Ridgewood-GlenRock Patch reported on December 16, 2011 that 20 rat burrows have been found in three areas within one block in Ridgewood in Bergen County.    Reports are that rats have not been a problem for the Village in the past and these burrows are located in the Central Business District of the Village.  Unlike other cities where rat infestations are found, this NJ rat infestation is located where a minimal amount of restaurants are located.  The Village Manager is hopeful that the pesticides combined with the cold winter months ahead will wipe out the rat population that have moved into the Village.  You may read the article here.

Rats live in burrows outdoors so the cold winter weather does not affect them.  They are however on the constant hunt for food, which is not aplenty during the winter months.  Normally dining on seeds and plants which are gone during the wintertime, rats will turn to homes, businesses, and trash receptacles as a means to gain a meal.  Rats are excellent at climbing and can enter a structure via the soffits or attic vents.  They have powerful teeth and can chew their way through a variety of different building materials to reach their desired food sources as well.  Rats are so resourceful that they can squeeze their body through a hole the size of a quarter.

Rats can be dangerous pests to contend with as they are known disease carriers and can cause fires when they chew on electrical wires.  A NJ pest control professional can help you keep rats out of your home or business.  Call Stern Environmental Group today for expert rat removal services.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

Out of panic, many people choose to discard their mattress immediately upon discovering bed bugs.  This however will not solve the problem because bed bugs can and will live and breed in other locations within a room.

Mattresses, box springs, nightstands, dressers, curtains, floorboards, electrical outlets, headboards, books, picture frames, and carpet can all harbor bed bugs in a home.  Cluttered living spaces make for a perfect living environment for bed bugs as well.  Stern Environmental Group has many products that will help keep bed bugs from biting you at night so you will receive a good night’s sleep.

Whether you have bed bugs or not, it is highly recommended that you use a mattress encasement that is specifically designed to keep existing bed bugs from biting.  The Protect-A-Bed Mattress Encasement has a miracle membrane that won’t allow bed bugs to bite through the fabric.   Its seamless design means that bed bugs will not be able to hide within the piping or stitching areas on the mattress.  This mattress encasement’s easy installation, and the many sizes to choose from, makes it the perfect choice for homes and hotels alike.

You can find the Protect-A-Bed Mattress Encasements as well many other useful bed bug prevention, travel, monitoring, and treatment products available at Stern Environmental Group.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

Bed bugs are a close cousin to bat bugs.  Bat bugs resided in caves thousands of years ago.  As humans became more adept at survival skills, we eventually stopped sleeping in makeshift outdoor shelters and instead moved indoors.  At that time, the shelter that we moved into was a cave.  Bat bugs, which were feeding upon the warm blood of cave bats, quickly developed a taste for human blood and the annoying relationship was born then that still exists today.

As cave dwelling humans grew more advanced in the skills, we can only assume that they had a desire to improve their living conditions.  Eventually more favorable living conditions were created outside of the caves.  The bad thing is that once the cave dwellers moved out, so did the bat bugs!

In order to feed properly, bat bugs had to adapt their feeding habits.  Instead of feeding during the daytime hours, like they were when they were feeding upon bats, they had to change to feed upon humans during the nighttime hours.  In addition, research has shown that bat bugs changed in other ways as well.  Because of the thickness of human skin, the bat bug had to change its length on its mandibles so that it could locate a blood vessel faster.  Additionally, the mandibles had to widen to support the platelets in our blood which is wider than those of the bats.  The widened mouthpart allowed the bed bug easy access to blood flow without the blood clogging in the blood vessel.

Humans moving into caves so many years ago, began the cycle of bed bug encounters.  Now is the time to rely on a NYC or NJ Pest Control professional like Stern Environmental Group for bed bug eradication services.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season may cause some people to let their guard down when it comes to looking for bed bugs.  NYC pest control professionals warn that bed bugs can put a damper on your holiday fun.  In the past, some retail stores have suffered bad publicity due to complaints about bed bugs.  Shoppers need to be aware that bed bugs can be lurking in clothing, boxes, or other packing material that is at a retail store.  All clothing that is purchased should be immediately placed in the dryer on high heat for at least 20 minutes to kill any hitchhiking bed bugs or their eggs.

Traveling is a difficult task during the holiday season, but it is exasperated because in addition to the presents that you tote along with you on your journey, you must also worry about picking up bed bugs along the way.  According to the National Pest Management Association’s report, 80 percent of pest control professionals say that they have treated hotels for bed bug infestations, which is up by 13% in comparison to last year.  Bed bugs are transient creatures that hitchhike from person to person, place to place to place.  A hotel can be bed bug free at one moment and infested upon the arrival of the next guest.

NYC pest control experts say that you cannot rely on hotel personnel to check for bed bugs for you.  It’s imperative that you look for bed bugs or the signs of bed bugs immediately upon checking into any hotel.  If you think you have taken any of these bloodsuckers home with you, contact a licensed pest control professional like Stern Environmental Group immediately.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

Fast forward to 2011, lice is still a troublesome itchy pest that schools and families must endure, but when you compare lice to bed bugs within the school environment, it’s a completely different story.  Both lice and bed bugs are bloodsucking parasites that hitchhike from person to person.  Lice however prefer to live on their host while bed bugs live in dark locations, cracks, crevices, furniture, or other places that are difficult to detect by humans.

The Greenwichtime.com reported on December 20, 2011 that bed bugs have once again been discovered at the Hamilton Avenue School.  Reports are that a dead bug was found in October, and then on December 2nd a dead bed bug was found on a student’s backpack.  On December 9th, a live bed bug was found on the same student and on December 14th, another live bed bug was found creeping around a classroom.

After the first discovery of a dead bed bug the school implemented a policy of requiring students to place all of their belongings in trash bags upon their arrival at school and the school underwent treatment by a licensed pest control professional.  Because the bed bugs were found on a student twice, it is more likely than not that the bugs originated from the students home and not from the school.  You may read the article here.

The challenge for schools across the United States is to remain bed bug free without ostracizing a student or family that is enduring a bed bug infestation at home.  It is important that a school provide educational support to parents regarding the treatment of bed bug infestations and they develop strict guidelines as to how to handle families with known bed bug problems.

If you are suffering from a NYC or NJ bed bug infestation, contact Stern Environmental Group.  Our expert technicians have the experience to help you rid your home or business of these pesky bloodsuckers once and for all!

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

The new survey from the NPMA reveals that 99% of the pest control professionals that were surveyed confirmed that they have treated bed bug infestations during the past 12 months.  Of those who responded, 73% believe that bed bugs are they most difficult pest to treat.  Infestations are occurring in homes as well as public arenas such as college dorms, hotels, schools, retail stores, day care centers hospitals, movie theaters, airplanes, taxis, buses, and apartment buildings.

Nationwide, the increase in reports of bed bug infestations is staggering in comparison to information collected just one year prior.  According to the NPMA, examples of bed bugs increasing include:

• College dorms:  Current: 54% – Previous 35%
• Hotels/Motels:  Current:  80% – Previous 67%
• Nursing Homes:  Current:  46% – Previous 25%
• Office Buildings:  Current:  38% – Previous 18%
• Schools/Day Care Centers:  Current:  36% – Previous 10%
• Hospitals:  Current:  31% – Previous 12%
• Transportation (train, bus, taxi):  Current: 18% – Previous 9%
• Movie Theaters:  Current:  17% – Previous 5%

You may read these and more bed bug statistics from the National Pest Management here.

A NYC pest control expert like Stern Environmental Group can help you pin-point the exact location of your bed bug infestation problem.  We have multiple treatment options available and state-of-the art equipment to kill bloodsucking bed bugs with the greatest of ease.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

A new study out of the United Kingdom could be a clue as to why some people are bitten by bed bugs more than others.  Sheffield University’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences researchers conducted a bed bug study in which 29 volunteers were tested to see how bed bugs reacted to clean shaven skin versus hairy skin.  What was discovered is that bed bugs had a difficult time navigating through hairy areas and were quicker to locate a place to nibble on the clean shaven locals.  According to the study…”He found that more layers of both longer visible hairs and finer, “vellus” hairs near the surface appeared to work as a deterrent to the insects, with the finer hairs also acting as an early warning system.”  Prof Siva-Jothy said “Our findings show that more body hairs mean better detection of parasites – the hairs have nerves attached to them and provide us with the ability to detect displacement.”

You may read the article here.

The researchers do not believe that men, being hairy then women, have a lesser chance of being bitten by bed bugs than women do however.  They do believe that bed bugs have adapted to search for hairless areas on humans, such as the ankle and wrist areas, so they can obtain an easier blood meal. Interesting indeed!

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

Many libraries in the United States and Canada have suffered from bed bug infestations.  Libraries are particularly susceptible to bed bugs because people often read books in their bed and place the book on the bed, nightstand, dresser or other nearby furniture piece.  If a home has an ongoing bed bug infestation, it is very easy for tiny bed bugs to crawl into the book binding area or between the pages of the books.  These books are then transported back to the library where they have infested books, pictures, tables, chairs, and upholstered furniture.  Additionally, females could easily lay eggs within the book that would not be detected by untrained personnel.  Those eggs would have the opportunity to be delivered back to the library, hatch, and then venture out to bite other library patrons, or even hitch a ride home with another host thereby spreading the infestation.

A Library System in Canada, which shares books and other materials among 18 libraries, spent several months battling bed bugs that were inadvertently transported from one library location to several other library locations.  In an effort to avoid that bed bug nightmare from occurring again, they have decided to use the NightWatch Bed Bug Monitor reported The Globe and Mail on December 12, 2011.  The monitors/traps will be used in the trucks that transport library books and materials between the different libraries within the system, but are not designed to work in a space as large as the libraries.  In addition to using the NightWatch Bed Bug Monitor, bed bug sniffing dogs will be called to root out the bloodsuckers if there are any bed bugs that the NightWatch captures.

Stern Environmental Group offers the NightWatch Bed Bug Monitor in our online Marketplace as well as many other fantastic bed bug products for both home and business owners.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

Because of the stigma that is still associated with having a bed bug infestation, bed bugs are able to proliferate because many people keep the infestation a secret, which is never a good choice.  Bed bugs are tiny, and despite their name, are not only found in beds.  These pesky bugs can be found in any crack, crevice, wall hanging, upholstered furniture piece, and wood furniture.  NYC pest control professionals find that because of their small size, bed bugs tend to travel through the walls, through electrical outlets, and utilize electrical wiring and plumbing as a bed bug super-highway to get from place to place.

According to timesunion.com, residents in the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority have grown tired of being bitten by bed bugs each night.  Reports are that the management of the Housing Authority has known about the bed bug problem for several months but has decided not to address the problem “because we didn’t feel a need to address the issue.”  Instead the director has claimed that he has shown the tenants an instructional video that teaches them how to eliminate the bed bugs and has provided two commercial steam cleaners that the tenants may use to kill the pesky bloodsuckers.  The article can be found here.

Treating bed bug infestations are very difficult. Having untrained people treat bed bug infestations on their own is not recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  In September of 2011, the CDC reported that many people were becoming ill from the misapplication of insecticide use for the treatment of bed bugs.

There is some debate as to who is responsible for helping the tenants of the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority because it is funded through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, operates under the control of the mayor, and is governed by a seven member Board of Commissioners.  It is clear that the residents deserve help from a licensed NY pest control expert to kill the bloodsucking parasites.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

Clothing, books, electronics, bedding, appliances, upholstered furniture, wood furniture, pictures, mirrors, and curtains all create the perfect nesting spots for bloodsucking bed bugs.  The challenge for NJ pest control experts is to root out and kill the bugs without harming any belongings in the process.

New York City continues to top the nation as a problem spot for bed bug infestations.  PRWeb showcased on December 8, 2011, Stern Environmental Group’s new mobile bed bug heat treatment trailer in their online magazine.  Thermal heat treatment has proven to be extremely effective at killing adult, nymphs, and bed bug eggs.

Stern Environmental Group offers their custom built, state-of-the-art trailer to both retail and residential customers who are suffering from bed bug infestations.  The innovative design of the mobile heat treatment trailer kills all stages of bed bugs through an advanced computerized monitoring system.  Once items are placed inside of the 22-foot long trailer, the baking process begins.  The exquisite seals on the trailer prevent any bed bugs from escaping and the extreme heat is able to penetrate deep into all surfaces to efficiently kill bloodsucking bed bugs and their eggs.

Retailers and residential customers will find that using our mobile bed bug heat treatment trailer for bed bug eradication on their goods and belongings is an efficient and cost saving alternative for New York and New Jersey bed bug infestations.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

ABC Science reported on December 7, 2011 that inbreeding may be the secret to the bed bugs ability to multiply so quickly.  According to reports, a bed bug genetics study was presented at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene meeting in Philadelphia by two entomologists from North Carolina State University this week.  Their research revealed that unlike most other types of creatures in existence, bed bugs were able to mate with their siblings and offspring without suffering the genetic deformities that other species suffer when inbreeding occurs.  Specifically, “a single mated female bedbug starts the infestation. She gives rise to offspring and those offspring mate with each other and with their mother,” said Coby Schal, one of the entomologists who led the study.  You may read the article here.

Researchers now believe that it is nearly impossible for different bed bug families to infest apartment buildings or other multi-unit type buildings when an infestation is present.  Instead it is now believed that when an infestation is present, those bed bugs all originate from one particular bed bug source.  The research completed proves that bed bugs not only survive, but they thrive as well.

As more information becomes wide-spread on this topic, it will likely become increasingly difficult for landlords to blame tenants for bed bug infestations in the United States because of this new information regarding their genetic link.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

PCT Magazine reported on November 30, 2011 that Mr. Harlan obtained his strain of bed bugs while serving in the United States Army as a military entomologist in New Jersey’s Fort Dix.  The bed bugs are kept in glass vials where they live a safe and comfortable lifestyle.  Mr. Harlan has taken on the task of feeding each and every one of the bed bugs (on his own flesh) that he has in his collection by adhering a mesh covering over the vials where the bed bugs are able to feed with ease without the possibility of escaping into his home.

Over the many years of keeping watch over the bugs and cultivating their existence, his colony has grown into a massive research project that has proven to be beneficial to other interested parties.  Through his research of the bed bugs, Mr. Harlan has been able to teach others and dispel quite a bit of false bed bug information that circulates about the bloodsuckers.  Wanting to share the wealth of information that he has gained from studying the bed bugs that he has been the caretaker of, Mr. Harlan gladly shares his bed bugs with other researchers who request both live and/or dead samples.  To date, Mr. Harlan’s bed bugs have been requested and delivered to over 35 different government, private, and educational institutions within the United States.  They have even been given to researchers in Denmark.

You may read this article about this amazing entomologist here.

Researchers are hoping that Mr. Harlan’s bed bug colony will help unlock the key to the secrets about bed bug infestations so that protocol and/or pesticides can be developed that will lead to their eventual demise across the United States as well as around the world.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

CNN Travel reported on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 that during a September flight from North Carolina to Houston, a couple claims that they were joined by more than just passengers and crew aboard their flight.  The couple claims that they were shocked when disgusting cockroaches began crawling out of the vents and the passenger’s overhead carry-on bins.

The couple, one of which is an attorney, has since filed a lawsuit against the offending airline stating that passengers are entitled to be “clean and pest free” accommodation. The lawsuit accuses the airline of “negligence and recklessness, infliction of emotional distress, nuisance, false imprisonment and unfair and deceptive trade practices, and is suing for more than $100,000 plus the price of their tickets.”  The airlines response to the couples complaint is not surprising…they are denying the majority of their allegations.   Armchair lawyers believe that there is no way this lawsuit will ever make it into a courtroom.  It will be interesting to see how long it takes for the settlement to be offered to the couple.

You may read the article and watch the video here.

New York City pest control experts say that all businesses, including airlines, must be on the constant lookout for all types of pests.  It is an unbearable to think of being stuck in an airplane that is rocketing though the skies at 30,000 feet while cockroaches are crawling out of a vent overhead.  Businesses should have a licensed pest control company at the ready to kill any new infestations that does arise.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

For some companies, finding bed bugs or the thought of bed bugs at their establishment can bring about…interesting results.

KOMONews.com reported on November 29, 2011 that the Internal Revenue Service in Seattle, Washington has discovered bed bugs in their office.  For many people who have endured an audit by the IRS, the thought of the IRS employees having their blood sucked by little creatures might seem funny and certainly the jokes about the situation are sure to fly.  According to the report, an employee found a bed bug, and then pest control was called in who also found a bed bug. Pest control brought a bed bug sniffing dog, which did not find any additional bed bugs so no treatment was done to the building.  An unnamed employee did admit that another bed bug has since been found, yet still no treatment has occurred in the building.  Bed bugs are either coming in with an employee or are in the house.  Regardless, they can expect them to spread!  You may read the article here.
In another interesting story, a Des Moines, Iowa elementary school teacher noticed “insect bites” on a student this week.  Thinking that the bites might be from bed bugs, three classrooms of about 75 children were sent home from school.  Perhaps the child went on vacation to someplace tropical over the Thanksgiving break and was bitten.  Maybe he/she rolled around in piles of leaves and has chiggers.  Maybe the kiddo’s house has fleas.  Maybe he/she is having an allergic reaction to laundry soap or food.  Maybe the child just has “winter itch”.    An inspection of the school yielded no bed bugs found.  Clearly sending 75 children home from school was overkill! You may read the article here.

Hiring a licensed pest control expert with experience in bed bug eradication services is wise when you think you have bed bugs.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

According to reports, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which is part of the Department of Energy, has developed technology whereas they are able to scan airline passengers using radio waves to detect metal, liquid, plastic or ceramic objects hidden beneath their clothing.  This body scan is completely harmless and is currently being used in 78 different airports in the United States.  An agreement has been signed with VisiRay in Corvallis, Oregon to “manufacture devices to detect pests in buildings.  The initial target will be bed bugs, sometimes called wall louse, because they may live inside walls as well as in beds and couches.”  This much anticipated product would allow “inspectors to see through drywall particle board and view clear images of pests inside walls.” That would be amazing!

You may read the article here.

If pest control experts had technology available to them that would enable them to see inside of walls or perhaps mattresses and box springs, finding bed bug infestations would be easier than it currently is.  In addition, being able to see exactly where bed bugs are hiding would enable a pest control professional to be able to target the insecticide treatment to the exact location of the bed bug infestation stopping bed bugs in their tracks.  There is no word yet as to when this innovative product would become available, but hopefully we will see it soon.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

According to Lex18.com’s reporting on November 22, 2011, Terminix, which is a leading nationwide pest control company in the United States, has once again created a list of the Top 15 most bed bug infested cities in America.  According to their findings, New York City once again tops the leader board for the most bed bug infestations.  The list was compiled based upon call volume reporting bed bugs and confirmed bed bug cases that are reported by sales professionals in the 350 Terminix service centers across the United States.

Previous to current standings these were the top 15 cities listed by Terminix:

1. New York City
2. Philadelphia
3. Detroit
4. Cincinnati
5. Chicago
6. Denver
7. Columbus
8. Dayton
9. Ninth
10. Los Angeles
11. Boston
12. Indianapolis
13. Louisville
14. Cleveland
15. Minneapolis

This is the new list of the most bed bug infested cities in America that has just been released by Terminix as of December 2011.  You will see that there have been some changes to the standings since the last list was generated.  There are some newcomers to the list and some cities that have dropped out of the Top 15.

1. New York City
2. Cincinnati
3. Detroit
4. Chicago
5. Philadelphia
6. Denver
7. Washington
8. Los Angeles
9. Boston
10. San Francisco
11. Columbus
12. Dayton
13. Baltimore
14. Louisville
15. Dallas

Bed bugs are cowardly creatures of habit.  They lurk in the dark, hiding in cracks and crevices.  Once you are peacefully sound asleep, they hunt you down, attack you by stabbing you with their mouthparts, and then suck your blood.  Once their feeding is complete, like any good coward…they scurry off to hide once again!  Bed bugs are an extremely difficult pest to eradicate.  NYC residents can help get rid of their NYC bed bugs by arranging to have a NYC pest control expert provide professional bed bug services.  For expert bed bug removal services in NYC, NY, and New Jersey , contact Stern Environmental Group.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

Everyone certainly has heard by now that bed bugs are a problem in hotels and motels from coast to coast.  In most instances, when bed bug infestations are found, travelers are blamed for causing the infestation within the room.  Because bed bugs are able to hide in the tiniest of crack or crevice and abstain from having a blood meal for over a year, it is very difficult to pin-point exactly when a hotel or motel room became infested.  Because of the little vampires sneaky behavior and their typical nighttime feeding antics, hotels often times only know of a problem once a guest either…

• Awakes and finds the bugs in the bed, sometimes biting them

• Awakes to red, swollen skin that itches intensely 

• Finds evidence of bed bugs in the room (fecal matter, shed skins, live or dead bed bugs)

New Jersey pest control professionals report that most people don’t realize that airplanes and even airports are susceptible to bed bug infestations as well.  Airplanes and airports serve has hospitable environments for bed bugs because bed bugs are spread easily when humans are in close proximity to each other.  The frequent turnover of people that pass through the airport facility and travel on airplanes each day make traveling via airplanes somewhat of a concern.

The best way to protect yourself while you are traveling is to follow these instructions…

• Don’t place carry-on luggage on the floor of the airplane unless you bring a plastic bag to seal it inside of first.

• Sweep your hand inside of the airplane seat cushion to see if any bed bugs will be dislodged.  Check entire seat, including the headrest where bed bugs often are found hiding.

• Inspect for bed bugs on the inside and outside of your luggage before you bring it home at the end of your trip.

• During travel, keep luggage sealed when not in use.

• Immediately upon your arrival back home, launder all clothing in hot water and dry on the hottest dryer setting.

If you find that you have encountered bed bugs while traveling, contact Stern Environmental Services for expert bed bug eradication services in New York or New Jersey.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

They are cute and cuddly and have names like Disney characters, and they are a new force to be reckoned with in New York City.  Two new beagles, with a powerful nose, and a will to please, have joined the fray of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development last week.  These well-trained pups are the new additions that will help Code Enforcement uncover New York City bed bug infestations throughout the city.

According to Reuters on November 18, 2011, the cost to acquire the bed bug sniffing dogs were $69,000 which covers “six months of training and pay for their continued schooling, veterinary care and insurance, and food and housing for their first year of service.”  Reports are the each dog and their handler will perform up to twelve inspections per day.  On their first day on the job, three violations to landlords were handed out.

You may read the article here.

Bed bug sniffing dog inspections are fast and accurate.  While human inspections for bed bugs are good, it can be several hours to complete an inspection thoroughly.  Bed bug dogs are able to breeze through any inspection in a short period of time.  If the dog finds bed bugs, their eggs, fecal matter, or bed bug skins, these amazing dogs will alert their handler to the location of the critters so that you will know exactly where treatment is needed.

Stern Environmental Group is proud to offer bed bug sniffing dog services to our customers as well.  We provide highly trained bed bug canine services to New York City, New York, and New Jersey.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

Stern Environmental Group has been a leader in the fight against bed bugs in New York and New Jersey.  We are proud to be a company in the New York and New Jersey area to offer a Thermal Heat Remediation Trailer for killing your bed bug infestation.  Our heat treatment services were recently mentioned on BedBugger.com, which is a useful resource site for those who are suffering from New York City bed bug infestations as well as bed bugs across the United States.

The National Pest Management Association has stated that all stages of bed bugs and their eggs will be killed when they are exposed to temperatures that reach 122 degrees.  Here’s how it works…

• At 95 degrees, bed bugs leave their hiding places in search of a blood meal.

• When temperatures reach 105 degrees, bed bugs try to escape because the space becomes too hot.

• Leaving a room at 113 degrees will take 7 hours to kill bed bugs and their eggs.

• Leaving a room at 118 degrees will take 90 minutes to kill bed bugs and their eggs.

• Once the optimal temperature of 122 degrees is reached, bed bugs and their eggs will die a sudden death in less than a minute!

Stern Environmental Group offers customers the opportunity to bake bed bugs and their eggs in our portable heating trailer.  At 22 feet long, this amazing bed bug killing machine will safely kill bed bugs in most any type of furniture and personal belongings that you own.  Heat treatment is so effective that even bed bugs hiding deep inside of upholstered pieces of furniture do not stand a chance of survival against the extreme temperature.

Stern Environmental Group understands the difficulty involved with treating nasty bed bug infestations.  Our experienced movers will carefully remove your belongings into our special heat treatment trailer for quick bed bug eradication.  Call Stern today for expert NYC and NJ bed bug services.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

Recent studies have shown that bed bugs have become resistant to many types of pesticides that are available to pest control professionals.  Other studies have shown that bed bugs have been able to alter their exoskeleton so that pesticides are not able to make penetration.  It seems that as fast as scientists are developing ways to combat these little vampires, the bed bugs are re-inventing themselves so that they can continue to exist and torture mankind.

There is finally some hope for home and business owners who are tired of relying solely on chemical treatments to kill bed bugs.   New York and New Jersey pest control professionals report that thermal heat remediation is one of the newest and most promising ways to treat stubborn bed bug infestations.  Heat treatment is an effective solution to treat insecticide resistant bed bugs that are lurking in your personal belongings.  Heat remediation treatment is cutting edge technology that uses extreme heat to kill all stages of the nasty bed bugs that are infesting your property.  Thermal heat remediation is an excellent choice for people living in single family homes, apartments, college dorms, and condos.  Business such as hotels, office buildings, retail stores, property management companies, hospitals or any other facility that finds themselves under siege of bloodsucking bed bugs will also benefit from thermal heat treatment services.

Please check back on Friday for the conclusion.?

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/SternsChatter

The NYDailyNews.com reported on November 9, 2011 that New York’s PS 361 is now dealing with bed bugs again…for the 31st time in the past 12 months.  In typical fashion, the Department of Education does not believe that the bed bugs have spread within the school, but they will conduct an inspection and will provide treatment according to their findings.  You may read the article here.

New York City has been plagued by the bloodsuckers for the past few years.  Schools and the DOE have worked to provide important information about how to avoid bed bugs and what to do once you have them.  For a school to have 31 sightings of bed bugs in 12 months, clearly there is a breakdown in the system.  Either there is an undetected infestation within the school or there is a family or families that are transporting the bloodsuckers into the school.  Another thing to consider is that the bed bugs which have been transported into the school are hitchhiking a ride and transferring from student to student, administrator to student, or student to administrator.  It is even possible that bed bugs have remained in the vacuum cleaners at the school that is used by the maintenance crew.  Bed bugs are able to abstain from food for over a year if need be.  Perhaps the critters are lurking within the walls of the school.  With bed bugs, the possibilities are endless.

The NYDailyNews.com reported on September 1, 2011 that Astoria’s PS 70 has the worst bed bug infestation problem out of all five boroughs in New York.  According to their report, the Department of Education (DOE) confirmed that not only were bed bugs found in the school in December of 2010, but evidence of breeding was discovered in a closet in a classroom.  The DOE claims that out of the 1600 schools within the school system, that this is the only school where bed bugs have been found reproducing.  Bed bugs need to have a blood meal in order to reproduce which clearly shows that bed bugs can indeed survive quite well within a school environment. Check out the article here.

Bed bugs are a difficult pest to kill.  For expert NYC bed bug eradication services contact Stern Environmental Group.

Source:
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• that bed bugs are nocturnal so therefore, students are unlikely to be bitten.  In actuality, bed bugs will adjust their normal nighttime feeding routine to daytime feeding to satisfy their hunger pangs.  If need be, any student, teacher or administrator at a school can make it onto the dinner menu of a bed bug!

• that bed bugs hide in or around beds so you won’t likely find them in a school environment.  Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed. Nymphs (baby bed bugs) even smaller.  They will hide in any place they choose, not necessarily a bed, even in a home.  Cluttered environments give bed bugs ample hiding places.  Within a school, bed bugs can hide in wall voids, electrical outlets, closets, lockers, piles of paper, floorboards, behind wipe-off/chalk boards, in books, in desks, above doors, and the list goes on and on.

• that bed bugs come in from the “outside”.  Bed bugs are masters at hitchhiking a ride from place to place.  They can easily be transported in and from school in backpacks, books, lunchboxes, coats, hats, gloves, or the clothing that students are wearing.  It would not be uncommon to have bed bugs transported via the adult workers in the school as well.  Even boxes that are shipped to the school could be the transport vehicle of bed bugs.

• that bed bugs won’t infest a school.  Bed bug infestations have commonly been found in homes, hotels, and other places where there is frequent human occupation.  New York City pest control experts report incidents of bed bug infestations in hospitals, theaters, courthouses, public transportation, nursing homes, jails, police stations, airports, and airplanes.  Bed bug infestations can be found wherever people frequent.

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.

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Not fearful in the slightest, you can find rats foraging in trash cans and large garbage bins throughout the city. They inhabit playgrounds, parks, apartments, homes, restaurants, offices, and of course the New York City subway system.

The mere sight of a rat can bring fear and often flight when a person sees their budging eyes, long scaly tale, large body, or pointed teeth. The fear of rats is real. Called Musophobia, it is one of the most common phobias in the United States. Musophobia can be triggered by a variety of different experiences with rats or mice. People report having this phobia when they see a rat or mouse on the television or in the movies, when they smell rats or mice, when they hear jokes about them, or when they are in the same room with the pests.

Just as people vary, so do the symptoms and reactions for those that suffer from this phobia. Some folks are mildly bothered while others suffer from sweating, rapid heartbeat, shaking, nausea, and shortness of breath.

Rats can become dangerous when they enter your home as they are known disease carriers. Additionally the razor sharp teeth of a rat are able to chomp into sealed food sources. Rats will contaminate food and food preparation areas as they leave urine and feces behind in their path. A NYC pest control professional can help determine where the rats are gaining entry and will provide fast rat removal services.

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Although there is a multitude of good information available on the internet, there is also bad information that can steer people in the wrong direction when they are searching for ways to combat bloodsucking bed bugs warn New Jersey pest control experts.

Parents at a Kentucky school are not likely resting easy this weekend with the thoughts of potential bed bugs running through their local high school.  WLKY.com reported on November 4, 2011 that a teacher thought that she had found a bed bug in the school.  Administration was quick to react by clearing the kids out of the classroom and did a search for the bugs, but found none in the room.  The following day, what was believed to be a squished bed bug was found in a different classroom.  Another search was performed, and no bed bugs were found.

In the article, school officials and the Health Department provided information regarding bed bugs and the situation at hand for the school in question.  The problem is, some of the information provided is incorrect.  Failure to provide the correct information to parents will allow the bed bugs to spread like wildfire throughout the entire school in no time flat.  You may read the article here.
Here are some important things to remember…

• Bed bugs are often found in schools and despite what some people say they thrive in schools!

• Bed bugs have ample hiding places to live and multiply within a school setting.

• Bed bugs are typically nocturnal, but they will gladly change their feeding habits if necessary.  If food sources (children/administration) are only available during certain hours of the day then that is when they will feed.

• Children/staff members can easily carry bed bugs home with them in their backpacks, books, binders, coats, hats, gloves, or even on the clothing they are wearing.

• Bed bugs can multiply at school as long as they receive a blood meal.

Stern Environmental Group can help protect you from bed bugs.  Visit Stern Environmental Group to read interesting articles, receive the most up-to-date information about bed bugs, and you’ll also find a vast array of products and services to help you combat the critters once and for all!  We provide fast and professional service to New York and New Jersey residents.  Call us today for expert help.

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They are curious, cold, and above all else…always hungry.  They don’t care that they are dirty, or that they carry fleas, ticks, or can transmit a variety of dangerous diseases.  They are not toilet trained and will not hesitate to drop urine or feces throughout your home.  They won’t ask for food, they just take it…ripping packages and containers open by using their razor sharp teeth.  They prefer grain type food, but these hungry rodents will settle for anything to fill their bottomless pit stomachs.  Any food that is not sufficiently stored will become part of their menu plan.

Fall is a good time to check your home for rat and mice entry points.  Seal any holes or cracks where entry can be made into your home.  Trim branches and shrubbery away from the roof, windows and exterior walls.  Wood piles should be kept away from your home to discourage easy access to your structure.  Seal exterior pipes with expanding foam to discourage mice entry.  Rats and mice are prolific breeders so it’s important to call a NJ pest control professional at the first sign of their presence.

Rats and mice are the worst house guest that you can have entering your home.  Even if your home is sealed up tight, you could experience an invasion from these cleaver creatures.  Rodent control should not stop during the winter months.  If you find that you have mice or rat activity at your house, contact a licensed pest control specialist before these critters multiply out-of-control.

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