As many government entities can attest, there’s no way to get around budget cuts this year. But, unfortunately, certain budget cuts may lead to increased pest infestations – particularly bed bugs.

Cincinnati: From Blogspot.com

WVXU, located in Cincinnati, recently examined ramifications from the city’s newest budget proposal, which eliminates nine percent of the Cincinnati Health Department’s budget. According to CHD spokesman Rocky Merz, a lower CHD budget means greater likelihood for pest infestations.

“It will not be felt immediately, but after a few months of losing our prevention efforts there will be more rats and bed bugs and slower response times, which will be felt by citizens,” Merz told WVXU.

Budget cuts or not, it’s always important to beware of bed bugs. Protect-A-Bed offers a Bed Bugs 101 mobile application to help you identify, locate and – most importantly – prevent pests from finding their way into your home. For more information, visit www.protectabed.com.

Rutgers University is taking a stand against bed bugs with a recent set of videos designed to increase awareness and education about these pests.

With help from the U.S. EPA and the Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center, Rutgers has developed three videos specific to bed bugs.

The first, “Bed Bugs and Integrated Pest Management,” includes an overview of the pests’ biology, behavior and control options. The second, “Las Chinces de Cama y el Manejo Integrado de Plagas,” is a Spanish version of the first video. “Bed Bug Management for Professionals” is a more in-depth video with tips for what to expect from pest management professionals.

Rutgers’ Rick Cooper explained the reasoning for these videos in a PCT Online article. He states:

“The 40-minute video is good for both new technicians and those who have been working in the pest management industry. We are using the seven-minute video to train housing managers, staff and residents. The video delivers the messages in a concise manner that keeps their attention as much, and sometimes more, than an in-person presentation.”

As always, those needing bed bug resources should download Protect-A-Bed’s Bed Bugs 101 mobile app or view the company’s Bed Bugs 101 graphic. Both detail tips and tricks for preventing bed bugs in the home and on the go.

New Jersey residents have seen more bed bugs than they’d like recently, as the pests were spotted at two Trenton schools this month. These reports are “sparking fear of infestations,” according to www.NJ.com.

Bed bugs were identified at both a local high school and elementary school in Trenton. One student even saw bed bugs crawling up one of his classmate’s backs, according to the article.

The schools have taken preliminary action by wiping down classrooms and common areas. This is New Jersey’s mandated treatment for bed bugs. According to www.NJ.com, exterminations are not allowed near children for protection.

You can make sure your kids don’t bring bed bugs into the home with several precautionary measures. Try a mattress protector for your family’s beds or download the Bed Bugs 101 mobile app that highlights tips for identifying, locating and preventing these pests.  For more information, visit www.protectabed.com.

While many individuals know that bed bugs are a vile species to avoid at all costs, few know the “ins and outs” of these pests. For example, did you know that bed bugs can survive up to one year without feeding? Or how about the fact that it only takes five seconds for a bed bug to crawl from one end of the bed to the other?

To make sure you’re in the know about those troublesome pests, take a look at Panther Pest Control’s “Curious Facts About Bed Bugs” infographic. And, be it on the go or at home, Protect-A-Bed’s Bed Bugs 101 Early Detection Guide features tips for identifying and locating bed bugs. It also includes suggestions for preventing bed bugs from find their way into your home. For more information, visit www.protectabed.com.

Chicago’s City Council is reviewing a bed bug ordinance that proposes to fine landlords up to $2,000 per day for failing to remove bed bugs from tenants’ homes, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

Chicago has started examining a bed bug ordinance. Photo from nixietale.files.wordpress.com.

Several aldermen are reexamining the proposal because it penalizes landlord far more than tenants.

According to the Tribune:

“The proposal would declare bedbugs a public nuisance and require landlords of multi-unit buildings to hire licensed professionals to eradicate bedbugs in units where they are found. Landlords also must inspect neighboring units and, if bedbugs are found in those, provide additional extermination services.”

 To keep bed bugs out of your home, use Protect-A-Bed’s Bed Bugs 101 mobile app. The app helps users identify, locate and prevent bed bugs. Protect-A-Bed also has mattress protectors to keep those pests out of your bed for good.

Many people take extra precautions to avoid bed bug bites during the night, but what they may not consider is that if a four-legged friend lives under their roof, they’re susceptible to bed bug bites, too.

From www.dogpictures.co

Bed bugs are known to prefer humans to animals, according to an article on www.bed-bugs.com, but they will willingly feed on animals if the opportunity presents itself. Studies show that bed bugs prefer animals with shorter hair. Pets most at risk include rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs and cats, but cold-blooded pets including snakes and lizards are vulnerable.

For details on how to protect your pets from bed bugs, ask your veterinarian or review the article on www.bed-bugs.com. One way to ensure your pets never face bed bug bites is by preventing these pests from infesting your home. With Protect-A-Bed’s Bed Bugs 101 mobile app, you can identify, locate and prevent bed bugs with your mobile phone. With Protect-A-Bed’s Bed Bugs 101 tip sheet, you can also get a step-by-step guide for preventing bed bugs in the home.

April 22-26 is Bed Bug Awareness Week, and we’re taking this opportunity to share tips for avoiding bed bugs this week and beyond, especially as summer approaches.

From BlogSpot.com

Summertime often brings extra travel opportunities, which greatly increases the risk for transporting bed bugs.  Be it warm-weather vacations or kids coming home from college, bed bugs have more opportunities than usual to make their way into your home.

To avoid bed bugs while you’re traveling, follow Frommer’s tips for preventing bed bugs and see if your hotel is on the Bed Bug Registry before checking in. You can also avoid bed bugs with high quality, bed bug-proof luggage. ThermalStrike, a new line of luggage, uses infrared technology to kill bed bugs that may have snuck into your suitcase while traveling.

It’s also important to know what you’re looking for when it comes to bed bugs. Protect-A-Bed’s Bed Bug 101 mobile application offers tips for identifying, locating and preventing bed bugs. It also offers extra advice on avoiding bed bugs on vacation. For more information, visit www.ProtectABed.com. 

Coffee drinkers got more than they bargained for on Wednesday when bed bugs were discovered in a Santa Clara Starbucks.

NBC Bay Area reports that it was visitors – not store managers – who first found the pests. Believe it or not, this was an unwelcome surprise.

Photo from Evisionarts.com

“When we got up to leave, my friend saw a bed bug crawling across her purse. It had been sitting on the table,” a woman explained to NBC. “We let one of the employees know, who said, ‘Well you can just tell a manager,’ but he didn’t seem too concerned.”

Unfortunately, the bed bug dilemma didn’t end there. The woman also found two bed bugs once she arrived home, and woke up with six bites on her neck.

To make sure you don’t bring home bed bugs on your next outing, download Protect-A-Bed’s Bed Bugs 101 mobile application. This app helps users prevent, identify and locate bed bugs. It also offers resources for reporting a bed bug infestation. You can also keep your mattress bed bug free with Protect-A-Bed’s mattress protectors, available at www.protectabed.com.

When most individuals think of bed bugs, images of vile, disgusting pests come to mind. But what many may forget is that these bed bugs – while a nuisance – also go through the same type of life cycle as any other living creature.

Image from: www.bedbugnewyorkcity.com.

Bed bug life cycles include six different stages, according to www.bedbugnewyorkcity.com.  During the first five stages, bed bugs take a “blood meal” and then molt. During the sixth stage, referred to as “adult,” bed bugs take repeated blood meals for several weeks and females prepare to lay up to five eggs per day for a continuous timeframe.

Bed bugs can infest the home at any stage of life. And, with female adults laying eggs repeatedly, infestations can quickly increase in size and scope. To ensure bed bugs stay out of your home at all stages of life, use Protect-A-Bed’s Bed Bugs 101 mobile app. This app enables users to identify, locate and prevent bed bugs, and offers tips to prevent bed bugs from entering your home. For more information, visit www.ProtectABed.com.

Calling an exterminator is an important first step when any sign of bed bugs appear. But after those bed bugs have been (thankfully) taken care of, many may wonder what they should do to avoid backtracking on any of the exterminator’s progress, such as deactivating the pesticides.

Jeff White, an entomologist at BedBug Central, frequently receives inquiries about post-extermination advice. To answer these questions, White developed a step-by-step video about what to do after a bed bug infestation on BedBug Central’s YouTube channel.

Whether it’s before or after an infestation, avoiding bed bugs is a critical concern for homeowners. You can keep bed bugs out of your home with Protect-A-Bed’s Bed Bugs 101 mobile app, which allows users to identify, locate and report bed bug infestations. It also offers prevention tips to keep those vile pests out of your hair from the start. For more information, visit www.protectabed.com.