Bed Bugs: What Parents & Students Need to Know

Bed Bugs: What Parents & Students Need to Know

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are brown to reddish-brown, flat, oval insects, which feed on the blood of people while sleeping. When the bite occurs it is painless, which occur in a straight line. The area may develop into a large, itchy welt similar to a mosquito bite. Bed bugs do not transmit disease, but can cause anxiety and sleeplessness.

Bed bugs are known as hitchhikers, transferred from one infested environment to another. They travel from one place to another on clothing, bedding, luggage, furniture, backpacks, books and more.

Why bed bugs are on the rise!
Factors contributing to the resurgence of bed bugs:

• Unregulated sale, donation, importation and smuggling of second hand clothing, mattress and furniture.
• More clutter and belonging in which the bugs can hide such as, conducive building, decorating practices and turnover of occupants. 
• Denial/lack of reporting by tenants, workers, landlords, hotels, businesses, universities, etc.
• Economic expansion enabling people to travel.
• Global health officials focusing their efforts on disease vectors rather than bed bugs.
• Changing lifestyle, greater reliance on communal laundries rather than washing items at home.

Avoid getting bed bugs.
To prevent bed bugs from getting into a room, do not bring any used or discarded items into the room. If you think you were somewhere with a bedbug problem, inspect your items. Pay attention to seams, folds, zippers and any other location.

Backpacks, lunchboxes, and other items that travel to and from school should be inspected daily and sealed in plastic containers or plastic bags to prevent bedbugs from getting into them at home. During inspection look for physical bedbugs, black stains created by fecal droppings and eggs which are pearly white and 1mm in length.

Suspect bed bugs.

• Do you wake up with unexplained bug bites on your body?
• Do you see any live bed bugs? 
• Do you see dark brownish black staining on your linens or mattress?

Notify housing immediately if you suspect bed bugs. If you suspect bed bugs at home, call a licensed, trained, BedBugFree professional.

What not to do.

• Do not throw items away or remove them for your room.
• If items are moved correctly, it will prevent the spread in the hallways, other room and areas. You certainly do not want another student picking up the contaminated items and spreading the problem to a greater level.
• Do not attempt to control the bed bugs on your own.
• Contact housing immediately to allow a professional pest management provider who is trained in this area.
• Do not relocate to another room.
• Initially the first thought is to get out of the room. However, in doing so you carry the risk on carrying bed bugs on yourself and your belongings into another room. 

What you should do.

• Notify housing immediately. If home, call a licensed, trained, BedBugFree professional.
• Bed bugs can spread at a rapid rate, do not be embarrassed and notify someone immediately.
• Clean up clothes and general clutter in the room.
• Clutter provides an ideal place for bed bugs to hide and also makes bed bug service difficult.
• Bag laundry and launder in hot water.
• Laundering your clothing will reduce the spread of bed bugs. Place linens and other items in plastic bags and have laundered in hot water. Bed bugs exposure to heat will kill any insects and their eggs. Place in hot dry cycle as well. Throw bags into dumpster and place clean items in clean garbage bags.

I’m going home, what can I do.
Transporting bed bugs is definitely something to be concerned about. Limit what you bring home; bringing home items that can be placed in plastic bags. When you arrive home place items in hot dryer to kill any insects and/or eggs. Leave suitcase in garage and do not bring into home. Do inspect around zipper, folds, etc. before and after your travels.

Again most importantly, if you suspect bed bugs, do not be embarrassed take action NOW, before the problem it out of hand.

We are a licensed and trained in bedbug control and would like the opporunity to protect your health, home and property in the near future. For questions, contact us by phone 800-255-6777, email, twitter or  facebook.



We at Craig Thomas Pest Control, Inc. are grateful to: the National Pest Management Association, University of Florida,  BedBug Central, Bugs without Borders and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for pest information and/or photo images incorporated into this work. 

BedBugs Resurgence

CRAIG THOMAS PEST CONTROL REPORTS RESURGANCE IN BEDBUG INFESTATIONS

Bedbugs Infesting Residential and Multifamily Homes, Apartment Complexes, Residence Halls, Hospitals and Hotels

September 10, 2010 (Hyde Park, NY) – According to the National Pest Management Association, pest control companies are reporting a significant increase in the number of calls regarding bedbug infestations. Renowned hitchhikers, bedbugs catch rides in luggage, shoes, pant hems and any other mobile material. Although there is no way to determine the actual cause of the resurgence, experts are attributing the increase to several things, which include global travel and the mobility of the pest.

These infestations can be difficult to detect due to the elusive, nocturnal and transient nature of the pest. Although their name suggests otherwise, bedbugs can be found in carpets, peeling wallpaper, light fixtures, and any crack small enough for a thin insect to hide. According to Craig Thomas, President for Craig Thomas Pest Control, bedbug infestations are not a sign of unsanitary or unclean living areas.

Adult bedbugs are about the size and shape of a lentil. Their color depends on how recently they have eaten. They turn red after consuming a blood meal and then begin to gradually turn a brownish color. Capable of living up to ten months without a meal, a single bedbug can lay up to 500 eggs in its lifetime.

As bedbugs bite human skin, they inject an anesthetic-like liquid that numbs the skin and allows the pest to bite undisturbed. In fact, humans don’t usually wake up when they are being bitten; however, they do find themselves scratching circular, red, itchy welts in the morning.

“Bedbugs are definitely back here in the Hudson Valley. Our bedbug business has exploded with a 600% increase compared to last year alone.” said Craig Thomas, President for Craig Thomas Pest Control.

“Bedbug infestations should only be treated by trained, licensed, BedBugFree profession al pest management companies,” says Thomas. “This is not an infestation that can be treated by do-it-yourself measures. Professionals know where to look and can offer the most up to date methods of bedbug control.”


For more information, please contact us by phone 1.800.255.6777, email, twitter, facebook, our website or the National Pest Management Association.

Keep your home free of pests

August 15, 2010 - Poughkeepsie Journal Article

Craig Thomas Pest Control sponsors fundraiser to benefit diabetes research.

Craig Thoma Pest Control and Culumus Media station WPDH host Roof-A-Thon

 to help find a cure for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Each year, more than 13,000 young individuals are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes according to the Center for Disease Control. July 9-11, 2010, Culumus Media Station WPDH and Craig Thomas Pest Control hosted the 27th Annual Roof-A-Thon to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

"As a local business owner, giving back and supporting your local community is important," said Craig Thomas, President of Craig Thomas Pest Control. "Sponsoring Roof-A-Thon was an easy decision and really worth participating in." Along with sponsoring the event, Craig Thomas declared July and August JDRF months. Any new bee services during those months, ten percent of sale will go to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Diabetes was the seventh-leading cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates in 2006 and is likely to be under reported as a cause of death, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Roof-A-Thon raised thousands dollars for JDRF. Jean-Marie Trick of JDRF said, " What a tremendous effort was made on behalf of JDRF - it was absolutely amazing."

Craig Thomas Pest Control (CTPC) is a local, third generation family owned business serving the entire Hudson Valley. CTPC offers pest management, home repair, nuisance wildlife and T.A.P. Insulation services. For more information contact us at 1.800.255.6777, email, twitter or facebook.

Picture: The Thomas Family & WPDHs Morning Show


                                                                               
                                                                                      

Bed Bugs are back!

It's no joke, bed bugs are back!

This means bed bugs are showing up more frequently everywhere and even here in the Hudson Valley. Many ask, how and why? Bed bugs have made a resurgence over the past few years due to increase travel, lack of public knowledge, resistance to pesticides and changes in pest management services.  Bed bugs are excellent hitch hikers (their nickname) and have the ability to spread at a rapid rate. Bed bugs are not fun, but there are many measures YOU can take to prevent yourself.

Bed Bug Identification:

• Small brownish insects just under a ¼ inch long.
• Oval in shape, flat and about as wide as they are long.
• Immature bed bugs are much smaller, about 1 mm and lighter in color.
• Bed bug eggs are very small, about 1 mm in size and whitish in color.
• After a blood meal, bed bugs will appear to be reddish in color.

How do I know I have bed bugs?

• Actually finding a bed bug itself.
• Finding blood stains on the bed due to the bed bug feeding.
• Very small black marks (size of pepper) on or near the sleeping area.
• Initially bed bug bites are painless, but turn into large, itchy welts. A good indication: waking up every morning with new bites.

I have bed bugs, now what?

• Bed bugs are best handled by a BedBugFree professional, like Craig Thomas Pest Control.
• Physical methods such as vacuuming or hot laundering can be helpful.
• Vacuums that are used to remove bed bugs can become infested
• Beds do not have to be thrown out, they can be saved by using an appropriate mattress & box spring encasements provided by Craig Thomas Pest Control.
• Sleeping in a different room or vacating the structure is not a solution and can make the problem more difficult to eliminate.

Most recently, New York City has experienced a major bed bug problem from hospitals, apartment buildings, high end stores and more! Below is a video acknowledging the increase in bed bug activity in the city. Bed Bugs on the rise in NYC!

Craig Thomas Pest Control is a locally owned, 3rd Generation family owned business serving the entire Hudson Valley. As a licensed, BedBugFree company, we are specialized in treating bed bugs. If you need us, call us at 1.800.255.6777, email, twitter or facebook.


*information and pictures provided by: www.bedbugcentral.com

Coyote Attacks young children in Westchester County

Following two coyote attacks on young children in Rye in recent days, the Westchester County Department of Health is reminding residents to presume, as a precaution, that any coyotes that attack people could have rabies.

 
"There is always the possibility that coyotes can carry rabies," said Dr. Cheryl Archbald, Westchester County's Acting Health Commissioner. "Anyone who is bitten or scratched by a coyote should go to the nearest hospital. In fact, all animal bites should be reported to the Westchester County Department of Health, at 914-813-5000, so that the individual can be evaluated for rabies treatment."

Coyotes usually do not attack humans. However as residents make outdoor plans for this holiday weekend, Westchester County Department of Health offers the following simple safety tips to deter coyotes from attacking and to keep them away from homes.

To keep coyotes from your property:

•  Bring pet food and water dishes inside.
• Do not put out food for birds.
• Do not leave food outside unattended; scrape your grill and burn off food residue.
• Cover garbage cans securely.
• Consider keeping small children and pets inside if there have been coyote sightings near your house.
• While outside, have handy a loud horn, noisemakers, or pots or pans to bang on and also things you can throw at coyotes.

 If a coyote approaches you:

•  Be aggressive: stand tall, shout in a loud voice, throw things at coyote, maintain eye contact and wave your arms as you try to scare it away and head indoors or to a more populated area.
• Do not turn your back and run, as the coyote will then view you as prey and give chase.
• Call 911. Do not try to catch the coyote unless you are a trained animal trapper.

Craig Thomas Pest Control is happy to announce, we have a full time trapper on staff to handle every animal, big or small. From squirrels, bats, beavers, skunks, woodchucks, coyotes or possums, we can handle it all. The name you already trust in pest control, expands to better serve our customers! Take advantage of this great service!

For more information about coyotes and rabies prevention, go to www.westchestergov.com/health or your local health department.

Article from: Westchester County Government - http://ow.ly/25ZqX

Picture: Encyclopædia Britannica Adovacy for Animals - http://ow.ly/25ZC8

 

June 2010 Meeting

Here at Craig Thomas Pest Control (CTPC), we understand the importance of a pest free environment and outstanding customer service. CTPC is committed to continuous training of all our staff, extending from the management, office, sales and technicians. As a QualityPro company, a designation from the National Pest Management Association, we pride ourself on being part of the 1% of national pest management companies with this mark of excellence.

QualityPro is an industry program designed to increase professionalism of the industry through self-regulation and a higher public perception of industry professionalism. The pest management industry needs to raise the bar for quality. QualityPro makes it easier by clearly identifying pest management companies that excel. Performing background checks, reference checks, maintaining a drug free workplace, practicing environmentally responsible pest control, employing highly trained employees, offering clear warranties and service agreements are all part of our dedication to QualtiyPro.

June 30, 2010, CTPC held their monthly meeting to discuss several topics from bees, fleas, flies, marketing and safety. Below are some great pictures of the CTPC Team:

The field staff learning on the job safety. Thank you to everyone who played a "role." It was a great educational experience.

The entire CTPC team gathered as one! We love to support and cheer on our fellow colleagues.

Lastly, we awarded one of our technicians, Henry Montalvo with a TV, DVD Player and Movie for his outstanding effort in sales over the last three months.

Congratulations Henry! You deserve it, keep up the great work!!

(L-R) Rick Harris, General Manager, Henry Montalvo, Technician, Craig Thomas, President.

If you are interested in joining the Craig Thomas Pest Control Family,

fill out an application today!