Arizona Brown or Brown Recluse Spider?
Don’t get me wrong, bugs travel. Pretty obvious with West Nile Virus and more recently Bed Bugs. Keep an eye out for anything unusual and as always call me – I love this stuff!
Just the facts please…. provide info to expedite the treatment!
Today I received a new lead from an online referral site and I’ll tell you I love getting referrals but I need more information. So here is a list of things to tell the bug guy when they show up at your home.
- When you call the office please tell the receptionist what you’re experiencing, for example are you being bitten. It is really important to answer the questions like Who, what, where, when, why and how. To me its almost like being a detective, we need all the information so that we can make an intelligent recommendation on treatment.
- After receiving the information the technician comes up with the treatment plan and discusses this with the homeowner.
- We have talked about this before but before the technician arrives please reduce clutter and vacuum the area (if you have a bag vacuum please throw it away). I remember years ago in Florida, someone had vacuumed and put the entire vacuum with bag into the closet. I was amazed at the numbers of fleas in the closet and elsewhere in the home, but they were concentrated within that closet.
- A lot of the treatment plans may include a followup visit – remember this occurrence took time to build up and probably will take time to completely solve it. Don’t think for one minute that we are magicians and can make this outbreak disappear overnight, won’t happen…. This usually surprises me the most, even after discussing this with some customers they are upset that they still might see the occasional roach or two. I learned many years ago, we attempt to eradicate at least 97% on the first visit to get control but depending on a variety of circumstances this number may change. Sanitation is a leading cause of failure, if the place has grease or oil everywhere all the pesticide in the world won’t change the outcome. The pesticide will lose it efficacy and the roaches will have plenty to eat and not be affected by the product.
- Work with the technician and follow any advice, he has probably seen it all so it won’t be a big surprise to him. Clean behind the stove and refrigerator yearly, pay particular attention to the fan motor (warm and probably close to the overflow pan).
Verifi™ Bed Bug Detection system… by FMC
OK it has taken some time, from production issues to stoppage at the border but I have it on good authority that these new Verifi™ devices will soon be available for sale.
FMC Solutions Verifi™ Website for hotels
Verifi by FMC for Bed Bugs home seal by ProBest
Top 10 Evil Animals – What made Time Magazine’s list?
Hands down, without a doubt it has to be “The Bed Bug” and I was right. Top 10 Evil Animals and it might surprise you about #2 and I think 5 – 6 are right up my alley in the way of pest control.
So check it out and hey if you have any opinions please let me know. Comments are welcome.
Just in case you might have been thinking about it, I wasn’t on the list.. Haha
I can be a pest though…
What’s sleeping in your bed?
The more I watch TV the more it scares me, I hate those commercials that say “How old is your bed, if your bed is over 8 years it has 10 pounds of stuff in it”, just what I don’t want to hear. It’s bad enough thinking about dust mites or worse yet Bed Bugs but you spend a great deal of time in that bed.
When the Great Bed Bug scare came I decided we needed to invest in some mattress and box spring en-casements and let me tell you I can now sleep without the thought of those critters jumping around more than counting sheep. There are a few side benefits about these en-casements, here they are:
- They keep things in and things out, now remember Bed Bugs just don’t live on beds.
- They keep out urine, sweat and anything else you might spill on them. Accidents happen like babies sprouting a geyser or the accidental dog or cat issue.
- Allergens especially within the bed can be kept to a minimal amount.
- These en-casements are not like years of past, they are crinkly and make noise. They aren’t as hot either.
So think about an en-casement as a way to protect and maybe extend the life of that mattress and box spring.
Why did ProBest Pest Management get into carpet cleaning: Bed Bugs are the main reason.
The Bed Bug epidemic has spread across the USA at a rapid pace and people react with a sense of urgency and frustration. Often times people panic and react by immediately throwing things out and this leads to the spread of eggs and adults throughout the home including carpets. ProBest Pest Management decided to offer a service of pest treatment with carpet cleaning as a way of total and complete eradication. What better way than to steam everything including the carpets if needed. We offer steam, limited pesticides and follow-ups if needed. ProBest immediately sought certification and so far 2 employees are “The Clean Trust” certified.
Safety Precautions for Total Release Foggers: 
EPA has prepared this fact sheet to help users reduce potential hazards associated with total release foggers. Total release foggers, also known as “bug bombs,” are pesticide products containing aerosol propellants that release their contents at once to fumigate an area. These products are often used around the home to kill cockroaches, fleas, and other pests. Because the aerosol propellants in these foggers typically are flammable, improper use may cause a fire or explosion. In addition to this hazard, failure to vacate premises during fogging or reentering without airing out may result in illness.
There are several video’s that outline the proper use of these tools for pest control (vacate residence, do not use more than on label and ignition sources) and with all the stories over the last few years its probably time for a detailed guideline on usage. I will add one more item, there is a place for this type of tool within pest control but bear in mind that improper use may make the bug go deeper into the walls or hiding place. This may actually make the situation worse and more difficult if you then must hire a Pest Management Professional.
The Clean Trust -training continues…
Why did ProBest Pest Management get into carpet cleaning: Bed Bugs are the main reason.
The Bed Bug epidemic has spread across the USA at a rapid pace and people react with a sense of urgency and frustration. Often times people panic and react by immediately throwing things out and this leads to the spread of eggs and adults throughout the home including carpets. ProBest Pest Management decided to offer a service of pest treatment with a carpet cleaning as a way of total and complete eradication. What better way than to steam everything including the carpets if needed. We offer steam, limited pesticides and follow-ups if needed. ProBest immediately sought certification and so far 2 employees are “The Clean Trust” certified.
Verifi™ by FMC for Bed Bugs
OK the rumor mill advises that these products will be shipping on the 15th of April and I have it on good authority that is the case.
Are you a property manager, hotel/motel operator, realtor or homeowner that just wants to know if you have Bed Bugs. Then this is the tool for you with Peace of Mind!
Thanks to FMC and Univar for supplying the artwork above with a few modifications by ProBest.
Space Bed Bugs from the Planet Cimex
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENgAiGGtEvU]