Bed Bug Myths Debunked: Bed Bug Super Dogs Reveals Truth About Bed Bug Myths as People Scramble to Avoid Infestation

Bed Bug Myths Debunked: Bed Bug Super Dogs Reveals Truth About Bed Bug Myths as People Scramble to Avoid Infestation

Bed Bug Super Dogs, a leading provider of NESDCA-certified canine bed bug detection for individuals and large property owners, has identified – and debunked -- the top bed bug myths now circulating among those worried about a possible infestation. Finding bed bugs, freezing bed bugs, identifying bed bug bites, pesticide resistance among bed bugs -- all are items that are addressed.

New York, NY (PRWEB) December 17, 2010

Bed Bug Super Dogs, a leading provider of NESDCA-certified canine bed bug detection, has identified – and debunked -- the top bed bug myths now circulating among those worried about a possible infestation.

“Bed bugs are causing enormous, and in some cases unnecessary, anxiety,” said David Baer, CEO of Bed Bug Super Dogs. “Replacing myths with facts will help reduce fear, increasing public awareness and early detection, which are the best ways to prevent or limit the spread of the bugs.”

The myths and the facts (with thanks to entomologist Lou Sorkin):

•  You can find bed bugs by using a flashlight in a dark room.

Using a flashlight in a dark room – presumably in hopes of catching bed bugs by surprise as they search for victims – is not an effective way to determine if you have an infestation. A flashlight can help you look in cracks, but bed bugs can hide very effectively, and stalking bed bugs in the dark might drive you crazy. One way to help keep an eye out for the bugs is to use pastel-colored sheets, which provide a contrast against which it is easier to see pale-colored, unfed nymphs. This background may make it easier to find the difficult-to-see, young bed bug nymphs, especially those that have not yet fed.

•  Place infested items in the freezer to kill the bugs.

If you place an infested backpack in your freezer, you will have a cold, infested backpack. You will have to leave it there for months to kill the bugs, and the freezer has to be very cold to kill them. Some cooler temperatures can actually extend the life of the bug. Heat works better against bed bugs, especially low vapor steam or special heating units that bring temps up to 130/140 degrees Fahrenheit.

•  You can tell if it’s a bed bug from the bite mark.

Many bed bug bites look the same, but many do not, and many people have no reaction at all. In fact, many physicians tell patients that they cannot reliably diagnose from a bite alone. You have to find the bugs. Human inspection for the bugs is estimated at up to 30 percent accurate, while canine inspection can be up to 97 percent accurate.

•  Bed bugs bite at night when you are asleep (and won’t come out if the light is on).

Bed bugs feed any time of the day or night. If you sleep during day and work at night, bed bugs will adapt to your lifestyle. Most office spaces are occupied during daylight hours, so bed bugs in offices are active during the day in order to feed.

•  Bed bugs can fly.

Bed bugs have vestigial front wings, but no hind wings in the adult stage. They do not fly and they do not jump, but sometimes when they crawl quickly they will fall off a wall or ceiling and it can look like they hopped. Hitchhiking on or in objects transports the bugs to many places, but it is also possible for them to travel places by simply crawling.

•  Bed bugs only feed on humans.

The species, Cimex lectularius, the common bed bug, prefers humans, but can feed on any warm-blooded host, such as a cat, dog, guinea pig, etc.

•  Bed bugs are resistant to pesticides.

Certain bed bug populations have gene mutations that account for a specific pesticide resistance -- pyrethroid-resistance, for instance. But this does not mean that all pesticides now being used are ineffective. In order to efficiently exterminate the bugs, many exterminators favor an integrated – multi-approach – remediation effort.

•  Bed bug feces are black spots.

Bed bug fecal spotting is often black (the digested blood). However, uric acid deposition from nitrogenous waste is a lighter color, and it will look different if it is deposited on absorbent or non-absorbent materials, cloth versus vinyl, for instance.

Bed Bug Super Dogs recently released the results of a survey revealing that entomologists and pest control experts expect bed bugs to spread during the holiday travel season, and that hotels are considered the greatest risk of exposure to the fast-spreading parasite. Survey respondents included entomologists, bed bug experts and exterminators.

When asked if holiday travel (hotel visits, house guests, retail purchases, returning students) will affect the spread of bed bugs this year, more than 92 percent of experts said that it will increase or significantly increase the spread of the bugs.

A full 85 percent of bed bug experts identified hotels as the greatest risk of exposure to bed bugs. A smaller number of experts said house guests represent the greatest risk of exposure, while just 3.8 percent cited public transportation, school or dormitory as a top exposure risk.

Assessing the recent spread of the bugs, 34.6 percent of respondents said the number of bed bug incidents has doubled or more than doubled during the past 18 months. More than half, or 57 percent, said incidents have increased by 51 percent or more. No respondents said the incidents have decreased or stayed the same.

In a finding that might cause concern, a full 65 percent of experts said the number of bed bug incidents will increase by 51 percent or more during the next 18 months, and 34.6 percent said the number of incidents is likely to double. No respondents said they expect the number incidents to decrease or remain the same.

A full 42 percent of respondents said that people generally notice an infestation after six to eight weeks, a period of time that could enable an adult female bed bug to lay dozens of eggs.

More than 50 percent of experts said that humans can detect bedbugs with less than 25 percent accuracy, and 27 percent of respondents said the accuracy of human detection is 10 percent or less.

More than 80 percent of respondents said that trained, maintained and certified detection dogs have a greater than 86 percent accuracy in detecting bed bugs in the early stages of an infestation. More than 42 percent said the dogs were 96 percent (or more) accurate.

About Bed Bug Super Dogs
Bed Bug Super Dogs is New York City’s foremost bed bug inspection firm serving individuals and owners and managers of commercial, residential and retail property. The company uses highly trained NESDCA-certified scent dogs and handlers, providing detection services in the New York City metro area and to institutions nationally. Bed Bug Super Dogs is positioned to accommodate corporate clients and owners of multi-city portfolios who require a program of ongoing inspections to prevent an infestation and resulting reputation damage. Visit http://www. BedBugSuperDogs. com, or call 646 599-9986 for more information.

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