Bed Bugs Threaten Routine Opportunities & Necessities- Hollywood -OharaPestControl

Posted on February 10, 2013 by

Like the rest of the tri-county area, those in Hollywood are no strangers to bed bugs. The blood sucking louts have long been a curse to many residents within the American subtropics. Yes, the subtropics. While bed bugs have recently been making headlines in northern cities, the pests develop faster and spread more easily in communities typically associated with year-round temperate and humid environments. That mentioned, bed bugs go where they can find a blood meal, no matter if NYC or Seattle. In fact, least one fifth of all Americans have dealt with bed bugs or know somebody who has.

Bed bugs’ prevalence hasn’t exactly upped acceptance of the blood suckers.  While being eaten alive is hardly anybody’s idea of fun, populations in mosquitoes-heavy areas are quite used to the annoyance, including residents of Hollywood. Only real problem? Effective bed bug treatments are costly and time intensive, with many infestations requiring methodically timed treatments. Recent advances like heat treatments have certainly cut down on this inconvenience, but the option is still quite pricy. However, the price can quickly seem well worth it given the social repercussions of ignoring bed bugs.

Quality of life and finances aren’t the only realms bed bugs affect –opportunities, employment, and vital services can also become jeopardized. Plenty of employers and organizations are understanding of bed bug problems, but only to a point –most particularly in the field of medicine.

Given the uproar, it’s surprising bed bugs aren’t that harmful compared to other pests. Their bites can certainly be an eyesore and a slight minority has serious allergic reactions, but the creatures aren’t known for spreading disease or becoming so numerous to drain a victim dry. Still, any place that offers mass lodging is well aware that bed bugs can cause major upset. In fact, lawyers are now even offering to represent upset clients and tenants over the bed bug issue. No strangers to the risk of lawsuits, hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics are also very weary of bed bugs. The risk of a malpractice suite actually makes such organizations among the most fastidious. Sometimes that includes refusing to treat patients, even if the illness is life threatening.

Regardless if such a policy is right or wrong, the fact remains that such neglect does happen. Those who are sick need to be particularly weary of bringing home an infestation –even more so than the medical staff themselves.

Of course, Hollywood patients and regular residents can use a number of procedures to preempt bed bug infestations:

Don’t ignore mysterious bites – This is the south we’re talking about, so only within reason. Many Hollywood residents are occasionally eaten alive by mosquitoes, but if new bites are consistent and your usual spots aren’t rife with mosquitoes then bed bugs very well might be the culprit.

Look for stains – Bed bugs leave very visible fecal stains. Furthermore, bed bugs might be resilient to all sorts of environments but we’re still significantly bigger –it’s common to crush bed bugs while sleeping.

Keep luggage/bags close at hand – Very sensitive to body heat and CO2 emissions (including skin oil), bed bugs have nearly an uncanny ability to track their human hosts. That includes attraction to used clothing and bags, which bed bugs will crawl into.

Travel and sleep in white –Lighter clothing not only helps beat the Hollywood heat, but can make tag-along bed bugs more noticeable. More importantly, wear white while traveling. Light bedding can also make stains and the bugs themselves more visible.

Bag the mattress –Many mattresses are porous, enabling bed bugs to dwell inside and nest, making it much harder to eliminate the creatures –let alone detect them.

Buy new – Used clothing, furniture, and books are rarely washed and hold a higher chance of containing bed bugs than new products. New products themselves aren’t bed bug proof either, and some department stores have even needed to temporarily close down to deal with infestations in the store proper and adjoining warehouse.

These precautions are some of the few that prevent bed bug infestations, but the insatiable little parasites will infest just about anywhere. Aside from prevention, early treatment is among the most effective means to effectively eradicate bed bugs. No matter if you’re suspicious bed bugs are lurking in your home or if you’re dealing with a proven infestation, call 561-644-4176 or message OharaPestControl.com –now serving Hollywood along with the wider Broward County area!

 

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Bed Bugs Run Amok on Campus – Fort Lauderdale – OharaPestControl

Posted on February 3, 2013 by

Balancing recreation with school and work can be a challenge in vibrant Fort Lauderdale, but students howling at the moon may have an incentive to stay out late –bed bugs. These little blood suckers have been infesting just about everywhere imaginable, including libraries, offices, and movie theaters. Of course, the most frequent areas where bed bugs are likely to infest are sleeping quarters –hence the saying “sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

Just about any mid-size campus usually houses a few thousand students and plenty more are immediately located in adjoining neighborhoods. Bed bugs can spread rapidly in such a setting, particularly in Fort Lauderdale’s balmy environment. While bed bugs only need human blood to thrive, the little monsters develop way quicker in warm and humid locations. Quicker development means quicker breeding, and bed bugs can lay upwards of 500 eggs in a lifetime. That’s not all bad news, however – faster development means a faster metabolism, which means bed bugs deprived of blood will die sooner.

However, with bed bugs lasting more than a year without a single blood meal, hoping the problem will go away is hardly pragmatic –particularly for campuses operating year ’round. In fact, the college setting is a dream for bedbugs. Easy access to living quarters, students and staff in buildings practically 24/7, gyms, and regular foot traffic are all contributing factors for a campus-wide infestation.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know school isn’t cheap. In fact, that rocket scientist is probably in major debt unless on scholarship or from major assets. Still, many schools struggle to make ends meet. Alienating students, employees, and clients is a very bad idea. After all, summer camps, seminars, research, and student housing are all major sources of revenue, particularly in climates like that found in Fort Lauderdale. Obviously, such outreach and attractions help keep tuition from becoming even more outrageous.

Treating a whole campus can be a serious undertaking, but is rarely required. Professional pest control can quickly find the major centers of on-campus infestations and eliminate them through a number of effective and safe methods, including heat, fumigation, and insecticide dusts. Pest control operating in Fort Lauderdale are quite used to be bugs.

Knowledge is power, and campuses have the infrastructure to spread word quickly about a potential pest infestation. A more aware campus is helps prevent major infestations from festering. Still, it’s also perfectly understandable if campuses want to keep such infestations from becoming public knowledge –the media loves sordid tales of blood sucking, particularly if little monsters are behind the outrage. While preventing leaks on something large as a campus can be seriously challenging, administrators can count of us to treat and handle infestations with discretion.

Many Fort Lauderdale residents, businesses, and organizations already know the best bed bug treatment is prevention. We gladly provide inspections at a frequency that range from biweekly (the usual incubation period for bedbug nymphs) to quarterly. We’ll make sure your campus or school has an A+ for bed bug sanitation. No matter if being eaten alive or just concerned about potential bed bugs, call 561-644-4176 or message OharaPestControl.com –now serving Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding areas!

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Don’t Let Bed Bugs Piggyback Deliveries – Palm Beach Gardens – OharaPestControl

Posted on January 27, 2013 by

Expected items aren’t the only things that show up with packages, furniture delivery, U-Huals, or moving companies – bed bugs are sometimes along for the ride, as some Palm Beach Gardens residents learn that the hard way.

Bed bugs are surprisingly resilient. Adults can live upwards of year without blood and require next to no oxygen to survive. Worse yet, cold environments exasperate the issue –the faster a bed bug’s metabolism, the faster it starves. Good news for areas like Palm Beach Gardens, but the time it takes for bed bugs to starve or suffocate is drastically longer than the usual delivery time -your online package or holiday gift might contain the little blood suckers.

While any package or product may contain a bed bug or two, there’s a significant higher chance for those dealing with movers or transporters. While the service is convenient, and sometimes absolutely necessary, the conditions are exactly sterile. In fact, most moving companies rarely bother to clean their compartments, let alone heat-treat or spray pesticides.

Worst are short distance movers that offer free furniture hauling upon delivery. While such an offer can seem convenient and affordable, bed bugs can easily spread in the storage compartment after one infested used mattress is handled. Such risks are a double bind –not only can the movers have bed bugs (which is rare, actually), but so can your new mattress. If fact, used furniture is usually a bad idea for those that want to steer clear of bed bugs. While plenty of furniture dealers are reputable, many also take shortcuts. Take a loss? No way. Most dealers don’t bother to treat or clean mattresses, including those they haul away and sometimes resell.

Take these few precautions to ensure your possessions remain free of bed bugs:

Check for signs – Have a flash and magnifying glass at the ready! Checking the package or piece of furniture for bed bugs might seem overboard, but it can save a major headache from happening.

Prefer wrapped products – If you can, roll with wrapped and sealed furniture. More importantly, make sure to do this while moving. Same goes for clothing, books, and other items that bed bugs can easily blend into.

Treat & heat –While it might eliminate that “just new” look, make sure to throw all new wardrobe or home additions into the dryer, if feasible. Aspects that are too large can be handled with a blow dryer, but this can be seriously time consuming –only do so if bed bugs seem very obvious.

Avoid used or display pieces –Antique collectors might guffaw, but used products have a significantly higher chance of being infested –particularly if displayed to the public. If new, make clear you want a still-factory sealed product from the warehouse. If used, make sure the place is reputable and more importantly, check the furniture after it has been delivered.

The threat of bed bug infestations is ever-present, even if taking these precautions. From movie theaters to transit centers or even your local courthouse or library, bed bugs can lurk just about anywhere –most particularly in subtropical areas like Palm Beach Gardens. Don’t ignore the signs, including those horrendous bites. Bed bugs infestations never go away on their own and time and effort required to eradicate the little pests oftentimes reflects the size of an infestation.

If you or somebody else suspects a bed bug infestation at home or your workplace, or even if you’d like a suspect antique checked, don’t hesitate to call 561-644-4176 or message OharaPestControl.com for more information –now serving Palm Beach Gardens and the surrounding area!

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Bed Bugs can Infest Boats – West Palm Beach – OharaPestControl

Posted on January 21, 2013 by

Bed bugs aren’t particular about which beds they infest, if any at all –and that includes boats currently docked in the West Palm Beach Marina. Without doubt, bed bugs are way more common in areas that have a lot of foot traffic and people. Still, anybody can track bed bugs into a boat and once there they will either multiple or hibernate –all depends on the frequency of their next blood meals.

Obviously, cruises and the like are way more at risk for bed bugs, but private boats can also host these unwelcome visitors. Nobody wants the nasty surprise of leaving port only to find they’re being eaten alive by these pests, particularly in climates like that of West Palm Beach. While bed bugs can infest just about anywhere, they mature and spread more easily in hot and humid climates.

All experts agree –if bed bugs are on a boat, then professional treatment if necessary, and that’s where we and similar services come in. Be careful though. While many West Palm Beach pest control services are altogether way too familiar with bed bug infestations, many aren’t acquainted with maritime pest control and the like. That’s where we come in, again. Our treatments are meant to cover all areas bed bugs are likely to infest, not just the cabins of your vessel. Bed bugs excel at hiding in nooks and crannies and doing so doesn’t prevent them from once again finding you –that’s their evolutionary edge. These creatures are incredibly sensitive to body heat and chemicals, not to mention the CO2 we exhale. Even if a few bed bugs survive count on dealing with another wave of infestations, as many West Palm Beach residents can attest.

Depending on the boat, some treatment methods might not be available –particularly heat treatments, the most effective means to eliminate bed bugs. If such a case, plan two is fumigation and pesticide dusts. While effective, boats will be land locked for a little while. Bed bugs quickly build resistances to many pesticides and the eggs are virtually immune. In climates like West Palm Beach, baby bed bugs hatch within three weeks time, so count on multiple treatments over the course of that month. Still, the alternative of living with these creatures is much worst.

If you suspect bed bugs are infesting your boat, or anywhere for that matter, don’t hesitate to call 561-644-4176 or message OharaPestControl.com –now treating West Palm Beach and surrounding areas!

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Bedbugs Infest the Sky, Sea, and Everywhere Between – Deerfield Beach – OharaPestControl

Posted on January 20, 2013 by

Planes, trains, and automobiles could be the source of many bed bug woes within Deerfield Beach. Yes, names can be deceiving, but bed bugs care more about blood than living up to their name. While the parasites are mostly known for preying at night, they can also strike during the day and just about anywhere. Even the Wall Street Journal hasn’t been spared.  Trains, airplanes, boats, and other means of distance travel can become virtual playpens for bedbugs, as can harbors, airports, and stations. Bed bugs more easily spread in areas with a highly concentrated population –particularly if that population is full of travelers sleeping in temporary lodging.

Of course, population is one thing, but environment is another. While the whole country is menaced by the parasites, climate and conditions are a factor –the warmer and more humid a location, the quicker bed bugs breed and develop. That includes Deerfield Beach and other South Florida locations.

Many believe sanitation a critical component. While nobody likes unhygienic compartments and people who don’t wash their clothes are more likely to attract bed bugs, the creatures just as easily infest a five-star hotel as a subsidized lot.

South Floridians, including those in Deerfield Beach, are also well aware these pests are a tenacious lot. Bed bugs are resistant to a slew of pesticides, most particularly the eggs, and adults can survive without blood for a year or more. In fact, bed bugs only feed a few times a week. This tendency obfuscates their presence until the infestation becomes major, a problem many face. So in sum, bed bugs aren’t deterred by cleanliness (accept dusting), not even by the industrial strength cleaners used within trains, airplanes, cruise boats, and their respective stations or ports –one reason Deerfield Beach residents catch the bed bug blues when traveling. Avoid this through the following precautions:

Carry-ons – Always keep bags completely sealed and if possible, keep carry-ons directly on your lap.

Dirty clothing – Keep dirty laundry in a sealed plastic bag. Bed bugs are freakishly aware of exhaled CO2 and certain chemicals in bodily oil. Clothing that has been recently used in likely to be more attractive.

Use garment hangers –If using a garment case, avoid placing it on the seat or trunk.

Don’t guess, check –Even if positive bed bugs are aren’t within the vehicle, do a quick check of your person and luggage anyway.

Clothing –Bed bugs more easily blend into dark colors, particularly browns and blacks. Wear white or other light clothes.

Use luggage liners and plastic bag clothes– sometimes bed bugs can find ways into luggage, even if sealed. Make this less tempting through sealing clothes. Those especially concerned can also check out white or other light color luggage liners for easy spotting of bed bugs.

Even with such defenses, bed bugs can still piggyback on luggage or people. If concerned you’ve tracked bed bugs into your home or another location, don’t hesitate to call 561-644-4176 or message OharaPestControl.com –now serving Deerfield Beach and surrounding areas!

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Taxis can Avoid Bed Bug Blues – West Palm Beach – OharaPestControl

Posted on January 13, 2013 by

Counter intuitively, bed bugs not only frequent the bedroom –plenty of West Palm Beach transport services can certainly vouch for that. Recently, bed bugs have been making headlines for potentially infesting everything from libraries to movie theaters. The real key is human traffic. While taxis and buses might not be the equivalent of beach front hotels, bed bugs still might crawl off transients and infest the automobile –bad news for both drivers and the next fare.

In fact, bed bugs can find taxis and limousines very preferable, with buses, trains, and airplanes being a distant second. West Palm Beach certainly knows how to party and attracts a slew of tourists that forgo car rentals. Obviously, night is among the most active times for taxis and other transport services –this also when bed bugs bite.

Without doubt, bed bugs are both a personal and business concern, particularly in warm and wet West Palm Beach. Drivers and other attendants are the most likely to with bites, as they’re the most consistent target within automobiles. Fares can also pick-up the nuisance. Bed bugs might be hard to notice, but the creatures certainly aren’t invincible –people can even feel the blood suckers crawling on them. A taxi service known for bed bugs doesn’t remain popular for long, particularly in this world of online reviews.

Bed bugs can be hard to eradicate, even in cars. Adults live for upwards years without feeding and usually only do so a few times each week. The problem unto itself won’t go away, particularly since most cars have more than enough upholstery to nest and cars are a sealed environment bed bugs can’t easily escape.

Finding a pest control company used to treating cars can be tricky –most are used to heat treatments within building and the like. Still, such a service isn’t only possible, but necessary. Insecticide dusts are completely possible, as are minor heat treatments of the upholstery. Like always, thoroughness is necessary. Don’t be surprised if we take out seats to deliver concentrated treatments.

Our services can only do so much. Most taxis and other transportation services generally make sure to keep a clean ride, but this concern need be doubled if playing host to bed bugs. Most West Palm Beach taxis drivers are used to regular vacuuming due to sand and the like, but chores should happen more frequently if dealing with these louts. For more information on bed bug treatments call 561-644-4176 or message OharaPestControl.com –now operating in West Palm Beach!

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Southwest Ranches isn’t Immune to Bed Bugs – OharaPestControl

Posted on January 13, 2013 by

Rural areas also deal with bed bug infestations, particularly South Floridian communities like Southwest Ranches. Yes, bed bugs are way more likely to spread and infest urban communities –that they run amok in NYC yearlong is testament to that. However, Southwest Ranches still has the climate South Florida conducive for fun in the sun and bed bugs. For those that don’t know, these blood suckers develop most quickly in warm and moist climates.

Most particularly in agrarian and equestrian areas, bed bugs might seem small potatoes compared to mosquitoes, roof rats, whitefly, mange, and other pests. True, bed bugs don’t directly spread disease, ruin crops, or completely ravage livestock. However, they can be of grave discomfort and won’t ever leave a structure on their own accord. Treatment isn’t only a luxury reserved for city slickers concerned with their complexion. Bites can be hardly noticeable, but each person reacts differently –sometimes bites become inflamed and the rare unlucky individual has fearsome allergic reactions.

Bed bug treatments certainly have uniform aspects, regardless of the location. Still, there are some unique aspects to rural areas, particularly farms and ranches. This includes:

Extra areas – Bed bugs might typically be indoor pests, but they can cross outdoor terrain if their preternatural instincts detect CO2 emissions or body heat. Heat treatments are hardly ideal for such environment –hay is a fire hazard, after all. Still, pest control that know their trade can easily treat insecticide dusts, which is widely recognized for its effectives.

Isolation – Bed bug reinfestations are a major annoyance, but residents of Southwest Ranches need not fret. Without neighbors or proximity to areas high human traffic there’s a significantly smaller chance of a recurrent infestation. Without doubt, remain vigilant months after treatment and use regular precautions when traveling. Of course, areas of Southwest Ranches that attract lodgers or a regular visitors are more at risk and should be handled like any other hotel, recreational center, or work place.

Lots of animals –Bed bugs definitely have a preference for human blood, but these creatures will still survive off animals, particularly those with bare skin exposed. People exposed to the given animals can track in bed bugs, as can lassie. While pest control professionals aren’t about to fumigate live animals, they can provide information on how to best minimize the risk of renewed infestation –think changing before going indoors, just as if dealing with animals infested with mange.

Like just about every other disease, rural areas are usually spared the worst of the onslaught, but that doesn’t mean infestation is impossible. If suspicious bed bugs have landed make sure to call 561-644-4176 or message OharaPestControl.com –now serving the area of Southwest Ranches!

 

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Bed Bug Elimination is Best Left to Professionals – Coral Springs – OharaPestControl

Posted on January 6, 2013 by

Bed bug treatments can be a major pain for everyone involved, particularly for those in subtropical areas like Coral Springs –the whole of South Florida, actually. Yes, bed bugs are a major hassle from Cape Cod to LA, but the bloodsuckers breed quicker and migrate more easily where it’s warm and humid.

Given how common bed bugs are, plenty of residents within Coral Springs try to find permanent and cheap solutions. After all, plenty become impatient with professional bed bug treatments. Bed bugs are resilient. They can survive for upwards of a year without blood and can hide in any number of locations. To make matters even worse, bed bug eggs are practically impervious to chemical treatments –both sprays and dusts.

Residents can become impatient and even blame the pest control professional’s competency. To be fair, there certainly are a few bad apples within pest control, but most of us are very qualified and respected. Anything else isn’t good enough for South Florida, where everything from termites to whitefly are a constant problem.

Residents within Coral Springs value DIY grit. While there’s plenty of instances where such standards are laudable, bed bug treatments aren’t one of them –at least if the resident isn’t trained in effective pesticide use or bed bug elimination. Some common mistakes resident make when dealing with bed bugs include:

Sleeping elsewhere –Bed bugs generally stick to where feeding is easy, and that means the bed room. Moving to another sleeping location, like the couch, might seem an easy solution. Not so. Bed bugs are equipped with the ability to both sense body heat and Co2 emissions from the body. Switching where you slumber only further spreads bed bugs and helps infest more furniture.

Using foggers or bug bombs –Bug bombs don’t work on bed bugs. Period. In fact, if the bed bugs are affected at all they’ll merely scatter –not die. Much like sleeping in another location in the house, this merely makes elimination of bed bugs that much harder.

Getting rid of furniture –Like the rest of South Floridians, plenty of Coral Springs residents pride their style. If merely looking to get some new furniture then go ahead and do that, but don’t feel pressured to get new furniture simply due to a bed bug infestation. Yes, plenty of bed bugs may be living within the furniture, but they’re also likely in-between the walls, in cabinets, clothes, and elsewhere. Throwing out furniture over bed bugs is just needless waste, not to mention can spread the pestilence elsewhere.

Leaving –As mentioned, bed bugs can survive for upwards of a year without feeding a single time. Leaving for a short duration won’t do anything about the infestation at home and there’s a good chance you’ll merely bring the bed bugs to wherever you’re spending the night. Friends, family, and hotels will certainly be glad to receive you but not if bed bugs are left in your wake.

Using DEET –DEET does not work against bed bugs. Again, DEET does not work against bed bugs. In fact, there is no known bed bug repellant. Plenty of people resort to using this and other sprays, often to the detriment of their and their loved one’s health.

Bed bugs aren’t fun to deal with, but the sooner professionals are contacted the sooner the problem will go away. However, residents still play an integral role in combating bed bugs.  Keeping bed legs dusted, vacuuming, and implementing bed bug dissuading equipment such as mattress covers all help –just do yourself a favor and leave the chemical spraying to the professionals. For more information on bed bug treatments and inspections, call 561-644-4176 or message OHaraPestControl.com –now serving Coral Springs and surrounding areas!

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Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities for Bed Bug Treatments – Fort Lauderdale – OHaraPestControl

Posted on January 6, 2013 by

Like the rest of Florida, landlords within Fort Lauderdale are legally bound to cover bed bug treatments. While that’s good news for the tenants, actually getting the treatments done can be a long and arduous road for all parties involved.

First and foremost, tenants need to get the landlord’s attention. While that can be easy enough, some landlords or agencies aren’t exactly forthcoming when the issue pertains to bedbugs or other pests. Elimination costs money and word might spread ’round about the house or complex. Bed bugs aren’t popular anywhere, most particularly Fort Lauderdale. In the meantime, tenants are still scratching at bed bug bites and the blood suckers continue breeding.

Plenty of times landlords are going to request proof of bed bug infestations. This can be a hassle for plenty of tenants. Inspections might not be expensive compared to actual treatments, but these can still cost a pretty penny. This first step usually needs to be initiated by the tenant. The good news is that Fort Lauderdale landlords are responsible for reimbursing tenants, but only within reason –normally only for inspections that actually find a pest.

Though tenants might need to initialize the inspection, they don’t have final say over what pest control companies or treatment method is used. Not all pest control companies are created equal and landlords often pick the service that offers the best price. While this usually isn’t an issue, treatment effectiveness and time can take a little longer than residents might like. Landlords and tenants both want to avoid such squabbles, but they can develop over chemical treatments, timing of the said treatments, and the effectiveness of treatments.

Bed bug treatment can require multiple tries. Chemicals don’t affect bed bug eggs and mature bed bugs can survive for upwards a year without feeding once. That, along with their preference for subtropical climates makes these blood suckers a common problem within Fort Lauderdale and the rest of South Florida.

Recurrent infestations can both be the fault of the pest control company and the tenant –however, if the tenant is unaware of this it’s the pest control company’s fault, at least in our book. Education is half the battle precisely because bed bugs are a tenacious lot. While they normally infest the bed, they’ll hide in an astounding number of locations, including air ducts and between walls. Tenants need to prep their household for bed bug treatment and to discourage future bed bug infestations and this means routine vacuuming, dusting, purchasing mattress containers, and drying clothes.

Effective pest control companies don’t merely provide bed bug inspections and treatments, but act as the authoritative resource for how to minimize future infestations. Now that’s something tenants and landlords can both agree on. Call 561-644-4176 or message OharaPestControl.com for more information on bed bugs, effective treatments, and inspections –now serving Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding area!

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Specific Furniture Prevents the Hassle of Bed Bug Bites – Port Everglades – OharaPestControl

Posted on December 31, 2012 by

Bed bug infestations mean trouble –particularly in environments these parasites find hospitable, namely Port Everglades (and all of South Florida for that matter). People who’ve recently read bed bug headlines or worst yet, dealt with an infestation, are probably surprised that bed bugs even have a preference. Well sure, their first major preference is people. The awful critters live off our blood, after all. That mentioned, bed bugs certainly thrive in hot and humid areas, and you can’t really get hotter or more humid than South Florida –not in the States, anyhow.

Without doubt, eliminating these parasites is nearly as frustrating as dealing with the bed bug bites. These rules don’t really change when leaving on a cruise –in fact, bed bug awareness becomes all the more imperative. Cruises aren’t likely to have experienced and dedicated pest control professionals, once they leave Port Everglades it’s bed bug fun until the next stop. Asides from such challenges, everything from fumigation to containment is more of a challenge.  We’re talking boats, after all.

Regular homes and cruise ships alike can benefit from preempting bed bug infestations. Awareness certainly helps, but those untrained at detection normally only identify bed bugs until they’ve been given a good amount of time to fester. Of course, by then the treatment is a large undertaking.

One of the most effective means to combat bed bugs is lounging out of reach. While the creatures can live without blood for upwards of a year, they can’t reproduce without it. So how do we keep a bed bug infestation at bay? Lots of ways, but one of the most important is furniture selection and placement.

There’s a lot of nuance to selecting and prepping furniture and we all value style, but those of worried about bed bugs should limit selection to certain types of materials. Polished metal, plastics, and glass are particularly challenging for bed bugs. The major rule of thumb: the less traction the better. While bed bugs will infest anywhere, dust and grim actually does provide traction for bed bugs, which perhaps responsible for the misleading stereotype that bed bugs infest dirty places.

Of course, bed bugs climb anything that has traction –including walls. No matter how clean or dirty a bed’s posts, bed bugs will reach the bed through the wall, if possible –plenty of fastidious Port Everglades residents are certainly aware of that. Make sure to isolate furniture away from walls whenever possible. Around a foot’s distance should work.

While furniture selection can certainly help stave off bed bug bites and even a growing infestation, treatment is still necessary. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. If bed bugs are known for anything, it’s tenacity. If in need of bed bug treatments, inspections, or information then call 561-644-4176 or message OharaPestControl.com –now serving Port Everglades and the surrounding area!

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