Despite bed bugs living among humans for eons, there was a point in time when these blood-sucking bugs were so rare in the United States that some Americans didn’t even know they existed. If you were one of these people, you may have once believed they were simply a fictional, nursery rhyme creature.

But, due to a combination of factors including increased travel, regulations on powerful pesticides, and genetic resistance, bed bugs have come back with a vengeance.

In Southern California especially, they’re proving to be very real by causing quite the panic-ridden ordeal.

A Bed-Bug-Free America

Bed bug problems go as far back as 3,500 years ago when humans were living in caves. For the U.S., bed bugs sailed on the same ship that brought the first colonists. From the time the Mayflower hit land to the late 1930s, they were a staple in American life. Infestations were common, and the pesky bugs appeared impossible to wipe out.

It wasn’t until 1939, when the Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller created the pesticide DDT, that weary homeowners were finally able to fight back.

For decades, Americans sprayed DDT all over their homes and hotels, effectively keeping their space bed bug-free. Since insects had never experienced a synthetic poison before, both bed bugs and many other pests were vulnerable.

But, in the 1970s, the U.S. ultimately banned DDT, as it was proven to be highly toxic to humans and other wildlife, too.

How Bed Bugs Made a Comeback

After 60 years of near eradication in the U.S., bed bugs bounced back. Many insects have the keen ability to adapt to their environment, and in the early 2000s, pockets of pesticide-resistant bed bugs popped up throughout the world.

Three ways bed bugs have become resistant to pesticides like DDT include:

• They developed a genetic mutation that allowed them to close their ion channels, which DDT worked to open and harm their nervous systems.
• They acquired enzymes that help them break down the toxicity of pesticides quicker, making them less effective.
• They have started to grow thicker exoskeletons, which make it tougher for pesticides to penetrate.

Hasty Hitchhikers

Bed bugs’ resistance to pesticides has allowed them to come back in large numbers, but how exactly did these durable bugs make it all over the world? Well, they’re remarkably good hitchhikers.

They’re attracted to body heat, pheromones, and carbon dioxide, and they’re known to catch a ride on traveling tourists and their luggage while staying in a hotel. Pair this with the continued increase in air travel – domestically and internationally – that helps bed bugs spread, and it’s no wonder these bugs have been able to come back so rapidly.

Because our Southern California home is a hotspot for vacationers, we typically have bigger bed bug issues, too. Tourists from across the world are constantly arriving in airports and bringing bed bugs in. Infestations in San Diego, Palm Springs, and Orange County have proven our region is no exception. With long commutes and a constantly mobile population, bed bugs have effectively gotten everywhere.

Identifying Bed Bugs

You may not realize you have unwanted houseguests until you wake up with mysterious bites and rashes, or – if you’re allergic – you may not even notice an infestation until it gets bad. People’s inability to identify bed bugs is another factor that has led to their resurgence in the U.S.

By nature, bed bugs are cryptic insects, hiding in cracks and crevices during the day, only coming out under the cover of darkness. To help you spot them, look for reddish-brown colored insects with flat, oval-shaped bodies.

Common Hiding Spots

Infesting places from five-star hotels to halfway houses, bed bugs don’t discriminate – they’ll reside anywhere there’s a host.

They’re named after their preference for the sanctuary of your bedroom, but other hotspots include sofas and any place you spend an extended amount of time not moving very much.

Since bed bugs are typically nocturnal, they despise being out in the open or a lot of sunlight, so they hide in openings in furniture, floors, and walls during the day or whenever you’re not home.

For bedrooms, you may think mattresses alone are bed bug hubs. But, as a soft surface without many crevices to take shelter in, the bug prefers to hide in the box spring, headboard, and nightstand before flocking to the host at night. Don’t be fooled by believing any crack is too small, either. A hatchling is the mere size of the head of a nail.

Preventing Bed Bugs

For frequent travelers, a quick bed bug check should be the first thing you do upon arriving at a hotel. Before bringing your luggage through the door, take a flashlight and perform a precursory inspection of the mattress, box spring, and headboard. This is one of the best ways to ensure you don’t take any hitchhikers back to your home and set up a whole new infestation.

Bringing second-hand furniture into your home is another thing you should be cautious about when it comes to preventing bed bugs. It’s common for people to purchase used furniture for an unbeatable deal or pick a piece up off the curb, only to realize later that it’s infested with bed bugs. So, the next time you’re tempted to give discarded furniture a new home, it may be wise to think twice about the price.

Turning to Treatment

One of the most important things to keep in mind when it comes to bed bugs is that it’s easier and cheaper to treat an infestation early. Simply throwing out the mattress isn’t a solution, as bed bugs can hide in a variety of cracks throughout your home. It’s best to call in the professionals as soon as you have a suspicion that these bothersome bugs are harboring in your home.

Fight Back Against Bed Bugs with Professional Help

Bed bugs are currently one of the greatest challenges facing the pest control industry. But at Lloyd Pest Control, we have the expert bed bug treatments you need to carefully and effectively banish existing bugs from your bedroom. While bed bugs can always come back due to their traveling nature, we approach them with a variety of treatments, including:

• Removing them with a vacuum-chambered device
• Sealing the mattress and box spring in a bug-proof encasement
• Administering a variety of pesticides to targeted areas
• Applying heat treatments when preferred

We also conduct follow-up treatments to ensure they are stopped at every life stage. By checking every possible hiding place, we want to ensure no bug gets left behind. If you need help combatting bed bugs in Southern California, contact Lloyd Pest Control for the most thorough solution.

The post The Frustrating Factors That Have Helped Bed Bugs Flourish first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

In the past, bed bugs have been notoriously difficult to treat due to how resilient their eggs are to pesticides. But at Lloyd Pest Control, we provide proven bed bug control across Southern California, and we’ve developed several methods for treating bed bugs.

Preparing for Treatment

First, we enlist the help of man’s best friend. Dogs have proven to be able to detect bed bugs with unmatched accuracy (Don’t worry, we can admit a dog is better at finding bed bugs than us. Our egos aren’t that fragile.). Once our certified K-9 inspectors have nosed out the location of the infestation, we’ll discuss all your treatment options.

Treatment Options

Targeted Treatments

For isolated colonies, we may suggest targeted treatments. This process involves vacuum removal of all bed bugs from the affected area, sealing beds and encasements, and applying residual pesticides. A follow-up inspection is required to ensure eradication of all bed bug eggs.

Fumigation

For large, multi-family complexes or office buildings, we will often opt to fumigate. This is an involved but very effective process – one that requires tenting the entire complex and pumping it full of bed bug-killing gas. Residents and pets can’t be present for during fumigation, unfortunately requiring them to find a place to stay for a couple days. Also, all perishable food must be bagged to prevent contamination. So yes, fumigation is a hassle, but it is incredibly effective in eradicating all stages of bed bugs (eggs to adult).

Fumigation Chamber

We can also treat single pieces of furniture (mattress, box spring, etc.) at our on-site fumigation chamber. This treatment method offers all the benefits of fumigation without the hassles that come from tenting.

Heat Treatment

Finally, depending on the context of the infestation, we can sometimes toast gross bed bugs with our targeted, non-chemical heat treatments, which also eliminate all stages of bed bugs.

Say Goodnight to Bed Bugs

The thought of bed bugs biting us while we sleep is pretty frightening, but with the right treatment, it doesn’t have to be a thought at all. At Lloyd Pest Control, we provide several options, working to eliminate your infestation in whatever way is best for you. If you need bed bug control in Southern California, contact us today.

The post How Do You Kill Bed Bugs? first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

As much as these bed bugs love to travel, there are ways to keep them from climbing aboard.

5 ways to be sure your next vacation is bed-bug free

Travel with Zip Lock bags- When traveling, Zip Lock bags can be a lifesaver. Not only can they keep your clothing and items clean and organized, but also they will prevent bed bugs from crawling into your stuff and hitching a ride back to your home.

Use Hard Luggage- Hardcover luggage bags do not have zippers, cloths or seams that can deteriorate or break down causing entry points for bed bugs. If you don’t own hard luggage, use luggage with color and texture that will make it easy to spot bed bugs.

Inspect where you stay- Whether you’re staying for a single night or for multiple weeks, before you unpack your bags check the room for bed bugs. Your 15-minute inspection could prevent a costly infestation in your home later on. Inspect underneath bed sheets, in the mattress seams, headboard, sofa and anywhere that bed bugs might frequent.

Keep luggage away from the beds- Placing luggage close to the bed can allow easy access to your belongings if bed bugs are present. Keep your luggage away from beds, couches – and off the carpet.

Wash it all! – The most important factor in having a bed bug free trip is the washing of your clothes. It all starts with how you pack. Refrain from bringing clothing that can only be washed in cold water. Hot water and the heat from a clothes dryer works well to kill bed bugs that could be hiding in clothing. A greater measure one can take when trying to avoid bed bugs on vacation is to stop off at a Laundromat on your way back home to give all of your clothing a good wash. If a Laundromat is not available, put your clothing directly into your own washer and dryer as soon as you get home.

By following these few simple tips you can greatly reduce the chance of bed bugs returning to your home. Bed bug control is one of the most difficult challenges facing the pest control industry. Once bed bugs have settled in your home, they can be difficult to get rid of. For quick detection, thorough inspections and properly-timed treatments contact Lloyd Pest Control today.

The post Bed Bugs: The Wrong Kind of Vacation Souvenirs first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

Some ants protect their nests with their heads

Aside from being able to carry objects 50 times their own body weight, ants display another behavior that is quite spectacular. head to protect its colony from unwanted guests.

Ants use to live alongside the dinosaurs over 130 million years ago. Fossilized evidence of ants and other insects have been found in lumps of amber, or plant resin.

Termites are less dirty than you might think

Termites, though they can be disastrous to your home, are actually a benefit to the environment. Termites are vital to earth’s decomposition of tough plant fibers. But that’s not what’s so cool about these pests.

Much of a termite’s life is spent cleaning other termites in the colony!

Bacteria and fungal infections can make quick work of termite colonies, which is why they spend such a great deal of time grooming each other to keep the colony clean. A termite’s antennae enable the termite to detect infections while they clean.

Bed bugs hide before you know they’ve bitten you

Over the past few years bed bugs have grown as a menace throughout Southern California and the entire country.

Bed bugs inject anti-coagulants and anesthetics into your skin so they can feed and hide before you even know they are around. The bed bug’s saliva acts as an anesthetic thus masking the bite and increasing the speed of the feeding process.

Spiders limbs work like that of a machine

While it’s true that almost every spider in the world is venomous, most spiders teeth are either too small or lack the potency of venom to harm people. But it’s not just the fangs and the venom that scare people. Spiders have a strange way of moving, which, as it turns out isn’t that different, mechanically speaking, than the more familiar movement of a common construction site excavator.

Spiders can control blood pressure in their limbs using a combination of hemolymph (arthropod blood) and extensor muscles located in the three hip joints, which allows them to move, and even jump in the case of jumping spiders.

Bees will create a new queen from existing larvae

Often, the only silver lining to a bee sting is the assumed knowledge that after a single sting, the bee dies.  The truth, however, is that honeybees don’t always die after stinging something. A bee stinger may become caught in a human’s skin but many other surfaces anima skins are more forgiving and will endure multiple stings without harm to the bee itself.

But despite all this seemingly violent behavior, bees are extraordinarily community driven. As a queen bee dies, she emits a pheromone that will cause worker bees to immediately create a new queen from existing larvae.

Fleas and brushes have something in common

Your dog or cat may disagree, but the flea is quite a magnificent creature. Not only can a flea jump 8-10 inches vertically (making it one of the best jumpers of any animal, relative to body size), and not only can the flea’s hard body withstand incredible pressure, but the common flea is in some ways similar to the common hair.

 The flea’s body is covered with hard plates called Sclerites. In the same why that a hair brush is designed to easily part the hair on your head, the flea’s hard body plates (called Sclerites) have hairs that point away from its head allowing it to easily crawl through your dog or cat’s fur.

Cockroaches just want to be loved…sort of

You may know that cockroaches can live for weeks without their heads, but did you know that they like to be touched? Cockroaches are thigmotropic, which means they like solid objects coming in contact with their bodies.

Despite how interesting these pests may be, they can be damaging to our home and health. That’s where Lloyd Pest Control comes in. Our elimination service covers Southern California with more than 200 radio-dispatched trucks, 200 licensed technicians, supervisors, a Quality Control staff, an entomologist, and a biologist. For more information about each of these pests and their eradication, contact Lloyd Pest Control today at 1.800.223.2847.

The post 7 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Pests first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

A recent study conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the University of Kentucky found that bed bug infestations are on the rise in many types of dwellings, including college settings. In fact, 54 percent of pest professionals surveyed had treated bed bug infestations in college dorms in 2011.

“Bed bugs are known for their uncanny hitchhiking abilities, so students returning to school should inspect their belongings and living area thoroughly before they unpack,” said J.R. Feagles, a customer care representative at Lloyd Pest Control. “If anything suspicious is found, we recommend immediately contacting a university facility manager.”

Experts at the NPMA offer these additional tips to help prevent bed bugs from becoming an unwanted college roommate:

1. Fully inspect your suitcases prior to re-packing for a return to school, especially if you have traveled during the summer. Be sure that any clothes that may have been previously packed in the suitcases have been washed and dried in hot temperatures.

2. Before putting your sheets on your dormitory bed, inspect the mattress seams, particularly at the corners, for telltale stains or spots. Thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking, including behind the headboard and in sofas/chairs.

3. If you are considering bringing “secondhand” furniture to campus, properly inspect it to insure that a pest problem, such as bed bugs, is not the reason for its “secondhand” status. If you see anything suspect, do not bring it to campus.

The post Prevent Bed Bugs from Going Back to School first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

A recent study conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the University of Kentucky found that bed bug infestations are on the rise in many places. In fact, 80% of pest professionals surveyed had treated bed bug infestations in hotels/motels in 2011.

Bed bugs can be found in places that people typically frequent during vacations, such as hotels. Travelers can be more susceptible to encountering bed bugs and can unknowingly bring them home.

We recommend the following steps to stay bed bug-free on vacation:

1. Thoroughly inspect the entire hotel room before unpacking and settling in, including behind the headboard and around the bottom of other furniture.
2. Pull back the hotel bed sheets and inspect the mattress seams, particularly the corners, for telltale spots or stains.
3. If any bed bugs are spotted, notify management and change rooms immediately. Be sure your new room is not adjacent to the possibly infested room.
4. Use a large plastic trash bag or a protective cover to store your luggage during your hotel stay.
5. When you return home, inspect and vacuum your suitcases thoroughly before bringing them into the house. Consider using a garment hand steamer to steam your luggage, which will kill any bed bugs.
6. Wash all your clothes – even the items not worn – in hot water.

If you suspect a bed bug infestation in Southern California, contact Lloyd Pest Control to identify the species and recommend a course of treatment.

The post How to Avoid Bed Bugs while Traveling first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

It is uncommon to experience bed bugs in a single-family residence, so don’t be frightened by the recent hysteria.

Bed bugs are more common in a high transient population, dorms and apartments.

They are passed around from one infested home to the other.

Although they are called “bed bugs,” the bugs can live anywhere that you are sedentary so that they can feed from your blood.

How to know if you have bed bugs

You find rust colored blood stains on your sheets.

Small bites on arms and legs result in red swollen and itchy skin.

How to prevent bed bugs

Sadly, the best prevention is to avoid contact with bed bugs altogether.  If you have been in contact with bed bugs, it doesn’t mean that a new colony will sprout at your home.  In order for bed bugs to proliferate at your property, you would have needed to import a pregnant female or a mated pair.

How to treat bed bugs

There is no at-home or over-the-counter remedy for bed bugs. Don’t even waste time trying different solutions — get them treated QUICKLY.  If just a single pregnant bed bug is left in your untreated home, four months later you’ll have 9,600 of them.  At the five-month mark, you’ll have 31,500.

If you spot any of the signs, a detailed and thorough inspection must take place by a professional. Bed bugs can hide where you would least expect.

There is sometimes a physical removal of live bugs with a vacuum-chambered device.  The mattress and box spring are sealed with bug-proof encasements to ensure any bed bugs that might have remained hidden inside are never able to escape.  Targeted residual and contact insecticides are also applied.  In the past year,  heat treatments have been used with great success.

Follow-up visits are also crucial and should be scheduled at intervals that match the hatching patterns of newly hatching bed bugs.

For more information about bed bugs in Southern California, contact Lloyd Pest Control.

The post Frequently Asked Questions About Bed Bugs first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

• It is uncommon to experience bed bugs in a single-family residence, so don’t be frightened by the recent hysteria.
• Bed bugs are more common in a high transient population, dorms and apartments.
• They are passed around from one infested home to the other.
• Although they are called “bed bugs,” the bugs can live anywhere that you are sedentary so that they can feed from your blood.

How to know if you have bed bugs?

• You find rust colored blood stains on your sheets.
• Small bites on arms and legs result in red swollen and itchy skin.

How to prevent bed bugs?

Sadly, the best prevention is to avoid contact with bed bugs altogether.  If you have been in contact with bed bugs, it doesn’t mean that a new colony will sprout at your home.  In order for bed bugs to proliferate at your property, you would have needed to import a pregnant female or a mated pair.

How to treat bed bugs?

• There is no at-home or over the counter remedy for bed bugs. Don’t even waste time trying different solutions — get them treated QUICKLY.  If just a single pregnant bed bug is left in your untreated home, four months later you’ll have 9,600 of them.  At the five-month mark you’ll have 31,500.
• If you spot any of the signs, a detailed and thorough inspection must take place by a professional. Bed bugs can hide where you would least expect.
• There is sometimes a physical removal of live bugs with a vacuum-chambered device.  We seal the mattress and box spring with bug-proof encasements to ensure any bed bugs that might have remained hidden inside are never able to escape.
• We also apply targeted residual and contact insecticides.  In the past year, we have employed heat treatments with great success.
  Follow-up visits are also crucial and should be scheduled at intervals that match the hatching patterns of newly hatching bed bugs.

Click here for further information about bed bugs.

The post Bed Bugs: Frequently Asked Questions first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.