5 Things to Know about Bed Bugs

February 20, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Bad news from the pest control world: Atlanta has moved up in the ranking of America’s top cities for bed bug infestations. The metro Atlanta region ranks 16 this year, which is up 3 spots from the 2016 list. Here’s what Acworth homeowners need to know about bed bugs.

5 Things You Need to Know about Bed Bugs

  1. bed bugsThey’re a major problem. Hotels aren’t the only places that deal with bed bug infestations. Homes, apartments, dorm rooms, office buildings, and even local transit can become infested with these pests.
  2. They like cities (but live in the country, too). Bed bugs can thrive almost anywhere, from crowded city hotels to clean, rural homes. Why do they have a reputation as city-dwellers? Bed bugs incidents are three times as common in cities because close-quarters living makes it easier for them to spread.
  3. They’re tough. Think leaving your mattress in the cold overnight is enough to kill a bed bug infestation? Think again. They can survive in temperatures from around freezing to 122 degrees. Professional pest control is the only sure way to contain a bed bug infestation.
  4. They’re sneaky. Try to catch a glimpse of them in daylight, and they’ll hide in boxsprings, picture frames, electrical switchboards, and any other crevice they can find. They’re lured out at night by the temptation of a tasty bite while you’re asleep.
  5. They’re subtle. Bed bugs have saliva with an anesthetic quality, making bites almost pain-free. You may notice red marks on exposed skin after you wake up.

Got bed bugs? Call Protect All Pest Control in Acworth.

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Fun Facts About Those Pests

November 25, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Here at Protect All Pest Control, located in Acworth, GA, we are in the business of keeping pests pest control Acworthaway from your homes and businesses. But even though we don’t want insects and animals in our homes, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t interesting creatures! There are many fun and intriguing facts about animals that might surprise you, so instead of exploring how to keep them away this week’s blog will be taking a closer look.

  • All insects on Earth would outweigh all animals if put on a scale.
  • House flies have taste buds on their feet, so when they land on a surface they can actually taste it.
  • When the only queen ant dies, so does the entire colony, because no new workers are born.
  • A flea can jump 130 times it’s height.
  • Only female mosquitoes bite humans.
  • An ant can lift 20 times its own body weight.  If a 175 pound man had the strength of an ant, he could lift four tons.
  • Bed bug hatchlings are so small they can pass through a stitch-hole in a mattress.
  • Mosquitoes can detect carbon dioxide from 75 feet away.
  • Raccoons can vocalize more than 51 different sounds.

You can find more pest control facts, tips and news on our social media pages. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus!

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How Much Do You Know About Bed Bugs?

May 18, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Bed bugs: we’ve all heard of them, but how many of us have truly inspected our mattresses to check for them? Or even know how and where to start?

Let’s start here: Where are they found?Bed bug

Bed bugs are one of the best hitchhikers out there and can hide in just about anything -boxes, shoes, small cracks and crevices. They will hide in just about anything to be near a food supply. They are found mostly in bed parts (hence, their name) such as mattress, box springs and folded areas, but they are not limited to any one type of area. Nowadays, they can even be found in five-star hotels, movie theaters and high-end clothing stores if conditions are right. And no, they aren’t region specific, but can be found anywhere in the U.S.

What do they eat?

What they eat determines where they’re found. Their meal of choice is human skin. They are attracted to their prey by the carbon dioxide emitted by their body. While humans are their favorite, they’ll feed on just about any warm-bodied host. If the infestation is bad enough, they will search out prey during the day time as well.

What are the signs you might have bed bugs?

Small red/reddish brown fecal spots on mattresses, upholstery or walls:

nope

 

 

 

 

White, sticky eggs, empty egg shells or molt skins:

not-uh

 

 

 

 

Red, itchy bite marks:

ouch

 

 

 

 

If the infestation is heavy, the will be a strangely sweet odor.

What should you do if you think you have bed bugs?

Contact your trusted professional, immediately. A female bed bug can lay 5 eggs a day; a sense of urgency is needed. If the problem is not bed bugs then they can help you identify what the pest is, what course of action is necessary and how to prevent them in the future.

 

 

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Control And Banish Bed Bugs!

August 13, 2015 by Leave a Comment

They’re not attracted to dirt, they’re small, and they can’t fly…but they can bite! Bed bugs are commonly found in hotels and inns. They tend to crawl from the infested bedding and furniture into your luggage, ready to infest your home (and your body) when you return home. Once introduced in your home, they can spread easily from one room to another, and once spread, can take weeks to months to control. Luckily, you can prevent bugs when you travel and while in your home.

how to get rid of bed bugs

Here’s a few things you can do to get rid of bed bugs!

1. Inspect. Bed bugs most often hide near where you sleep because you are their food source. Also, remember that they tend to prefer wood or fabric over plastic and metal. When inspecting for bed bugs, check for live and dead bugs, rusty stains, small spots of red/black fecal matter, tiny cream-colored eggs, and pale yellow skins that nymphs shed as they grow. Look in cushions, carpet edges, loose wallpaper, dark cracks, headboards, etc.

2. Declutter. Cluttered areas are bad because it allows the bugs a place to hide. Cleaning regularly will make inspection easier and prevent bugs from gathering. Get rid of items that you no longer use, or that cannot be washed, heated or steam cleaned. If your mattress has holes or multiple tears, think about replacing it!

3. Vaccuum. Suck up those bugs, and their eggs! You may have to take the attachment off the vaccuum to really get in those deep crevices. The floor is only the start; consider vacuuming your mattress, bed seams, box spring, bed frame, joints and bed curtains.

4. Do Laundry. Wash and dry your infested clothes and bedding with warm water and high heat. Around 120 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. To be completely safe, consider washing and drying twice. For items that can only be dry cleaned, use a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes.

5. Steam. Steam cleaners emit steam at a minimum temperature of 100 degrees Celsius and bed bugs generally die at 50 degrees Celsius, or about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Steam clean mattresses, upholstery and items that can’t be washed. You can choose a dry steam or a low vapor steamer that leaves behind less moisture.

Protect All Pest Control specializes in bed bug infestations! You’ll be on your way to a stress free and pest free house with our quick and effective services. Contact us at 770-212-9990!

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Summer is Prime Time for Bed Bug Infestations

July 15, 2015 by Leave a Comment
how to get rid of bed bugs

The only things you should bring home from your summer vacation are happy memories!

Here in Woodstock, Kennesaw, and Acworth, summer is the season when we celebrate the little things in life- a cold popsicle on a blazing hot Georgia afternoon, watching fireflies from the front porch on a sultry evening, backyard barbecues with friends on the weekend- but unfortunately those are not the only “little things” that come with summer. It’s also a major season for bed bug infestations!

Increased need for professional bed bug treatment

Pest control companies have been seeing more and more cases of bed bug infestations over the last decade. According to this year’s survey of pest control professionals by the National Pest Management Association, 99.6 percent had applied bed bug treatment in the past year. But 15 years prior, that number was only 25 percent.

Why is summer the season of bed bugs?

While a bed bug infestation can happen at any time of the year, summer is particularly risky due to summer vacations. Increased travel from home to hotel means that unsuspecting homeowners end up bringing bed bugs home in their clothes and luggage. Missy Henriksen of the National Pest Management Association says,

Our survey has found that residential settings and hotels continue to be the top places where pest professionals are finding and treating for bed bugs. As summer travelers eagerly visit destinations, new and familiar, it’s important to remind them that the best way to stem the spread of bed bugs is to be vigilant during and after their trip.

How to banish bed bugs

At Protect All Pest Control, we provide bed bug treatments in Kennesaw, Woodstock, Acworth, and throughout the north metro Atlanta area. By the time you see the signs of an infestation, it’s already a pest control code red, so don’t wait– call us immediately for bed bug treatment so we can help you banish bugs from your home or business!

Give us a call at 770-212-9990 to discuss our residential and commercial pest control services today, and be sure to check out our tips to avoid bringing bed bugs back from vacation.

Photo by photostock via freedigitalphotos.net

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Holiday Hazard: Bedbugs!

December 5, 2014 by Leave a Comment

how to kill bed bugsAre you going over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house this holiday season? Or perhaps you’re escaping the stress of overstuffed shopping malls and social schedules for a tropical vacation, celebrating with Christmas lights in the palm trees?

This is one of the biggest seasons for travel, with people visiting far-flung family members and getting in some end-of-year vacations. Unfortunately, all that travel can bring an unfortunate side effect- bed bugs!

Bed bugs are easy to get and hard to get rid of, which makes it vitally important that you familiarize yourself with our tips for avoiding bedbugs while traveling. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize there were bedbugs in their hotel room or a family member’s house until they return home and make an unpleasant discovery. Instead of a special delivery from Santa, they now have an itchy, irritating problem on their hands.

The sooner you call Protect All Pest Control for bedbug treatment of your Woodstock, Kennesaw, or Acworth home, the easier it will be to beat the bugs. Keep an eye out for these signs of bedbug infestation:

  • Live or dead bugs under the mattress, behind the headboard, etc.
  • Fecal stains on sheets, mattress, or boxspring- tiny dark spots that smear if wiped
  • Waking up with itchy bites
  • Molted skins left behind in any of the aforementioned places
  • Bed bug aggregations- these can look like mold from a distance

To discuss your problem and schedule a bedbug treatment estimate and application, contact us today at 770-212-9990. 

Photo by photostock via freedigitalphotos.net

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No Stowaways: How to Avoid Bringing Bedbugs Home

June 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Bedbugs WoodstockSchool’s out for summer, the weather is heating up here in Acworth, Canton, and Woodstock, and many families are heading out of town for much-anticipated vacations. If you plan to do any traveling this summer, be careful not to bring home this dreaded pest- bed bugs!

According to the National Pest Management Association, bed bug infestations are on the rise throughout the country. Even seemingly clean hotels can host these pests, which not only cause itchy bites, but can also be extremely challenging to get rid of once your home is infested.

Signs of bed bugs

Signs of a bed bug infestation include discarded skins, egg cases, and fecal matter under mattresses or around beds. The bites usually go unnoticed at the time, and many people assume the small, raised bumps left behind are a rash, rather than bites.

 How to avoid bringing bed bugs home

The best way to avoid a bed bug infestation in your home is to be proactive when traveling.

  • As soon as you enter your hotel room, put your luggage in the bathroom and inspect the room for signs of an infestation. The hard surfaces of a bathroom make it hard for bed bugs to hide there.
  • Look in and around the bed, night stand, curtains, upholstered furniture, the luggage rack, and anywhere else where bed bugs could hide. If you see signs of an infestation, ask to be moved to a different part of the hotel- or better yet, head to another hotel altogether.
  • Don’t leave your suitcase, clothes, or any other fabric items on the floor. Sit your suitcase on the previously inspected luggage rack or on a hard surface like a desk, tile floor, or shelf.
  • Put your clothes in a plastic bag after wearing them.

Unfortunately bed bug infestations can be hard to spot, so you could still end up with some unwanted guests. If you suspect that you have a bed bug infestation in your Woodstock home, contact us immediately! Our monitoring and control programs can help you eradicate and prevent future outbreaks. We can also teach you how to inspect for bed bugs in your home and on the road, and our monitored customers even get discounts on bed bug extermination treatments.

Don’t let these annoying pests ruin your summer. Let Protect All Pest Control help you with all of your Woodstock pest control needs.

Photo by phasinphoto via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Facts About Bed Bugs

November 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

how to get rid of bed bugsBed bugs are small insects in the family Cimicidae. Mature bed bugs are no more than 5 to 7mm long and oval in shape. Their flat appearance often confuses people into thinking they are either small cockroaches or ticks. They prefer to feed on human blood, which makes them impossible to ignore. Bed bug treatment is not easy and is best performed by a professional pest control company.
The adult bed bugs are brownish in color and their bite marks can range from small bumps to large hives, depending on the size of bed bug that bites and an individual’s allergy level. The bites resemble in looks with mosquito bites and are typically itchy.

Why Are Bed Bugs on the Comeback?

Recent news reports have detailed the bed bug infestations of major hotels and businesses. Even though the use of a bed bug exterminator was incorporated, hotels have been subject to lawsuits arising from bed bug bites suffered by guests. The reasons that bed bug reports are on the rise are twofold: lack of DDT and International travel.

The DDT Connection

DDT was used heavily as a pesticide in the 1950s and 60s as a method of preventing bed bugs. Little thought was given to side effects until horrible birth defects began showing up and a study concluded that it was too harmful to use as a pesticide. The ban of its use has been a boon for our health and the environment, but we lost an effective form of bed bug treatment.

International Travel

Bed bugs were never completely eradicated in all parts of the world. Hotels across the nation are conveniently located close to an international airport, making it easy for these pests to hitch rides in a traveler’s personal belongings.

Preventing Bed Bugs

Preventing bed bugs is certainly easier than fighting an active infestation. Look closely for the signs of bed bugs, such as feces on the sheets or mattresses. Try and keep your luggage to a minimum and store it off the floor, preferably on hangers away from the walls. Consult a professional pest control company.  At Protect All Pest Control we offer monitoring and control programs to help stop infestations before they start. We can even teach you how to inspect for these bothersome pests both at home and when traveling.

If you feel you may have brought the problem to your home in Woodstock or surrounding areas and need bed bug treatment contact the pest control professionals at Protect All Pest Control to schedule a consultation. Phone us at 770-728-8520 or use the “Contact” feature on our website.

 

Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

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