Bed bug infestations are on the rise! In the past 3-5 years we have seen a huge rise in the number of pest professionals that offer bed bug treatments. 99.6% of pest professionals have treated bed bugs in the past year. The top 3 places that we see infestation occur (not including homes and apartments) are hotels/motels, college dorms, and nursing homes. Bed bugs are seemingly everywhere and are also commonly found in offices, schools and daycare centers, hospitals, public transportation, theaters and more. In addition to these environments, pest professionals also have reported treating bed bugs in very unusual places, such as a vent above a bathtub, dance clubs, 911 call centers, and on boats. While more and more pest professionals are being called to treat bed bugs, they still remain one of the most challenging pests to exterminate for many professionals that rely on traditional extermination methods. So why are bed bugs so hard to treat, you ask? Bed bugs are extremely hearty insects and are experts at hiding and “hitching rides” on unsuspecting people. Over the past 10 years scientists have been studying bed bugs and their ability to evolve resistances to many of the traditional chemical...
Convectex heaters are well known for killing bed bugs in record time and with great accuracy…but did you know all of the other problems you can solve using HEAT? Here are a few other uses for your Convectex Heaters and Fans that will keep your home or business clean, dry, and bug free. Pest Elimination Convectex Heat treatments are an ecological and technological breakthrough in treating structures for bugs. Heat treatments are extremely effective in single family homes, apartments, condominiums, hotel/motel rooms, hospitals, senior home facilities, office spaces and more. Heat eliminates the need for chemical treatments and will rid the treated space of bed bugs, drywood termites, scorpions, dust mites, carpenter ants, cockroaches, and rodents. Heat treatments can be used in entire structures, confined areas or for spot treatments. There is no odor, and after a cooling period the area is safe for people and pets to re-enter and resume business as usual. On the Convectex blog we have discussed many of the advantages of heat treatments for bed bugs and the steps needed to perform a successful treatment. You can find this info at: http://convectex.com/blogs/blog/118513157-bed-bug-awareness-week-2016-bed-bugs-are-everywhere Moisture Drying and Mold The Convectex Heat process uses clean, dry, heated air...
Congratulations, you now know that heat is the best way to solve any bed bug problem. You are also ready to start killing bed bugs yourself. But which heating package do you buy? Which heater is right for the space and resources you have available? Here is a quick guide to help you find the heater and/or heating package that’s right for you. Step 1: Know Your Space and The Convectex Heaters The first step to picking the right heater is knowing the space where you will be using the heater. If you own an apartment complex you can decide how big the standard room is and choose the heater that works best for that size room. Our most popular heaters are the Elite 4 which can heat up to 300 sq ft, the Elite 8 which will heat up to 400 Sq. ft, or for larger spaces the Elite Max should be used for up to 800 sq.ft. You will also need to know what kind of breakers you have and what heat system they can handle. Each Heater requires different specifications which should be noted before buying a package. If you have 15amp 120V breakers then the Elite...
Bed bugs go through 5 stages of development after hatching from their tiny eggs. At some stages, they are so small they can be difficult to see and identify. Properly identifying bed bugs is one of the most important steps in their elimination. Once bed bugs have been properly identified and their locations noted, a successful heat treatment can be performed. The Bed Bug Life Cycle Eggs: The eggs are nearly microscopic and are virtually clear. Eggs are often found in groups hidden inside furniture where they cannot be easily disturbed. Once the bug emerges from the egg a translucent shell is left behind. Nymphs: Once the bed bugs hatch the young nymph’s body is nearly transparent. These small bed bugs will feed and turn red (the blood shows through its body). Once they have fed they will molt and shed their outer shell. Each stage ends with the bug shedding their outer shell and having a blood meal. Growing from a Nymph to an Adult: There are 4 more stages that bed bugs must go through before becoming an adult. At each stage the bugs become bigger and darker in color. During these stages, they also leave behind...
Every year we see HUGE settlements awarded in bed bug related cases around the country. The risk of bed bug lawsuits isn’t reserved for hotels and motels either, we have seen cases won against public transport, theaters, apartments, and retail businesses. Here are a few examples of large bed bug settlements awarded in the past 10 years: Furniture Stores A jury awards Adarien Jackson $225,000 after the bunk beds she purchased for her child was found to be infested with bed bugs. Jackson only sought $150,000 in damages, but the jury raised the stakes for the final judgement. This is a very rare occurrence in county juries, where damage compensation is awarded conservatively. In 2008 a couple sued a JC Penny after their new furniture was delivered infested with bed bugs. The couple won a settlement of $49,000! Apartments and Rental Homes A tenant in Baltimore was awarded $40,000 when he sued his negligent landlord after he waited over 40 days to schedule a treatment for a bed bug infestation. This was the first successful bed bug lawsuit won in Baltimore at the time. Residents in Des Moines, Iowa were awarded $2.45 million in a settlement for damages caused by...
Of the countless DIY treatments for bed bugs, there are very few that are actually effective in exterminating an entire infestation. Many of the popular methods don’t kill the entire bed bug life cycle or they simply mask the problem by causing the bed bugs to move to another room. The best DIY treatment for bed bugs is the same process that pest professionals are using throughout the USA – HEAT! Here we have a list of 4 popular methods to kill bed bugs and why they don’t work, PLUS how you can get started killing bed bugs with heat. Mattress Encasements This is one of the most popular treatments that can be found online. There are many brands of encasements that claim to kill bed bugs. The treatments work by suffocating the bed bugs by covering your infested mattress in plastic. However, there is a major flaw in this treatment; bed bugs don’t just live in your mattress. Bed bugs are commonly found in the bed frame, inside bedroom furniture, under carpets, inside walls, and in/behind drapes and wall decorations. By encasing your mattress, you may be killing some of the bugs, but certainly not all of them. Diatomaceous...