Category Archives: Green Pest Control

Using Diatomaceous Earth After Spraying for Bedbugs

Posted on December 29, 2009 by admin| 2 Comments

Lasts 6 months

Are you planning on having your home sprayed for bedbugs? Pesticides only work a short time and any bedbugs that are hiding may be missed.

A good second line of defense is special diatomaceous earth based mix DE-10. Put a little around your bed legs and mattresses – a little goes a long way and kills bedbugs for up to 6 months.

You have endured chemical exposure to a mixture of materials that are toxic to bedbugs. Usually it has been sprayed around your living and sleeping areas. Generally these sprays are effective for local bedbug populations for contact killing. The residues have been found to be less and less effective. So you may not be able to count on one application to get rid of your problem. Plan on more sprays being done as bed bugs hide during spraying and eggs are resistant and hatch after spraying.

Diatomaceous earth has the advantages of being edible, non-toxic, effective and long lasting. One application can last 6 months – long enough to get any new bedbugs. It works by scratching the bedbug’s shell and they dry out and die – usually with 24 hours. It can also protect your luggage when traveling – avoids bringing bedbugs home.

Because it is a physical control, bedbugs don’t develop resistance to it. You don’t have to worry about adverse chemical effects on your family’ s long term health.

It is an ideal alternative to repeated spraying. Please check the videos out for how to apply it. Contact us for any questions. Our consultations are free.

Physical control – Simple, effective, long lasting and green.

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Posted in Bedbug Prevention, Bedbug-Powder, Diatomaceous Earth, Exterminate Bedbugs, Green Pest Control, Natural Bedbug Control

Tagged Bedbug Control, Bedbug Infestations, Bedbug Prevention, Canada diatomaceous earth, Natural Bedbug Control

Bedbug Home Pesticide Risk

Posted on December 16, 2009 by admin| 4 Comments

mother holding baby 200x300 Bedbug Home Pesticide Risk

Pesticides can last long enough to provide toxic exposure to infants according to a research article in the American Journal of Public Health (1990: 80:689-693).

The study found that air and surface pesticide residues (using chlorpyrifos) were measured for 24 hours following a professional application inside a residence. Two of the three treated rooms were ventilated following application. Contaminated air concentrations of 30 micrograms/m3 were detected in the infant activity areas 24 hours after application. Surface residues up to 0.5 micrograms/cm2 were found 24 hours after the application.

It is estimated that the total absorbed doses for infants were up to 0.16 mg/kg on the day of application and up to 0.06 mg/kg the day following application, with skin absorption representing approximately 68 percent of the totals. These doses were up to 5.2 times the human No Observable Effect Level (NOEL) and could result in doses at or above the threshold of toxicological response in infants.

Public health authorities are becoming more sensitive to the problem of home pesticide exposure. Lawsuits are expensive. Over 5,000 incidents involving pesticides in the home have been reported from 1966 to 1979 according to Public Health. Long term effects are still unknown.

Infants and children are especially vulnerable to pesticides and special consideration should be taken by homeowners if they have or expect visits from children.

If homeowners suspect they have bedbugs, they are naturally concerned about the impact on their home life. Panic often sets in and a rapid call often results in pesticide in the home. Multiple spraying is the norm as bedbugs have become resistant to most domestic pesticides. What are the alternatives for the pesticide sensitive homeowner?

Diatomaceous earth.

Quick, clean and discrete. A GREEN alternative.

Posted in Green Pest Control, How To Kill Bedbugs, Natural Bedbug Control, Pesticide Concerns, Pesticide Residue, Pesticide Safety, Pesticides, Published Bedbug Articles, Thermal Treatment

Tagged About Bedbugs, Avoid Pesticide, Bedbug Control, Bedbug Infestations, Bedbug Prevention, Bedbugs at Home, Canada diatomaceous earth, Cost of Bedbugs, Green Control, Heat Remediation, INDOOR PESTICIDE, INFANT RISK, Natural Bedbug Control, Pesticide Free Control, PESTICIDE RISK

How To Get Rid Of Bedbugs

Posted on December 9, 2009 by admin| 4 Comments

The bedbug Cimex lentularis has been a companion of man for centuries. There are other several species known to bite man. Most of these others are associates with bats or swallows and other birds and are found in nests in attics and eaves of homes. If the nests are abandoned, the bedbugs may enter the home in search of food – a human blood meal.

FreeCouch 300x225 How To Get Rid Of Bedbugs

More commonly, bedbugs are transported from residence to residence as hitchhikers in suitcase, sports bags, bedding, pre-owned clothes, old mattresses, second hand furniture, firewood from demolished homes, and old books.

The human bug requires 1 to 7 weeks to develop depending on the temperature. As most bugs reside inside homes, they are not too seasonal. However, the travel season creates a big push for bedbug outbreaks. Lots of measures including using DE-10 can help reduce the risk.

The bedbug has glands on its body that secrete an oily sweet odor. They also leave brood droppings and blood spots on sheets. These can be due to accidental crushing of partially fed nymphs or adults. Bite victims can also continue to bleed for a short time.

They can usually be found near the pillow – in the seams and tufts in the mattress, inside the box spring, frame, headboards, loose wall paper, mattress buttons, seams, handles, vents, calendars, pictures, furniture, wall outlets, vents, switches, wall cracks, and floors. In all, anywhere there is find a crack – they can hide.

All of these locations can be treated with diatomaceous earth blend.

Unlike pesticide sprays which need to be re-applied several times – physical controls usually only need to be done once.

Diatomaceous earth blends are the new alternative as pesticides become less effective.

Quick, clean, pesticide free and cost effective.

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Posted in About Bedbugs, Bedbug Control, Bedbug Eggs, Bedbug Infestations, Bedbug Prevention, Bedbug-Powder, BedBugs, Bedbugs at Home, Exterminate Bedbugs, Finding Bedbugs, Green Pest Control, Heat Treatment, How To Kill Bedbugs, Natural Bedbug Control, Pesticide Concerns, Pesticide Residue, Pesticide Safety, Pesticides, Thermal Treatment, Travel and Bedbugs

Tagged About Bedbugs, Avoid Pesticide, Bedbug Control, Bedbug Infestations, Bedbug Prevention, Bedbugs at Home, Canada Bedbugs, Natural Bedbug Control, Travel and Bedbugs

Killing Bedbug Eggs

Posted on December 9, 2009 by admin| 6 Comments

Bedbug eggs

Bedbug eggs are a survival capsule.

Pesticides have less effect on bedbug eggs. Their capsule protects the eggs from pesticides.

Bedbugs can emerge after spraying when the pesticide residues are less effective.

Pesticide spraying may provide short term results. They are designed to lose toxicity fast.

Adults & nymphs sprayed on contact are usually be killed. They are often less susceptible to the pesticide residues.

Effective pesticide control usually relies on spraying multiple times to break the life-cycle – adults hide and bedbug eggs are hardy and hidden.

Bedbugs lay 300 eggs during their 6-12 month life cycle – up to 10 a day. Eggs hatch every 1 to 3 weeks or can last for months.

Eggs are cemented to a substrate and are hard to dislodge or vacuum off. The cover is resistant to some pesticides.

When eggs are laid, they can be sticky from the cement “glue” and can attach to anything – especially when brushed by clothes and bedding. Those eggs can attach and travel across the hall or around the world.

They are spread easily but are hard to control. Expensive not to control.

Long term physical controls such as DIATOMACEOUS EARTH blends have shown effective results in reducing pesticides in the home.

Newly emerged bedbug nymphs are physically damaged by any diatomaceous earth they touch – disrupting their internal water balance. As a result they dry out (desiccate) and die within 24 hours. The diatomaceous earth continues to provide control for as long as it is around – typically 6 months from a single application.

Combined with sanitation, physical control methods are becoming important with pesticide resistant bedbugs.

You may not want to know the cost of life with bedbugs.

Act as soon as you suspect bedbugs.

Posted in About Bedbugs, Bedbug Control, Bedbug Eggs, Bedbug Infestations, Bedbug Prevention, Bedbug Statistics, Bedbug-Powder, BedBugs, Bedbugs at Home, Bedbugs in Apartments, Bedbugs in Hotels, Canada Bedbugs, Exterminate Bedbugs, Finding Bedbugs, Green Pest Control, Heat Treatment, How To Kill Bedbugs, Natural Bedbug Control, Pesticide Concerns, Pesticide Residue, Pesticide Safety, Pesticides, Steam Treatment, Travel and Bedbugs

Tagged About Bedbugs, Bedbug Control, Bedbug Infestations, Bedbug Prevention, Bedbug Statistics, Bedbug Traps, Bedbugs at Home, Canada diatomaceous earth, Natural Bedbug Control, Travel and Bedbugs

Heat Treatment for Bedbugs

Posted on December 8, 2009 by admin| 2 Comments

Bedbugs Worst Enemy

For control of bedbugs, fleas, ticks, mites and other pests — consider heat remediation. No control is expensive.

Bedbugs are very sensitive to heat and will die if heated to 120 + degrees F.

Heat has been used to treat stored food pests for some time.

Heat can be an effective tool to deal with bedbug outbreaks. The challenge is in creating an appropriate heat treatment facility.

Raincity Housing in Vancouver has proven the worth of HEAT with their bedbug outbreaks.

They created a room to heat mattresses and other bug infested materials. It has worked well for their needs.

When an outbreak occurs they are able to respond quickly and minimize their use of pesticides.

Posted in About Bedbugs, Bedbug Control, Bedbug Eggs, Bedbug Infestations, Bedbug Prevention, Bedbug-Powder, Bedbugs in Apartments, Canada Bedbugs, Exterminate Bedbugs, Finding Bedbugs, Green Pest Control, Heat Treatment, How To Kill Bedbugs, Pesticide Concerns, Pesticide Residue, Pesticides, Steam Treatment, Thermal Treatment

Tagged About Bedbugs, Avoid Pesticide, Bedbug Control, Bedbug Infestations, Bedbug Prevention, Bedbug Traps, Bedbugs at Home, Cost of Bedbugs, Natural Bedbug Control