Bedbugs: Methods of Treatment

By Renee Garcia

Bedbug treatment can be done in many different ways. And the most convenient for anyone will be hiring a professional exterminator for the job.

But there are many do-it-yourself ways that you can choose from: steam cleaning, extreme heat, insecticides, diatomaceous soil, and mattress cover.

Steam cleaning is an effective bedbug treatment. The only problem is that not all surfaces can be steam cleaned. Check first if the surface that you are about to clean can withstand this method.

Another method is by exposing the infested furniture, linens, or mattress under the heat of the sun for a couple of hours. Before you do this, you must scrub and vacuum the infested stuff.

It is important for you to know that after vacuuming the infested materials, you must dispose of the used vacuum bag properly. This is done by sealing the vacuum bag inside a plastic bag. And before putting back the exposed materials into the house, you must check for the presence of bedbugs again.

Have you tried using bedbug insecticides? These are also effective for bedbug treatment. You can buy these in dust forms or in sprays. Before you use the insecticide, it is best to carefully read the product label as well as the instructions. Also, you must be very careful in handling insecticides.

One more effective method for bedbug treatment is by using diatomaceous soil. The particles of diatomaceous soil have jagged edges. Any bedbug that comes into contact with it will definitely die. The soil is made up of fossils of algae that are single-celled. In using this method, you just have to leave the soil scattered around the infested area for some time. You can vacuum the soil to remove it after a couple of days. Remember to properly dispose the used vacuum bag.

If it is just your mattress that is infested with bedbugs, you can buy a vinyl or fabric mattress cover. This type of mattress cover has zippers along the sides. This seals the mattress inside making sure that no bedbugs will come in and out of the mattress. The bedbugs will not be able to bite you. Without food in at least 6 months, the bedbugs will eventually die. - 30195

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Don't let the fear of bed bugs creep you out.. Learn how to get rid of bedbugs visit us at http://how-to-kill-bedbugs.com/

How to Win the Fight Against Bedbugs

By Renee Garcia

If there are bedbugs at your house, you must begin fighting bedbugs to control the spread and severity of the infestation. You see, bedbugs travel fast because these can be carried from one area to another through furniture, pets, shoes, clothes, linens, and many others. Even multi-unit dwellings like apartments, condominiums, and hotels are not spared from bedbug infestations.

Fighting bedbugs is done is many different ways. Sun exposure is by far the simplest method. You can simply expose the infested materials under the sun for a couple of hours. This is effective in killing bedbugs. Another effective method is steam cleaning. But before you use this, check first if the material of the furniture can withstand steam cleaning. Both methods use extreme heat in killing bedbugs.

Another method is by using diatomaceous soil. This soil has jagged edges which can cut through bodies of bedbugs.

You can also use insecticides in fighting bedbugs. There are so many varieties to choose from like contact insecticides, insect growth regulators, insecticidal dusts, and residual insecticides. You can buy these in spray, liquid, or powder.

Insecticides must be applied on the entire infested area. Pay special attention to holes, crevices, and cracks as these the preferred hiding places of these insects. In handling insecticides, you must always observe utmost care. Insecticides are poisonous if ingested.

Some bedbug insecticides were formulated to be less toxic and environment-friendly. Before applying the insecticides, always read the product label and instructions first. You must also check if a certain number of treatments are needed to achieve optimal results.

After treatment, it is important to vacuum the infested area. You must also make sure that whatever live bedbugs or eggs will not be transferred by sealing the vacuum bag in plastic.

When fighting bedbugs, you must also be vigilant against re-infestation. You can do this by strictly following the treatment procedures. You can also seal your mattress inside a mattress cover. You can buy this mattress cover in fabric, vinyl, or plastic. Once the mattress is sealed inside the cover, any bedbug that was not killed during the treatment will die of starvation because it can no longer feed on your blood. You must also observe cleanliness and reduce clutter. - 30195

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Don't let the fear of bed bugs creep you out.. Learn how to get rid of bedbugs visit us at http://how-to-kill-bedbugs.com/

Easy Termite Prevention Tips

By Russ Frank

Termites can infest any home at any time. The best way to achieve termite control is to understand and practice termite prevention. Protecting a home begins with knowing the signs and the conditions that termites prefer so that you can reduce the chances that they find your home a tasty treat. You may already have termite damage and not even realize it.

Termite prevention starts when a homeowner understands the risk. Any wood that touches the ground provides access for termites. It could be something simple, like a deck or lattice work in a garden by the house. Or it could be the siding itself. Whenever ground to soil contact occurs, the threat of termites gaining access to the house occurs. It's important to keep soil and wood completely separate.

Unlike drywood termites, subterranean termites need direct access to moisture. They seek out damp wood. Look for problems with gutters and downspouts or rainwater runoff. Areas where water collects close to the structure are a serious concern. Good termite prevention requires that all moisture or runoff be diverted away from the structure.

Crawlspaces are a magnet for moisture, especially if vents, such as laundry vents are pumped through them. Examine any crawlspaces in the home for excess moisture and while performing this inspection, check for any potential termite damage as well. Reroute any vents so that they don't empty directly into the crawlspace. Also check for the same conditions of rainwater runoff which may accumulate under the crawlspace and divert the source of the water away from the house.

Mulch can also be a problem when it comes to termite prevention. To prevent termites from entering a home through these mulched areas, it's important to make sure that the mulch doesn't touch wood siding or other wood structures around the home.

Firewood can be another potential problem when it comes to termite prevention. Far too many homeowners collect and store firewood next to the house, even resting against wood siding. Move the firewood to a space in the yard away from the home.

One of the best methods of termite prevention is to have an annual termite inspection by a professional. Termite damage can be easily missed by homeowners not familiar with the subtle signs. Trained professionals can spot infestations or potential future trouble spots and prevent future damage. Such inspections may be considered "termite insurance" and are inexpensive compared to the potential damage.

Termite prevention starts by understanding that any home or wooden structure is at risk. By understanding these risks, and knowing what attracts termites, any homeowner can greatly reduce their risks. Termite control begins with knowledge, understanding and a healthy dose of termite prevention. - 30195

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Termites eating you out of house and home? Call the Tampa termite experts at Florida Bug Inspectors for fast effective termite control solutions. They also offer termite prevention plans priced to fit your budget. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Are Stick Insects a Pet or Pest?

By Philip Hachisu

Stick insects have the military skills of camouflage and defense. These skills include giving of defensive odors, spraying harmful chemicals, mimicking branches, changing color, and faking their own deaths. However, even with this array of defenses from their predators the stick insect is vulnerable to attack from them, and because of this they rarely gather sufficient numbers for a plague.

However, they have had their moments, and in'63 a plague of stick insects descended on 650 square miles of forest in Southern Australia and stripped it bare. There have also been similar cases in the Pacific where coconut plantations have proved to be rich breeding grounds.

The rarity of a stick insect plague requires two main conditions: an absence of forest fires and a consistent climate. The steady climate supports the growth of the vegetation that stick insects feed on, and the lack of forest fires also allows this plant growth. Furthermore, a lack of forest fires allows stick insects populations to increase without the threat of mother nature.

Whilst these outbreaks are rare they can be caused by the introduction of species into habitats where they do not naturally occur, so you should take very good care not to allow your pet stick insect escape into the wild. If it does it will face all manner of predators, but may survive to upset the ecosystem.

Stick insects face threats from rats, birds, mammals, and even wasps. But sometimes they rise up, form a plague, and cause massive devastation. When you have your pet stick insect at home in its vivarium, it's amazing to think what they could get up to in the wild. At home they are a pet that requires delicate handling and a diet of bramble; in the wild they can devastate the environment. - 30195

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Looking to find the best information on tropical pets, and stick insects? This is a good place to start: http://hubpages.com/hub/Tropical-Pets

Fleas, Ticks and Worms

By Owen Jones

Fleas and other parasites have always to be awarded the highest priority by dog owners. The very common incidences of flea bite allergy in dogs causes worry to many dog owners every year, especially in the summer. This is because flea bites can cause allergic reactions in the area bitten by the fleas, which is often on the back above the tail. In these cases, the affected skin becomes hairless due to the dog scratching itself very vigorously.

Heavy flea infestations can cause severe dermatitis in dogs, because the dog will scratch and scratch the area until he bleeds and can also introduce infection. If the flea bites cause an allergic reaction or even dermatitis in your dog, he/she really ought to be taken to the veterinary doctor as soon as possible, because usually, the dog will be experiencing severe discomfort by this time.

The vet will sell you a salve to soothe the itching and reduce the inflammation and some powder or a spray to kill the fleas. Prevention is better than cure and medicated collars are available to treat and prevent an infestation of external parasites like ticks and fleas.

Apart from fleas, other parasites like ticks and lice plus the internal parasites like hookworms, round worms, whip worms etc. can have an adverse effect on the the well-being of your dog. For example, if hookworms have infected a dog, that dog will almost surely suffer from anaemia soon. The signs of anaemia become more obvious depending on the advancement of the hookworm infection.

Hookworm larvae can enter directly through the skin into the internal body and cause severe problems inside the infected dog. These dogs may show lesions on their paws and on their skin because of dermatitis. Often, skin rashes occur too in these cases and the affected animal may also have diarrhoea, which is flecked with blood.

Nearly all dogs and definitely all puppies will have round worms at some time, which is why dogs can sometimes be seen rubbing their bottoms along the floor. However, if round worms are present in very large numbers, affected puppies show a pot belly, which is easily noticeable by the dog's owners themselves. This can result in malnutrition and even death. A dose of piperazine salts can be given orally for the cure of this problem. However, broad-spectrum anthelmintics like pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole etc. will also cure this very common condition.

Many drugs have arrived on the market to treat fleas and other parasites, although nowadays, the medical agent called ivermectin seems to be preferred by many dog owners to clear up fleas and other parasites in dogs. This drug is available for injection or oral use and is now even available for external application too. - 30195

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If you are having problems getting rid of fleas on your dog, please follow the previous link, however if you just want to read more about dogs, please go here: Man' Best Friend - the Dog

Are There Bedbugs in your Hotel Room?

By Renee Garcia

International travel has been the main route of bedbug transmission. In fact, it is believed that bedbugs got into the United States by European colonists. During those days, DDT, a very strong insecticide, was used to eradicate bedbugs. But when the pesticide was banned, incidences of bedbug infestations started increasing as well.

Bedbugs can be easily transmitted from one location to another. These insects can get into clothes, luggage, furniture, pets, shoes, and others. In fact, hotels are very much at risk into getting infested with bedbugs. This is because of high occupancy rates. In hotels, many people come and go. And these hotel guests can be carriers of bedbugs.

If you are staying in a hotel, how can you check if it has bedbugs?

Crevices and cracks on the walls and floors are usual habitats of bedbugs. If you see any crack or crevice inside your hotel room, you definitely have to check for bedbugs. You can also check the mattress. Look for cracks, red spots, and brown spots. The red spots are caused by blood from crushed bedbugs. The brown spots are caused by the bedbug's feces.

It is best to inform the manager of your observations. You also have to transfer to a different hotel. Transferring in another room in the same hotel does not guarantee that there will be no bedbugs. You see, bedbugs travel easily. Thus, of one room in the hotel has bedbugs, it is very likely that the other rooms also have bedbugs. In fact, there are incidences that bedbug infestations were found in multi-unit condominiums and hotels.

When you are in a hotel, it is best to make use of the suitcase stand instead of leaving your bags on the floor or furniture.

If you slept in a hotel room that has bedbugs, you will definitely find bite marks in the morning. Bedbug bites are pinkish to red lesions that are flat or raised. These can also be itchy. Bedbug bites form a linear pattern which differentiates them from other insect bites.

In this case, you must vacuum your bags (seams included) and every item of clothing. Wash these under very hot water to kill the bedbugs and eggs. Treat the bites with topical corticosteroids. - 30195

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Don't let the fear of bed bugs creep you out.. Learn how to get rid of bedbugs visit us at http://how-to-kill-bedbugs.com/

Kill Bedbugs: Do-It-Yourself Methods

By Renee Garcia

There are some homeowners who immediately hire an exterminator in getting rid of the bedbugs. Perhaps they didnt know that they can get rid of the bedbugs on their own. Yes, you can kill bedbugs. You just have to be determined and patient enough to finish the treatment.

Insecticides have been very effective in killing bedbugs. You can find these in sprays or dust form. Whichever product you choose, make sure that you strictly follow the application procedures. Insecticides must also be handled with care because these are poisonous.

Another method to kill bedbugs is through extreme heat. You can do this by steam cleaning the infested furniture. If you decide to use steam cleaning, you must first check if the material used in the furniture can withstand this.

You can also expose the infested furniture under the heat of the sun. Leave the furniture for 4 hours or more.

Vacuum and scrub the surface of the infested material before steam cleaning or sun exposure.

Bedbugs can also be killed by diatomaceous soil. The particles of this soil have jagged edges which can cut through bodies of bedbugs. As for the soil harming you or an animal, you have nothing to worry about because the particles are too small to do that. Remember to scrub and vacuum the surfaces before you scatter the soil. Scatter the soil around and on infested materials and leave it there for a couple of days. Vacuum after a couple of days.

You can use a mattress cover in killing bedbugs. How does this work? A mattress cover has zippers around it. This way, the mattress will be sealed inside. No bedbug can be transferred from one place to another. And no bedbug can bite you. If bedbugs cannot get to you for their food, they will die of hunger. This will happen in 6 months or more.

The used vacuum bag must always be disposed properly. This means that you must seal it inside a plastic bag to ensure that live eggs and bedbugs will not be transmitted. Never leave the used vacuum bag around the house. - 30195

About the Author:

Don't let the fear of bed bugs creep you out.. Learn how to get rid of bedbugs visit us at http://how-to-kill-bedbugs.com/