/>Frank, can you give me advice? I thought the battle was tied, but now with my parents I feel like waving a white flag.<BR/><BR/>What a nightmare! <BR/><BR/>LisaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-15405412333287415342008-12-22T08:52:00.000-05:002008-12-22T08:52:00.000-05:00Hi. Thanks for the informative blog. I've been fig...Hi. Thanks for the informative blog. I've been fighting bed bugs since I moved to New York City in September. Exterminators have sprayed twice and my wife and I have washed our clothes twice. I have a couple questions. If you answer, please email the link (or the text of the answers), if you'd be so kind, to mattreyn1@hotmail.com.<BR/><BR/>Can bedbugs crawl on surfaces covered in Vaseline? Do they return to the same spot each night? <BR/><BR/>We bought bedbug proof mattress and boxspring covers, watched our sheets and sprayed pesticide throughout our room. No bites for a week. We figured the room, or at least the bed was clear. So we covered the bed legs in vaseline and positioned the bed so it isn't touching anything but the floor (not touching the wall, nor our hamper, nor our dresser). <BR/><BR/>I started getting bit again after a week and a half. I can't figure out how the bedbugs got to us. Here are the possibilities. Please correct me if I'm leaving anything out. <BR/><BR/>1. contrary to what I read, bedbugs can make it through Vaseline. They were hiding someplace -- in the walls perhaps -- crawled up the bed legs and onto bed.<BR/><BR/>2. eggs survived the last round of pesticides and hatched somewhere on our bed (in our frame, for example, or in our quilt or pillows)<BR/><BR/>3. the 'bed-bug proof' mattress covers don't work<BR/><BR/>Which possibility makes most sense to you? <BR/><BR/>One thing that puzzles me is where the bugs are hiding. Do you know if they return to the same spot every night? Or do they -- as seems logical -- hide in the nearest suitable spot after biting me?<BR/><BR/>Thanks in advance for your advice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-28585872872779518012008-11-01T11:10:00.000-05:002008-11-01T11:10:00.000-05:00Great stuff Frank... too bad you aren't posting mo...Great stuff Frank... too bad you aren't posting more. I am a Board Certified Entomologist out of Toronto.. very close to this issue.. in fact i deal with it every day in one form or another..<BR/>There is a bigger picture in addressing the problem. I haven't had a chance to read every line of your comments as I am very busy and was away on sick leave at time you last posted, but the story is far from told. The more sites with unresolved infestations, the bigger the problem will grow.. I think that the better hotels will handle it well - I met one of the directors of a major pest control firm that has this market and I know they are approaching it with a high degree of professionalism.. but this does not apply to all. It will take leglislation to enforce IPM strategies and to enausre that theere are IPM professionals following best practice standards before the problem is really solved.. Your blog does help a lot of people, but I think your target audience is well educated formally or informally because what you wrote is of a high calibre..szimonsayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10829005459098360035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-72766546743145740152008-09-09T05:12:00.000-05:002008-09-09T05:12:00.000-05:00Hi Fingerscrossed,Not sure you will ever see this....Hi Fingerscrossed,<BR/>Not sure you will ever see this. <BR/>All bed bug control methods will fail if the pest control company does not perform the service correctly or the property is not prepared properly for treatment. <BR/>The two BEST chances for success in one treatment for bed bugs are fumigation with Vikane or heat treatment. <BR/>If you are still getting bitten,I would suggest contacting a company with a scent detection canine. Make sure the dog and handler are NESDECA certified. This is the best way to know if you are still suffering from bed bugs if you can not find live bugs but are still getting bittenUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18082169270617230712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-34150156641364938162008-06-30T13:08:00.000-05:002008-06-30T13:08:00.000-05:00Howard B,I recently had one of the companies you m...Howard B,<BR/>I recently had one of the companies you mentioned treat my house for BB. We tented with Vikane the first time, then discovered a freestanding building didn't receive enough gas, so we tented the two buildings a second time. Still had bites that were alarming, but not as bad as the early ones. We tented the entire property a third time and just re-entered. I'm scared but choosing to remain hopeful that we finally got them all. My question for you is this. In a situation where one CAN use Vikane, do you believe it to be 100% effective? Do you think it is AS effective as heat and DE? Please tell me I did the right thing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-3775540152908812752008-06-12T09:37:00.000-05:002008-06-12T09:37:00.000-05:00We cut Victor glue traps in half lengthwise and la...We cut Victor glue traps in half lengthwise and laid them on the floor along the baseboards. We are also using DE. Have wrapped the bed, washed sheets & bed clothing continuously, put tape on the bed legs and sides of the mattress. Sprayed a commercial spray (3 gallons so far). Also do regular vaccuming. Went a few days w/o bites but last nite got several. Can't figure how they are getting to me. Guess we'll try the ceiling treatment. Thought my husband wasn't being bitten but after reading this its likely he is and doesn't know it. We see fewer and fewer but how long can we realistically expect this to take?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-16682108837890442462008-06-10T11:28:00.000-05:002008-06-10T11:28:00.000-05:00Thanks for posting such helpful and thoroughly res...Thanks for posting such helpful and thoroughly researched information. Please check out my blog, www.bedbugcentral.com/thecentralblog<BR/><BR/>My blog will be updated fairly regularly with information, news and new products relating to bed bugs. The website that my blog is linked to is www.bedbugcentral.com. Bedbugcentral is an educational website powered by industry experts, such as Richard Cooper in hopes of educating the public about bed bugs. Check it out! Thanks! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-48732837993503719822008-05-06T08:19:00.000-05:002008-05-06T08:19:00.000-05:00This is a problem that effects a lot of people fro...This is a problem that effects a lot of people from all walks of life, bugs, all bugs can invade someones home and more or less take over without intervention.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-41564146530290554482008-04-10T20:40:00.000-05:002008-04-10T20:40:00.000-05:00I know you are not posting anymore (congratulation...I know you are not posting anymore (congratulations on moving past the bugs) but this site is one of the single most useful bedbug resources I have come across and I'd like to thank you for it. I have recently discovered what I believe is a small bedbug infestation - nothing too freaky so far, but I want to nip it in the bud. I am 4 mos pregnant and very wary about pesticides. Although we may end up integrating some chemical treatment, I am grateful for all the non-chemical dependent strategies that you so thoroughly provide. I work in a farmer's market and am familiar with IPM as a growing method - I look forward to applying it to my home as well! Best wishesLelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13606817279575413193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-1380219213945930232007-12-10T13:41:00.000-05:002007-12-10T13:41:00.000-05:00hi there, reading that you even treated things lik...hi there, reading that you even treated things like your keyboard and mouse worries me that i'm not taking enough precautions. however, my infestation is not severe at all; it was never bad and we caught it soon so it looks like things are heading downhill for the bedbugs. we are moving soon so bringing them with us is a huge concern for me. so far we've only planned to bag up our beds and wash all our clothes and steam items we can't wash. we're not bringing any furniture but the beds. does this seem like enough? thanks for all your information.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com