Vet Meds Have Potential Against Bed Bugs

Two readily available drugs that veterinarians use to kill parasites on pets could be a solution to getting rid of bed bugs. Both fluralaner and ivermectin, medications used to kill fleas and ticks on pets, could also kill bed bugs. The newer, longer lasting fluralaner showed very strong potential.

This new research comes from a North Carolina State University (NCSU) study that examined the drugs and their effectiveness in controlling bed bug populations on poultry farms.

Veterinary scientists, along with entomologists from NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine tested bed bug death rates in different experiments. One included mixing blood with each of the drugs on a lab bench letting bed bugs consume it. In another test, bed bugs fed on chickens who received the treatments topically or through ingestion.

Both drugs killed most bed bugs and Fluralaner worked even better on bed bugs that showed resistance to common insecticides. Fluralaner was also highly effective at killing bed bugs that fed on chickens. Ivermectin did not work in that experiment, possibly because the chickens quickly clear that drug from their systems, the study authors noted.

Fluralaner is new and mostly used for companion animals, Europe and Australia have approved it for use in the poultry industry. Ivermectin is used on household pets, larger animals and for anti-parasitic purposes in humans, particularly in Africa.

If you are having issues with bed bugs, Essential Pest Control can help. Call 520-886-3029 or visit EssentialPest.com.

3 Things You Buy That Bring the Bed Bugs home

clothes on a rack

Bed Bugs - you'll find them anywhere you find people. Hotels, retail stores and many forms of public transportation are all places you can find bed bugs. Read along to find out what it is that will bring bed bugs home.

Getting rid of these pests once they've occupied your home can be a pain. Taking steps to make sure they don't become unwanted guests in your space is simpler than you'd expect. Keep reading to find out to find out which items could be inviting bed bugs into your home. 

1. Clothing

Don't hang that new outfit in your closet until you've thoroughly inspected it for bed bugs first. Its always a good idea to inspect new clothing before you put in drawers or hang them in the closet. Even before you purchase, take a look at the clothing items. Another safe bet is to run all new clothing items in the washer on high heat for at least 20 minutes. This should kill any live bed bugs or eggs that may have not been spotted during your inspection.

2. Suitcases

Traveling to and from destinations whether business or vacation is a major way bed bugs are brought in to homes. If you want to avoid bringing these little pests home, open suitcases far away from upholstered furniture upon entering a hotel. Check for bed bugs in mattress seams. After traveling, leave luggage outside or place in bathtub and put clothing in the dryer for at least 20 minutes on high heat. Inspect luggage before bringing in the house or removing from the bathtub.

3. Furniture

Furniture of the soft and upholstered types from unknown sources can harbor bed bugs or bed bug eggs that you might not see immediately. If you find good deals on used furniture items that you must bring home, talk to a pest management professional like Essential Pest Control about performing an inspection to give you peace of mind.

Bed Bug Impact Lowered But Not Gone!

Bed Bug Impact Lowered But Not Gone.

Bed bugs latch on to people and items used to travel, in search of human blood. But less travel during the Covid-19 pandemic has helped keep the spread of the unwanted critters.

Pest professionals have received fewer calls over the last year in part because the insects haven’t been able to spread as widely.

Bed bugs typically spread through human movement and can be found anywhere humans linger, including homes, hotels, hospitals, cars and are difficult to eliminate.

industry professionals warn that the bugs are bound to spread again as people resume travel and this will effect the Bed Bug Impact.

Do you think you may have a bed bug issue? Call Essential Pest Control today! 520-886-3029

How Bed Bugs Get into Your Home

Bed Bugs

If you’ve got itchy skin and a series of red bite marks, you might have bed bugs. Don’t fret—bed bugs aren’t a sign that your housekeeping is subpar. Even the cleanest of homes can be struck with an infestation of these pesky little critters. Pest control technicians can eliminate the problem from your home. However, since bed bugs might come back again, you should be aware of how they got there in the first place.

Bed bugs are often transported on new furnishings.

It’s trendy to repurpose old furniture that you find at the flea market or consignment shop. It’s also a great way to save money while furnishing your home. Unfortunately, they like to hide inside furnishings. That new armchair you’ve brought home just might be hiding countless bed bugs. Always inspect secondhand furnishings carefully before bringing them home. Look for rust-colored spots, blood stains, and shed skin. If in doubt, don’t buy it.

They can hitch rides in your luggage.

One of the most common causes of bed bug infestations is traveling. Since hotels house people who travel there from all around the world, they are a prime spot for them. Before you settle into a hotel room, set your luggage on the luggage rack or inside the dry bathtub. Remove the bedding and inspect the mattress for signs of bed bugs. Carefully scrutinize the seams of the mattress and any upholstered furniture. Check the curtains and the headboard. If you see anything that arouses suspicion, pick up your luggage and leave immediately. You can ask for a different room or check into a different hotel.

Bed bugs like to inhabit thrift store clothing.

Just like secondhand furniture, thrift store clothing should be treated with suspicion. If you purchase clothing secondhand, you should immediately place it into a plastic bag and seal the bag before putting it in your car. When you get home, dump the plastic bag into your washing machine. Then, throw the plastic bag in the outdoor trash bin. Launder your clothing using the hottest water setting available to kill off any bed bugs that might be hiding inside.

They can visit from your neighbor’s home.

these little pests are known for being consummate hitchhikers. This is indeed how most infestations occur, but bed bugs are also good crawlers. They can travel over 100 feet in just one night. And since bed bugs are so tiny, they can fit into little cracks, floorboard seams, and ventilation systems. Shared housing units, such as apartment buildings and duplexes, are at a higher risk of bed bug infestations.

No matter how bed bugs got into your home, the experienced technicians at Essential Pest Control can get rid of them for you. We proudly serve residential and commercial clients throughout Tucson, Oro Valley, and beyond. Get in touch with a friendly associate at (520) 886-3029

Bed bugs Tucson

Bed Bugs have plagued humanity since the beginning of time. Although Bed Bugs were effectively eradicated in the 1940s and 50s through effective insecticide advancements, they are making a comeback. Experts are blaming the resurgence on increased world travel, pesticide resistance and the poor awareness of the general public concerning the habits, living conditions and life span of Bed Bugs. These tiny insects feed upon the blood of humans and pets which presents a legitimate health concern as their populations increase.

Bed Bug infestations are most common in hotels and multi-unit housing structures, but they are easily spread to homes when acquired while traveling or visiting friends. They hitch rides on people and pets and in luggage, personal belongings, second hand clothing and furniture to a new home where they seek shelter. Once in the home, Bed Bugs take up residence in hiding spots. These hiding spots include bed frames, box springs, mattresses, curtains, baseboards, electrical outlets and other various hiding places. These critters feed during the night time hours.

Bed Bugs in Tucson are very small and difficult to see. Adults are light brown in color and only about 1/4 inch in length. Bed Bug nymphs are much smaller and translucent, turning red from blood after feeding. Female Bed Bugs lay approximately three to five eggs daily. The majority of Bed Bugs in Tucson can live up to six months without feeding with some lasting as much as a year. This is just one factor that makes Bed Bugs extremely hard to kill without the help of a pest control professional.

Bed Bug Service

Bed Bugs Tucson

Essential Offers Comprehensive Solutions:

Due to the complex habits and biology of Bed Bugs, tailor-made bed bug treatments are required for each situation in order to ensure elimination. Essential offers a variety of Bed Bug treatment solutions for our clients.

Bed Bugs Tucson Check Bed Bug Inspection and Identification
Bed Bugs Tucson Check Detection and Monitoring Systems
Bed Bugs Tucson Check Comprehensive Treatment Strategies
Bed Bugs Tucson Check Steam Treatments
Bed Bugs Tucson Check Provide Prevention with Mattress Encasements
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Determining Bed Bug Tucson Infestations:

Bed Bugs have mouth parts that pierce and suck the blood from human and pets. They prefer to hide during the day in cracks and crevices close to where they feed such as human and pet beds. The presence of Bed Bugs can often be detected by their fecal matter, eggs and skin castes. These are accumulated around mattress seams, cracks and crevices of the bed and other living spaces. Bed Bug debris looks similar to sprinkled salt and pepper. The most common form of Bed Bug detection is small blood spots on bedding or physical bites on the skin.
To learn more, visit our Pest ID Section: Bed Bugs Tucson

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A Quick Guide on Bed Bugs

Bed bugs have become a big issue in recent years, infesting homes apartments, assisted living, public transportation and just about everywhere. Here’s a guide to what they look like, where they are found and how to get rid of them.

What Bed Bugs Look Like

An adult bed bug is roughly the size of an apple seed. Assuming it’s not engorged with blood, it will have a flat, oval body. Bed bugs who have recently had a meal will look plumper and more reddish-brown than brown. Juvenile bed bugs are trickier to identify, as they are smaller. Juveniles, also called nymphs, can be translucent or light yellow. Unless they’ve recently fed, you might not see them at all. The eggs of bed bugs are even harder to spot. They are a pearly white color, and are about the size of a pinhead.

Where Bed Bugs Are Found

When they aren’t eating, bed bugs are commonly found near the seams, piping, and tags of mattresses. They also like to hide in the crevices of headboards and bed frames but the case of a very severe infestation, bed bugs may be found elsewhere throughout the room. They may hide in the seams of cushions, in chairs and couches, and in draperies. In some cases, bed bugs can even be found in the joints of drawers and underneath loose wallpaper.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

The most effective way to deal with a bed bug infestation is to call in the professionals immediately because the fact is, he longer you wait, the worse the infestation will get. A pest management technician can use chemical and non-chemical strategies to kill the bed bugs. Once they’re out of your home, be careful not to bring them back in. Exercise caution when purchasing secondhand furniture. When traveling, inspect the hotel bed and bedding carefully before settling in.

Here at Essential Pest Control, we customize each client’s bed bug treatment plan to meet their unique needs. Our skilled technicians provide bed bug identification, monitoring systems, mattress encasements, and effective treatments. Homeowners and business owners throughout Tucson, Marana, and Green Valley can reach us at (520) 886-3029 to schedule service visits.

Hire a Pro for Your Pest Problem

When you moved into your home, you probably didn’t expect to share it with uninvited guests. But pests will move in anywhere they can find food, water, and shelter. When you see pests, it’s best to have professionals deal with the infestation. Here’s a look at a few reasons why:

Different pests require different control methods.

The correct way to eliminate rat infestations is vastly different from the one used for spiders. Likewise, getting rid of bees isn’t the same as treating a home for termites. Different pests require different approaches. When you hire a professional to handle your pest problem, he or she can accurately identify the pest and develop an effective solution.

Contact with pests can compromise your health.

Another reason to skip a DIY approach to pest management is into contact with pests and their droppings. exposure can compromise your health. Pests spread all sorts of diseases and can cause adverse reactions. You might even be allergic to some of them, such as bees or cockroaches. Pest control experts have the right equipment and training to prevent the spread of diseases.

Pest experts can identify the source of the problem.

If you notice an ant crawling along your table, squishing it won’t solve your ant problem. There will likely be hundreds more ants right behind. Pest experts are trained to investigate the source of the infestation, along with eliminating the infestation itself. A professional can advise you on exclusion methods, property modifications, and lifestyle changes that can keep your home safe from future infestations.

The team at Essential Pest Control has expertise in identifying and eliminating all sorts of pests that bother Arizona homes and businesses. Call us at (520) 600-3495 to request an estimate for your property. We’re based in Tucson, but have a broad service area throughout the Green Valley, Vail, and Oro Valley areas.