There are an estimated 243 million cases of Malaria reported worldwide each year. Marian McCord, a North Carolina State University researcher, has found an innovative way of fighting malaria by treating mosquito nets with diatomaceous earth.
 For most people in North Carolina who are bitten by a mosquito, the result is no worse than an itchy welt. But for people in tropical countries, mosquito bites often cause sickness and death from malaria.
Now an N.C. State University researcher aims to stop the disease spread by halting these insects in their prime, putting a dent in the estimated 243 million cases of malaria reported worldwide.
A mosquito usually lives up to two weeks, just enough time for a malaria parasite to mature and infect the insect’s victims. But diatomaceous earth – ground-up fossilized algae that is nontoxic to humans – is an insecticide that can kill mosquitoes in only a few days, said Marian McCord, a textile engineer at N.C. State.
“It’s very hard to keep a mosquito from biting you, and bed nets are just a physical barrier that can tear,” McCord said. “With diatomaceous earth, we can injure a mosquito, shorten its life span and potentially prevent others from becoming infected with malaria.”
As natural bait, the chalky, abrasive diatomaceous earth attracts insects. When a mosquito lands on it, the substance agitates and damages the waxy outer layer of the mosquito’s exoskeleton, making it susceptible to dehydration and disease. The injuries cut the mosquito’s life span to one or two days, eliminating its ability to transmit malaria. The insecticide is also effective against other pests, including bed bugs.
McCord said diatomaceous earth could be applied to textile materials, such as bed netting or upholstery, or scattered where mosquitoes land after they’ve eaten a meal.
The research is a step forward in fighting the spread of malaria, said Guirong Wang, a biological sciences researcher studying mosquitoes at Vanderbilt University. It is important, however, to determine the proper method for using diatomaceous earth safely.
“Using this method to shorten mosquito life spans is a great idea, since the particles used are nontoxic to humans and are environmentally friendly,” Wang said. “The question is how to use the diatomaceous earth in the field because, while it’s not toxic, it may adversely affect human lungs if used at a large scale.”
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 Bedbugs are small flat insects that feed on sleeping animals – and humans are one of their favorite targets. They are experts at hiding and tend to live within several feet of where their hosts sleep.
Bedbugs are making a comeback and it is leading to heightened levels of bedbug infestations and anxiety. Bedbugs were more common in the mid-twentieth century, but they were mostly eradicated by the widespread spraying of DDT. Experts think that factors such as world travel and the lack of effective pesticides have led to the resurgence of bedbugs.
Bedbug cases are popping up all across the country. From movie theaters to high end penthouses, bedbugs are spreading both their eggs and stigma all over the Canada. Last year in Toronto there were 9,683 bedbug complaints, up 29% from the previous year and 53% above the year before.
As one preventative buyer told Canada-Bedbugs.com, “It’s like terrorism, you just cross your fingers and keep going.”
Bed bugs ride around on clothing, overnight bags, bedding, books, furniture, and basically anywhere else. They do not transmit disease, but they do leave nasty, itchy red welts all over you.
What’s to be done about bedbugs? Are there any viable non-toxic solutions? The Health Canada has a few suggestions:
- Remove as much clutter as possible to cut down on bedbug hiding spaces.
- Vacuum, steam clean seal cracks, and use heat treatments.
- Apply double sided tape around bedposts to trap the insects and prevent them from traveling up and down bedposts.
- Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around corners and beds.
More about Diatomaceous Earth: it is composed of little tiny fossils of single-celled algae. These tiny fossils have jagged edges that will cut an insect, causing them to gradually scratch their protective waxy outer layer and dry out if they crawl across it. The insects dry out and die over 24-48 hours. The diatomaceous earth particles are too small to hurt mammals, and it is non-toxic. Admittedly it doesn’t sound like the most pleasant way to get rid of bed bugs – but it is better than continuously exposing yourself to poisonous chemicals.
This is a cute article from the Utah Daily Herald about the benefits of Diatomaceous Earth. Here at Canada-Bedbugs.com we have noticed a definite increase in the number of people ordering diatomaceous earth as a food supplement or for their gardens. What do you use diatomaceous earth for?
 The description of diatomaceous earth sounds like it should conclude with, “But wait, there’s more!” and “Four easy payments of $29.99.”
The powdered mineral has all the infomercial earmarks — it’s all-natural, you’ve likely never heard of it before and it can de-worm your dog, kill bed bugs and even revive your lawn, all while posing no risk to your loved ones, users say.
“I don’t want to cram it down my friends’ and neighbors’ throats, but I think people would be interested in it if they knew what it was,” said Mona Ashton, who distributes the stuff out of her Mapleton home.
Diatomaceous earth is basically the pulverized fossil shells of single-cell water plants called diatoms, found in both fresh and salt water, said Merv Haney, president of diatomaceous earth distributor Perma-Guard. The porous and jagged shells abrade and absorb the waxy coating on insect bodies, thus dehydrating and killing them, he said, while leaving mammalian insides and outsides unharmed.
“It’s not a fad; it’s a good product,” said Andy Linares, president of New York City-based Bug Off Pest Control Center, which sponsors the yearly New York Pest Expo. He had a hard time moving the stuff off his shelves the first time he bought it, he said, but when bed bugs made a comeback five or six years ago, he started selling out.
He said a University of Kentucky study found it to be only the third-most effective powder against the stubborn critters, but more active substances require a license. And customers like that it’s chemical-free and harmless to humans and pets, barring some lung and skin irritation if it’s carelessly applied, he said.
“I’m confident in selling it because of research results,” Linares said.
Beyond bugs, some folks are finding uses in agriculture, livestock and even human health.
Ashton became a local Perma-Guard customer/distributor after hearing somewhere — she can’t remember where — that diatomaceous earth mixed into feed keeps chickens healthy, she said. She had to find a way for a coop of hens, her kids, her garden and her grass to all play nice in the same backyard, and that meant no pesticides.
That’s when diatomaceous earth became a “housewife’s best friend,” she said.
First, it went into the chicken feed; her chickens stayed healthy and developed soft, shiny feathers. Then, she scattered it in the coop, where it dried out the droppings and killed the larvae therein, eliminating the stench and the inevitable swirl of flies.
Next, under the apricot trees, where the fallen fruit used to produce stink and flies as it soured; next, a generous dusting on her corn and bean sprouts, which kept the earwigs and grasshoppers at bay. The high absorbency of diatomaceous earth also keeps more water on the plants, she said, which means her grass also benefits from the chicken feed mix-in, eventually.
“I haven’t fertilized the lawn all summer,” she said. She sprays driveway cracks and the corners of her house with an old mustard bottle filled with diatomaceous earth, which eliminated a stubborn ant infestation. Now she’s even looking into claims that consuming the mineral will detox the body and possibly lower cholesterol.
“It’s hard to keep a level head, and not think it’s a cure-all for everything, and all we need in life,” she said. “It doesn’t make my teeth whiter, but it did kill worms in my chickens.”
As for safety, the Ashtons comfortably eat vegetables coated in the mineral, and sprinkle it into their stores of grains and rice. This keeps out weevils, first of all, but also keeps the grains fresh and clump-free. In fact, the anti-clumping property is the only use the government has approved for food-grade diatomaceous earth, Haney said.
“Perma-Guard hasn’t had a lot of money in its past. Therefore, it’s never been able to afford to do all the expensive tests to register it as a de-wormer, colon cleanser, etc.,” he said, despite the fact that it has been used as such as many as 4,000 years ago in China.
Even so, Perma-Guard will sell about 300 truckloads — at 44,000 pounds a pop — of diatomaceous earth this year, he said, including overseas, but the reason you probably haven’t heard of it is because legally, he and the handful of its other makers can only bill it as an anti-caking agent.
All the other uses — a quick Google search will yield skin exfoliation, stronger teeth and gums and even alleviation from menopause — have to get around through experimentation and word of mouth, he said.
To view the original article, click HERE.
 CBS News ranked the US’s 15 worst ranked cites. You can view the complete list here. If you have plans to travel to any of these cities in the near future, be sure to check out our articles on preventing bedbugs while traveling. Some items you may want to consider bringing along are Space Bags or an equivalent to keep your clothes sealed until you can get them into a hot soapy wash cycle when you get back, diatomaceous earth to sprinkle near your bed and in your suitcase, and rubbing alcohol.
15) Minneapolis, Minn.
Minneapolis may be the city of lakes, but it’s swimming in bedbugs.
A January report from the Star Tribune says the city is buying up industrial-sized heat machines to blast the bugs out of its housing projects.
“People had been in the pest control business for 30 or 40 years and had never seen a bedbug, Greg Grabow, a sales rep for Thermal Remediation, the company that makes the machines, told the paper, “Now they’re everywhere.”
That’s enough to grab the city the 15 spot.
14) Cleveland
Sure, Cleveland houses the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Terminix says the city is now getting rocked by bedbugs.
Rick Novickis, supervisor of environmental health services for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, told Fox station WJW-TV that “bed bugs are double what they were last year.”
Perhaps that’s why the city has earned a proud place at number 14 on the list.
13) Louisville, Ky.
Kentucky’s biggest city has a big problem – and it’s crawling on six legs. And according to one local new report, state agencies feel helpless against it.
“We won’t be able to stop bedbugs in Kentucky just like the rest of the country won’t be able to,” Guy Delius, director of Kentucky’s public health protection and safety agency, told WLKY.
12) Indianapolis
Indianapolis may be home to the Indy 500, but it is bedbugs that are racing into the city’s sheets.
“They’re here. They’re here to stay. They’re going to be transferred anywhere humans are,” local exterminator Elia Levin exclaimed to local station WTHR.
In June, a coalition of education and health officials met to plan against a feared attack of the six-legged beasties in the public school system, according to TV station WXIN.
So far, so good, they said.
11) Boston
Perhaps Bean Town should be called Bug Town.
According to the Boston Herald, the nasty critters have invaded the city’s most posh suburbs and the area’s elite are trying to keep it hush-hush.
“Cleanup crews are instructed to show up in unmarked vans at off-peak hours,” the paper reports.
Well, the secret’s out now. Boston came in 11 on the list.
10) Los Angeles
Ordinarily, Los Angeles might happy to edge out perennial rival Boston. Only this time it’s not the Lakers vs. the Celtics. It’s blood-sucking bedbugs. LA comes in at number nine on the list of bedbug-infested cities, just one ahead of Boston. Talk about bad blood.
9) Washington, D.C.
Republicans and Democrats might not agree on much, but they probably agree that bedbugs should have no place in the nation’s capital. Too bad Washington, D.C. comes in number nine on the list of bedbug-infested cities.
8 ) Dayton, Ohio
Residents of Dayton had better get used to all the bedbugs showing up in their community. “They are going to be here awhile until we learn how to control them,” Montgomery County’s director of environmental health, Mark Case, told the Dayton Daily News.
Dayton comes in number eight on the list of most bedbug-infested cities.
7) Columbus, Ohio
Planning a stay in Columbus? You can find gorillas, leopards, and Siberian tigers at the Columbus Zoo. No telling where you might see bedbugs. Recent infestations of the insects put Columbus number seven on the list of most bedbug-infested cities.
6) Denver
What’s up in the Mile High City? The number of people calling exterminators about bedbugs. Instead of five to 10 calls a month, one local pest control expert said he was getting hundreds of calls, reported KWGN TV in Denver.
The bloodsuckers have made appearances at dozens of movie theaters and hotels, as well as many homes and apartment buildings.
5) Chicago
Bedbugs are making a comeback across Illinois, and Chicago is ground zero.
The state’s public health director, Dr. Damon T. Arnold, is urging citizens to learn more about how the bugs operate. “To help reduce this problem, I encourage everyone to learn the signs of bed bug infestations, how the bugs spread, what you can do to prevent getting them and what to do if you find bed bugs,” he said in a written statement.
4) Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio is crawling with bedbugs. Four cities in the Buckeye state showing up on the list of most bedbug-infested cities, and Cincinnati tops the list. The city’s public library is among places where the bugs have been spotted, according to Cincinnati.com. Will bedbugs give bookworms a run for the money?
3) Detroit
Motown’s population has been in decline, but as humans have moved out, bedbugs seem to be moving in. Detroit comes in at number three on list of most bedbug-infested cities.
2) Philadelphia
There’s one thing the home of the Liberty Bell isn’t free of: bedbugs. Reportedly enough of the creepy crawlies have taken root in the City of Brotherly Love to earn a vaunted number two slot on the list.
1) New York City
Bedbugs have taken a big bite out of the Big Apple, and the bloodsuckers have shown up at some pretty tony places. Infestations have been reported at the Empire State Building, as well as Victoria’s Secret, trendy clothing store Hollister and many hotels. Even politicians are feeling the sting: Bedbugs have reportedly shown up in former President Clinton’s office in Harlem.
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 New York (CNN) — A 25-screen movie theater in New York’s bustling Times Square is the latest city business to shut down temporarily as it battles a bedbug infestation.
The AMC Empire 25 movie theater closed Tuesday night for extermination and reopened Wednesday. According to an AMC spokesman, the closure was part of a two-week follow-up treatment after bedbugs were detected on theater seats in early August.
“Based on our pest control specialists’ recommendation, we retreat theaters two weeks after their initial treatment. In the case of our Empire 25 theater, the two-week follow-up treatment occurred last night, August 17,” AMC Entertainment spokesperson Justin Scott said. “Unfortunately, a guest reported bedbug bites at Empire 25 this past weekend, so we quickly reinspected the auditorium in question and, upon finding bedbugs in that auditorium, we immediately closed it until it received treatment last night.”
The bloodsucking pests were found at another New York AMC location, the Magic Johnson Harlem 9, on July 30. The theater was treated by pest control specialists before being reopened, Scott said.
Reports of bedbugs in New York City have been mounting, with sightings not only in apartment buildings, but also in commercial retail facilities and offices around the city. Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch and Victoria’s Secret stores, as well as the Time Warner Center, home of CNN’s New York offices, are just a few of the locations that have reported treating for bedbugs.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/18/new.york.bedbugs.amc/
Here is a story about one Canadian pet owner’s battle with fleas and how she used natural methods to conquer the problem:
My dog had a pretty bad flea problem last spring that we caught pretty late. He had recently changed climates (from desert to the pacific northwest) and was already suffering from sensitive skin, so we were very careful in our treatment of him because we did not want to stress him out emotionally or his stress his body with a bunch of poisons or traumatic trips to the vet for flea dips.
My friend’s dad has a Masters in Entomology (the study of Insects) and gave me a few tips:
We conquered the flea problem using a combination of food-grade diatomaceous earth (not the pesticide stuff or the stuff that has boric acid mixed in) and Lavender and Lemon Essential Oils.
 We washed him VERY thoroughly. Lathered the poor pup up, let the shampoo sit on his body, groin and legs for 5 min and then rinsed until he was squeaky clean. I used 50% flea shampoo, and 50% sensitive skin dog shampoo to which I added a squirt of Lemon Essential Oil and a squirt of Lavender Essential Oil.- We vacuumed every day and then sprinkled a fine layer of Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth over the carpet and his sleeping area. We also used a paint brush to work it into the edges of the carpet, baseboards, etc. We also did a fairly heavy application of diatomaceous earth to the front walkway and backyard where we believe the flea infestation originated.
- In his groin area, we soothed his irritated skin and prevented new fleas with a combo of pure Jojoba oil purchased at a Whole Foods mixed with a few drops of Lemon essential oil and and Lavender essential oil. The essential oil acted as a natural repellant for the fleas.
We repeated the shampoos treatments weekly, the vaccuming and indoor diatomaceous earth applications diatomaceous daily, and outdoor diatomaceous earth applications weekly.
All of the items that we used were edible so that as he grooms himself he can consume the items without harm. We have been without fleas for about 2 months now.
A plus side is that the use of essential oils has made him smell delightful!
Do you have unintended roommates? Where you sleep may also be home to bedbugs. 
If you suspect that you may have bedbugs, your bedroom is the best place to start your bed bug inspection. Your bed is ground zero if you have bed bugs. Even the cleanest homes can have them.
Gently inspect your mattress. Gently, because if you have bedbugs, moving slowly will not agitate them as much and you may have a chance to vacuum the bedbugs up.
Do a thorough inspection on the seams and folds of your mattress. Look for adult bedbugs – about the size of apple seeds – and the light-dark brown droppings and light brown cast skins of the nymphs.
Rips and tears in your mattress provide lots of hiding spaces for bedbugs. Remember that bedbugs are normally only active in the early hours of the morning (2–4 am) so the rest of the time the bedbugs look for good places to hide that are close to their next evening meal – you. Generally bedbugs don’t hide on the top of your mattress – too exposed. Bedbugs prefer to hide under the mattress, in the many hiding spots of the box spring and in cracks of the bed frame. They like to rest close to their next meal.
Your box spring is a big target for bedbugs. Turn it over and remove the gauze fabric to gain access for inspection and possible treatment. Use a flashlight a vacuum to inspect. The wooden frame of the box spring is a preferred bedbug residence and is the most likely place you will find them.
 With the bed taken apart, it is important that you give it a good vacuum before you treat and put it back together. The bedbug eggs are well hidden and even a strong vacuum is not likely to dislodge all of them from their hiding spots. Be sure to immediately dispose of the vacuum contents in a sealed trash bag.
You might want change your clothes as bedbug eggs are sticky and you can spread them around. Wash all clothes in hot water using a borax based soap. Dry using high heat for 10 minutes longer. Add a little diatomaceous earth to your dry clothes & closet.
After cleaning – apply diatomaceous earth blend (available in our store) with a paintbrush to your box spring, bed frame, and mattress. Check out these videos for more information.
CBC news posted a great article warning about a possible bedbug pandemic and its implications for Canada. To read the full article, visit CBC News. Thanks CBC for the great reporting!
“Bedbug pandemic” possible, group warns
By CBC News, Wed Aug 4 2010
 An international survey of pest control companies suggests the world is on the verge of a “bedbug pandemic,” says the U.S. National Pest Management Association.
The survey of nearly 1,000 companies, conducted by the University of Kentucky and released last week, found they have experienced an 81 per cent increase in bedbug calls since 2000.
“The results of the 2010 Comprehensive Global Bed Bug Study suggest that we are on the threshold of a bedbug pandemic, not just in the United States, but around the world,” Missy Henriksen, vice-president of public affairs for NPMA, said in a news release.
Several factors are combining to allow the spread of bedbugs. People are travelling more, and the insects tend to hitch a ride on clothing and in suitcases, creating a worldwide distribution network. In addition, many of the pesticides previously used to control them are no longer effective.
“The insecticides that used to be used before, they were fairly toxic and they’re off the market now,” said Christine Noronha, an entomologist with Agriculture Canada.
 “So you can’t use that, and they have developed a resistance to a lot of those insecticides anyway.”
Because of their tendency to travel, bedbugs are a particular headache for hotel operators. Most operators these days put their housekeeping staff through specialized training to spot them.
“There seems to be an intensity of bedbugs in hotels,” said Walter VanBeek, president of the Hotel Association of P.E.I.
“Bedbugs can come in on luggage, and once they come into the hotel, they may make this their home.”
Planes, dorms and movie theatres
It is not just a hotel problem. The survey results show domestic cases topped the list for pest control companies, with close to 90 per cent of companies reporting they had treated cases in private homes. College dormitories, public transit and movie theatres were also on the list of bedbug habitats.
Charlottetown exterminator David Herring said he’s seen the signs of the growing problem.
“When I first started we didn’t see that many, a few calls a year,” said Herring.
“I’ve probably done 15, maybe even 20 jobs this year so far.”
Herring said getting rid of bedbugs is a long process. It generally involves two or three trips to a home to spray and steam, and costs hundreds of dollars.
 “It’s a major endeavour to go through the process and get rid of them completely,” he said.
“Usually from start to finish, you could be talking a couple months.”
Stopping bedbugs from entering your home can be difficult. The best you can do is act quickly once you suspect they’re there, before they multiply and create an even bigger problem.
 In addition to be an excellent tool for preventing and killing bedbugs, food-grade diatomaceous earth has many uses in and around the home. Food grade diatomaceous earth makes a very effective natural insecticide.
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is EPA approved to be mixed with animal feed to control mealworms and other pests and has been exempted from tolerance requirements as an inert, inactive ingredient in chemical pesticides. The insecticidal quality of diatomaceous earth is due to the microscopic razor sharp edges of the diatom fossils – under a microscope, diatomaceous earth looks like sharp honeycombs. Food grade diatomaceous earth works in a purely physical manner – not chemically – and thus has no chemical toxicity. Parasites and insects don’t build up a tolerance to its chemical reaction.
For pets and humans, use of diatomaceous earth can help eliminate worms and reduce toxins in the digestive tract. One study showed that: In clinical observations of feeding dogs over 35 lbs. 1 tbsp./day and under 35 lbs. 1 tsp./day of DE, within seven days all ova disappeared from stools. DE controlled Ascardis (Toxacara canids), Hookworms (Anclyostoma caninum), and Whipworms (Trichuris vulipis). (CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS OF FEEDING CODEX FOOD GRADE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH TO DOGS, O.C. Collins, DVM, Midland Animal Clinic And Hospital, Midland, TX)
Daily recommended feeding amounts for Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth are generally listed in amounts similar to the below quantities:
Kittens – 1/2 teaspoon
Cats – 1 teaspoon
Puppies – 1/2 to 1 tsp.
Dogs under 35 lbs. – 1 teaspoon
Dogs over 35 lbs. – 1 tablespoon
Dogs over 100 lbs. – 2 tablespoons
Cattle, Dairy Cows and Hogs – 2% of dry feed ration
Chickens – 5% in feed
Goats, Sheep, Alpacas, and Llamas – 2%
in grain Horses – 1/2 to 1 cup in daily ration
Humans – 1 heaping tablespoon daily
Other bugs that are affected by diatomaceous earth are ants, caterpillars, cut worms, army worms, fleas, ticks, cockroaches, snails, spiders, termites, scorpions, silverfish, lice, mites, centipedes, earwigs, slugs, aphids, Japanese beetles (grub stage), corn earworm, cucumber beetles, corn borer, sting bugs, squash vine borers, thrips, loopers, and many more.
 There is another green alternative to bedbug pesticides on the horizon thanks to inventor Lawrence Chadnik. Health Canada has given Chadnik the seal of approval to market Cryonite as a bedbug killer. Cryonite works by quickly freezing the bedbugs to death using pressurized carbon dioxide snow. The below article provides more information about this interesting new bedbug eliminating technology.
To view the original article, please click here.
Congratulations to Lawrence for providing a new poison free method for killing bedbugs to the Canadian market.
A New Weapon Hunts Bedbugs
By Scott Taylor, QMI Agency
In the war on bedbugs, pesticides aren’t always the answer.
As the population of the tiny creepy crawlers grows, not every hotel and home can stay vacated, sometimes for days, while chemicals to the job.
Lawrence Chadnik thinks he has the answer. The owner of Rest Assured MC says Cryonite kills the pests effectively without the use of harmful chemicals. Cryonite is carbon dioxide snow that is pressurized. When it’s applied it kills bedbugs by freezing them to death instantly.
It took Chadnik two long years to get Health Canada approval, but all systems are go — and not a moment too soon.
“Bedbugs are such a huge problem,” he said. “They were a problem two years ago and they’re twice the problem now.”
He said no one is immune because bedbugs can be picked up anywhere and brought home. Their eggs are extremely sticky and can survive in all sorts of conditions.
“There are a lot of different reasons people have them. One of them is travelling and picking up bedbugs in hotels. You can get them in movie theatres and anywhere. They’re hitchhikers, so if somebody has bedbug eggs on their pants and they go to a movie theatre the next one in picks them up and brings them home. You don’t know you have them for a month, but then you do.”
Once he convinced the government that a strong, green counterattack could be mounted, he set his sights on marketing the system.
“The product is going to be marketed to pest-control companies, hotels, hospitals, anywhere there are beds. They can use this green treatment to get rid of them and someone can go into the room right after without fear of toxins,” he said. “A hotel can go and treat a room and somebody can sleep in this room without sleeping with chemicals to breathe in.”
New Jersey-based Stern Environmental Group owner Douglas Stern said the need for a more environmentally friendly method has multiplied as the pests have. He said that while no one has seen them yet, it’s believed bedbugs are now in mass transit.
“We know they’re there, even if we haven’t seen them, and that means everyone can pick them up.”
But the Cryonite works, he said, because of the sudden change in temperature.
“You can’t do it slowly. Put them in a freezer and take them out in six months and they’ll still be alive.”
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