How did or how do bed bugs get into my home? The answer to this occurrence is that they hitchhike. Bed bugs are usually introduced in our homes from areas where we travel, how we travel, what and where we buy items for our homes, where we visit and where we recreate. Please keep in mind not every place or event mentioned in this article has bed bugs. Your chances of bringing bed bugs home is difficult to predict or determine. You can avoid bed bug introductions into your home by following some sound practices when traveling. If at any time you feel the need to make sure, give Viking® a call and we will visit and inspect your home. The following 5 ways are how bed bugs can get into your home. They are not listed in order, but we will start off with probably the Number 1 way they are brought home.

Vacation

Most experts would agree that vacationing away from home is the most likely way to bring bed bugs home. Vacations outside of the U.S., especially to countries that “tolerate” insects more than we do here in the U.S., are areas where bed bugs hitchhike home with you. We also need to point out that certain cities in the U.S. have higher reports and incidents of bed bugs than other cities. This is probably due to the sheer numbers of visitors to those popular cities. This is constantly changing so we are not going to mention any countries or cities here in this article. It is more important to focus on how to avoid bringing them back with you.

Transportation

Especially when you vacation outside the U.S. Various modes of transportation could easily be where you might pick up bed bugs. Bed bugs are nighttime feeders and typically hide in dark cracks and crevices during the day. If they are hungry and haven’t fed for a while and you ride a bus or grab a taxi cab, you could pick up a bed bug. Please understand not every cab or bus has active bed bugs. It is impossible to predict when or how this happens, but it does.

Purchases For Home

It is highly unlikely that you would bring bed bugs home from purchasing items such as furniture, bedding and other household items from the stores where you typically shop. Bed bugs would be more likely be brought home if you purchase items from garage sales, thrift shops, used furniture and other types of venues. This again would be more likely where there is a high volume or lots of items accepted and sold. Just like activity in large cities where there are a lot of visitors, high volume just lends itself to more potential for the spread of bed bugs. It is not recommended to take furniture or used items left at curbs of homes, especially furniture.    

Visiting / Overnights / Visitors / Camps etc.

Summer time camps such as sports camps where people from all over the U.S. come in for a few weeks of summer sports camps. A lot of personal items are brought in and again depending on the number of people visiting camps and temporary living just increases the odds of potentially picking up bed bugs and bringing them home. College move in days are approaching. Warn your college student to NEVER pick up a piece of furniture taken out of a college dormitory and left curbside.

Hotels / Motels / Hostels etc.

Last but not least are visits to areas of hospitality. Keep in mind that if a hospitality location has bed bugs, they were brought in by a visitor. It is not the fault of the hospitality management. The daily cleaning, vacuuming, laundering of bedding is enough to keep most bed bugs from becoming established and infesting a hotel room. Housekeeping staff for most all hotel chains are trained on how to detect bed bugs in guest rooms. The hospitality industry especially in the U.S. is diligent and pro-active when it comes to bed bugs in their establishments. You are more vulnerable when you travel overseas where bed bugs are prolific and tolerated.

Bed Bug Prevention Tips

Be aware and be diligent. When traveling and staying overnight, check for bed bugs. Pull the sheets back and look in the seams of the mattress. Open drawers to night stands and dressers and look for bed bugs. If infested, you’ll see them in the corners of the furniture or underneath. Ask the hotel if there have been any bed bugs reported. (They are obligated to tell you!) When you come home, leave your luggage outside or in your garage. Put your clothes in plastic bags and seal them. Vacuum your luggage and other items you took with you. Throw the vacuum bag away when finished. Laundering your clothes with hot water and detergent and drying for at least 20 minutes in the dryer will exterminate all stages of bed bugs. You can take disinfectant sprays and spray your luggage and other items. Keep these items wrapped in plastic bags in your garage or storage area. Check for signs of bed bugs and if you need Peace of Mind, call Viking and we will inspect your home. In addition to our highly trained staff of Pest Management Professionals, we have a K-9 Team for Bed bug detection. You can schedule service online at preview0.dev1.snyderpreview.com or by calling our toll free number 800-618-BUGS (2847). Legal Disclaimer: The information in this article is taken from research on bed bug biology, habits, distribution and control. References to industries, events, and scenarios mentioned in this article are not specific to any brand, product, industry or company. Following the information presented in this article does not guarantee or imply relief from exposure to bed bugs. Bed bug information as well as monitoring, inspection and control is constantly evolving and changes will occur over time. Viking does not assume any liability from information presented in this article. Viking® is a trademark of Viking® Termite and Pest Control Inc. You can contact us at info@vikingpest.com

PCT Magazine October-2012 Research out of Ohio State finds foggers have little impact on modern-day bed bugs due to the brief exposure times, their relatively low concentrations of pyrethrins and/or pyrethroids, and their lack of residual activity. And, the insecticide mist from such foggers had no adverse effects on any bed bugs that were in harborages — their typical location. Bed bug foggers don't work?

Over-the-counter (OTC) Products

For decades, “bug bombs” or “foggers” have been sold as over-the-counter (OTC) products for consumer use against many common household insects. Foggers act by broadcasting an insecticide mist by way of an aerosol propellant. These products typically are easy to use and require little effort, and they are commonly used by consumers as a low-cost alternative or supplement to professional pest control services. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently estimated that about 50 million foggers are used annually in the United States.

Bug bomb

The name “bug bomb” seems rather fitting given that explosions have been reported when excessive numbers of foggers have been used or when a nearby ignition source, such as a pilot light, has remained on during fogging. Such explosions are newsmakers worldwide. Read More From The Source PCTOnline.com Here

Mexican Bean Beetles By William A. Kolbe B.C.E. New Jersey Gardeners are reporting sightings and damage on beans (especially lima and snap beans) from Mexican Bean Beetles (MBB). Activity levels and ensuing damage by these plant feeders will vary this year due to the cool spring and water amounts from rainfall (and lack of rain). They tend to pose fewer problems in dry climates. Host plants are usually legumes. Eggs of the MBB are bright yellow, laid on-end and in clusters of 40-60 on lower leaf surfaces. Larvae are yellow, oval shaped, covered with small black spines (they appear fuzzy) soft-bodied. Larvae go through 4 instars. Pupae are yellow-orange, similar to larvae but smooth and lighter in color, with spiny larval skin pushed down to the point of attachment to plants. Adults are convex oval form similar to lady bugs, one-third inch long, orange to copper colored with 16 black spots arranged in three rows of 6-6-4 on the back. MBB larvae and adults feed on the underside of leaves between the veins, removing the lower epidermis of the leaf. The upper epidermis dies, producing a transparent, lacy look. Damaged tissue falls out and skeletonized leaves may curl and fall off. Larvae are particularly damaging to leaves. Adults may feed on blossoms, pods and stems. Adults are the overwintering stage and usually aggregate under plant debris. They can be in open fields or in wooded areas. Adults emerge in the spring and lay eggs on the undersides of leaves. Larvae hatch out in two weeks and join adults feeding on foliage. Adults are strong flyers. In cool weather the entire Mexican bean beetle life cycle can take 45 days or more, but 30 days is more typical. There are one to three generations per year. Early monitoring is helpful in preparing for this pest. Inspect leaf undersides for yellow egg clusters. Brilliant yellow larvae and coppery adults are easy to spot.

Tips for Prevention

Control. Organic controls for Mexican bean beetles include crop rotation, handpicking and maintaining good insect balance in the garden so that a wide variety of natural predators are present. Cover entire rows of beans with floating row cover after planting. You can leave the cover on until harvest. Crush egg clusters, larvae, and adults by hand. Purchase and release the beneficial wasp Pediobius faveolatus when larvae are first observed. Most practical in large plantings or community gardens. For severe infestations requiring insecticides use, consider organic methods such as spinosad, neem, or pyrethrum. Contact Rutgers Extension Agents for recommendations. Pull up and bag bean plants after harvest. Plant resistant cultivars such as “Wade and “Logan” snap beans and “Black Valentine” lima beans. Leave a few flowering weeds between rows to attract native predators and parasites, or interplant with flowers such as Queen Anne's lace or yarrow, and herbs such as dill to encourage beneficial insects such as spined soldier bugs (Podisus maculiventris) and parasitic wasp Pediobius foveolatus. Conclusion: Keep a close watch on your growing beans in spring, and do not allow the first generation of Mexican bean beetles to triple itself by the time your beans grow into big, robust plants. Do all you can to provide food and habitat for beneficial wasps, flies, ladybeetles, and predatory stink bugs. Scout for eggs if adults are seen, using a small hand-held mirror to get a good look at leaf undersides. Planting plenty of flowers that attract beneficial insects is a sound strategy, along with maintaining seldom-disturbed islands that provide habitat for ground beetles and other beneficials. Images of Mexican Bean Beetle can be found at various internet sites. IPM images is one such site: http://www.ipmimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=Mexican%20bean%20beetle Editor’s Note: William A. Kolbe, BCE is a Board Certified Entomologist for Viking Pest Control based out of Warren, NJ. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Entomology with a minor in Ecology from the University of Delaware. He is a member of The Denville NJ Community Gardens. He can be reached at 800-618-2847 or visit preview0.dev1.snyderpreview.com

Proper Trap Placements for Summertime Pests By Gregory Covello A.C.E. Summer is finally here and as our gardens flourish so do the pests that invade them. Throughout my travels I often encounter do-it-yourselfers trying to eliminate a variety of pests using various traps. Many times I can’t help to notice the poor placement of pest traps. I would like to share some tips on proper placement of various traps to affectively capture your target pest. One of the most common trap placement blunders that I encounter is placements of lure traps near areas where humans will congregate. I have witnessed a countless number of yellow jacket traps place near pool yards and picnic tables. There are a variety of yellow jacket and wasp traps commercially available to reduce the number of these stinging insects without using pesticides. These traps utilize either a commercially prepared lure, or a beverage or your choice (extra sugary sodas or beer would be my recommendation) to attract the insect to the trap. When you place these traps on or near the picnic table that you are eating at, you are actually enticing the stinging insects towards you. Stinging insect traps should be placed away from the areas that you are trying to protect. Traps should be placed by hanging them from trees, poles, or fences where people will not be spending time. Try to establish a perimeter of these traps along your property line, not near your home or garden. In similar fashion to the stinging insect trap, there are commercially available mosquito traps. Most of the mosquito traps that are available utilize a propane tank that fuels a unit that is designed to emit carbon dioxide that will attract mosquitoes within a certain radius. You do not want the center of the attraction zone to be your garden. If you choose to invest in one of these units, once again, keep it away from areas frequented by people such as gardens, and outdoor dining areas. One of the most common summer garden pests also has a commercially available lure trap. The Japanese beetle trap, often easily recognized by the hanging bag full of bugs is another attractant type trap. Most of these traps are actually sold with pole type stand to hang the trap from. The lures available with these traps are highly attractive to Japanese beetles making it once again extremely important to place these traps away from you roses and veggies. Japanese beetle traps should be placed upwind of your garden, not in it. Also, follow the labeled instructions for the number of units you should use. Often, multiple units may be necessary to get a desired level of control. Traps are not only for insect pests. Another common summertime invader is the groundhog. There are various types of live traps available to get rid of this common excavator. The common box style live trap can be an effective tool if placed correctly. Sometimes you have to study your target a little before placing a trap. Often I see traps placed directly next to a groundhog burrow. Although you will occasionally trap a groundhog with trap placement near the burrow, a better solution is to place the trap where the groundhog is feeding. Leave a trail of bait leading up to the trap. Make sure bait is place behind the trigger plate, not in front of or on the trigger. Be creative with you bait choices when trapping a groundhog. As a general rule, use whatever the groundhog may be damaging or eating out of your garden. If your tomatoes are getting eaten, using a tomato as bait is probably a good choice. I have successfully used apples, tomatoes, and dark leafed lettuces that stand up well in the high summertime temperatures. I have heard of successes using cantaloupe and other fruits, however, I cannot share any personal success stories with cantaloupe. Unless the trap you have is specifically designed to place directly over the burrow, try not to place the cage too close to the burrow as to not alarm the animal. Best of luck to you with your trapping endeavors.

It is difficult not to get excited about late springtime in New Jersey.  The weather tends to be gorgeous, flowers begin blooming, and everything gets a nice dark green after months of snow and slush.  However, summertime means Mosquito Season, and you may have already noticed the tiny insects clamoring for your blood every time that you step outside your home. Mosquito bites are more than an itchy nuisance; they can transmit diseases. Most people are familiar with the uncomfortable itching associated with mosquito bites.  What you may not realized, however, is that mosquito bites carry a risk of transmitting disease from the mosquito to a human being. Mosquitos are not just a health risk for humans; they also carry diseases that can impact our pets. Malaria, West Nile Virus, and heartworms are just a few of the serious diseases that mosquitos can transmit to humans or companion animals. In fact, mosquito bites continue to be one of the main vectors for disease transmission. You don’t have to resign yourself to mosquito bites. While mosquitos can seem ingenious, seeming to come in the house through locked doors and windows, and lurking in wait every time you step outside of your house, the reality is that we understand how mosquitos track people.  This understanding makes it easy to take a few simple steps to prevent mosquito bites.  Wear protective clothing when you anticipate exposure to mosquitos.  Use a mosquito repellent.  Perhaps most important, especially if you spend a significant amount of time outdoors, you can have your yard treated for mosquitos. At Viking Pest control, we use the Yard Guard System to protect you from mosquitos during Mosquito Season.  Unlike temporary yard foggers, Yard Guard targets breeding populations of mosquitos, reducing your overall exposure to the pests and making your outdoor living space that much more enjoyable .  Of course, because mosquitos are mobile, no system can completely eliminate your risk of exposure.  This is a critical factor, especially when West Nile virus has been detected in an area.  For full safety, we still recommend the use of additional measures, such as the use of a DEET containing bug spray, when outside, especially at night, to give yourself added protection. Call Viking Pest Control today and talk to one of our pest control experts to find out how easy, reliable, and affordable mosquito control can be.

Time to Pest-Proof Your Home

April is “National Pest Management Month”

Pest Controllers offer tips Everyone is happy to see the cold of winter replaced by the first warm days of spring,” says Leonard Douglen, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Pest Management Association, “and this is just as true for the many insect and rodent pest species that begin to multiply in vast numbers throughout the state.” April is National Pest Management Month and with the advent of spring Douglen reminds homeowners that pest-proofing one’s home protects against “threats to health and, importantly, damage to one’s greatest investment.” “Nationwide, termites will do $5 billion dollars of damage to homes and other structures this year,” says Douglen. “Here in New Jersey, as many as three out of every five homes are likely to have active termite colonies and all are subject to a termite infestation because the warm weather triggers the huge numbers of winged termites that will establish new colonies.” “Without annual inspections, most homeowners are unaware they have an active colony of termites until it has been in place for three or four years,” says Douglen. “When they notice winged termites, usually around window sills, they call a pest management firm. An inspection of one’s home will not only identify the presence of termites, but initiate measures to eliminate them and deter future infestations.” Inspections may also find colonies of carpenter ants. Like termite infestations, Douglen says that “Carpenter ant infestations can be just as devastating to a home or other structure, but they don’t get the same amount of publicity. An entire colony of Carpenter ants can emerge from winter hibernation and enter a home in the thousands in a single day.” In the late fall and winter rodent species invade homes looking for a warm harborage, “Once inside, they will chew on wires and pose a threat of fire. Since rodents urinate and defecate wherever they go, the potential for diseases increases, particularly when they invade food storage areas.” Do-it-yourself pest control efforts usually fail. “That’s when pest management professionals get the call and that’s when their expertise and the means to trap and control mice and rats demonstrate why their training is essential to controlling and eliminating such problems.” As if rodents weren’t bad enough, many homes in New Jersey commonly suffer invasions by squirrels and bats. “Sealing cracks in the home’s foundation, storing firewood away from the home, cutting back tree limbs that provide access to the roof, and many other steps will be recommended by a professional pest management technician.” A wide variety of insect pests can over-winter in a home. Wasps and Yellow Jackets will hibernate in void areas under the roof and emerge when the weather turns warm to begin new colonies and build nests.

Bed Bug Awareness Week

The National Pest Management Association, along with New Jersey’s, is also sponsoring “Bed Bug Awareness Week”, from April 20 to April 26. “As a nation we have gone from having virtually eliminated bed bugs to now experiencing a widespread infestation. Like other pest species, a do-it-yourself effort to get rid of them usually doesn’t work.” Douglen reminds everyone that cockroaches are nature’s greatest survivors and that even a few can swiftly multiply into hundreds once the weather triggers their instinctual behavior “Mother Nature never takes a vacation and affords insect and rodents pests as well as other creatures many opportunities to reproduce in staggeringly high numbers. A home with its warmth, its ample supplies of food and water, and its wood components are magnets for pests of every description.” # # #

Carpenter ants – What are Carpenters doing in my garden? By Gregory Covello, A.C.E. While tending your garden you notice large black ants. You tell yourself that these ants can’t be Carpenter Ants, because Carpenter Ants eat wood, not my garden. However you notice these large ants crawling on plants and they seem to be interested in vegetable leaves. What’s going? You have Carpenter Ants.

How much wood does a Carpenter Ant eat?

While some people may still be trying to figure out how much wood a woodchuck can chuck, I would like to answer the question “How much wood does a Carpenter Ant eat?” The answer: None. Carpenter Ants are commonly referred to as carpenters due to their ability to chew wood, not their ability to eat it. Carpenter Ants (Camponotus species) will chew through wood to hollow it out in an attempt to create a nesting site. The galleries that these ants create in wood appear smooth as if sanded down with sandpaper by a carpenter. The neat work of the Camponotus ant contributed to its common name, the Carpenter Ant.

Why are they on my plants?

Now we know that these large ants don’t eat wood, so what are they eating? Why are they in my garden? Why are they on my plants? Honeydew. I’m not referring to the melon here; I am referring to the secretion. Honeydew is a sweet sticky secretion that is primarily made by aphids, however can come from other plant pests such as whiteflies as well. This honeydew supplies the Carpenter Ants with the carbohydrates that they crave and is most likely the reason that you have these ants in your garden. There is another possible reason as to why these ants may be calling your garden their own. Carpenter ants will hollow out lumber, firewood, stumps, trees and other wood. If you are utilizing railroad ties or other lumber to construct raised beds, you may want to consider a close inspection. As noted earlier, Camponotus chew wood. As they excavate their galleries, the ants carry the chewed wood (often referred to as frass) to an open area. Often this excavated sawdust is dropped into a pile. Piles of unexplained sawdust near your lumber may now have an explanation; you have an active Carpenter Ant situation. An active Carpenter Ant situation in your garden in itself is not necessarily bad however it may be an indication of other issues. If you notice what appears to be large ant (or any ant for that matter) resting on a leaf, you may want to take a closer look. Ants like honeydew. Their craving for honeydew has created a symbiotic relationship with the aphids that produce the honeydew. Therefor what may appear to be an ant resting on a leaf may actually be ant protecting some aphids. Check the underside of the leaves of your plants. You may need a magnifying lens, as aphids are very small. Aphids will damage and potentially destroy your plants, so the presence of Carpenter Ants on your plants may have actually helped you identify a real problem in your garden. After conducting a thorough inspection, treatment should be considered. If the ant infestation is limited to plants only, consider treating the underlying problem: the aphids. If you identified sawdust and damage to wood you may want to consider treating the areas where the damage was noted with an appropriate pesticide (read the label before choosing or using the product). There are a variety of products on the market to help you achieve your treatment goal. Low impact products containing diatomaceous earth may help solve low-level situations. Another simple solution may be removing the infested wood (bedding lumber, firewood, that old wooden shed you have been meaning to demolish, etc.) If nests are located in firewood you should probably consider burning that wood outdoors (fire pits, chimineas, etc.). Do not bring infested wood indoors as doing so may risk infesting your home. Severe situations such as damaged trees and the presence of Carpenter Ants indoors may require a professional inspection and/or treatment. Gregory Covello, ACE is an Associate Certified Entomologist and District Manager for Viking Pest Control based out of Warren, Somerset County. He is a back yard gardener and hobbyist bee keeper. He can be reached at 973-296-6523 or gcovello@vikingpest.com.

Winter Pests! When you look outside at a bare winter landscape, you may be tempted to think that all animals hibernate or go south for the winter. Many animals do become less active or seek warmer climates when temperatures drop. For example, many species of birds are migratory and fly south for the winter months. Large predators, like bears, may hibernate for the winter months. Even large herbivores seem to become less active in the cold winter months.

Rodents

Rodents, like many other animals, seek out warmer environments when the cold winter weather comes. However, rodents do not migrate and they do not hibernate. Instead, the warm environments they seek out are often in homes and other buildings where they are not welcome. Rats and mice have even been known to use the ventilation systems on cars to enter the cabs of vehicles and use those areas for housing! Disney movies would lead you to believe that rats, mice, squirrels, and other rodents are sweet little forest animals, happy to lend you a hand if your dress needs mending or even help you cook a meal or two, if you happen to be a challenged sous chef. However, the reality is that rodents present a real challenge to the health and safety of your family.

Rodents Are Disease Carriers

First and foremost, wild rodents are disease carriers. These diseases include Hantavirus, leptospirosis, rabies, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis, among others. In addition to being disease carriers, they also carry pests like lice and fleas, which can also be disease carriers. For example, the bubonic plague was spread by rats, not because rats bit people, but because they carried the fleas who then bit people. Rodents can harm people through bites; not only transmitting disease, but also inflicting serious bodily injury with their bites and scratches especially on vulnerable people like babies and the elderly. Furthermore, rodents can cause serious damage to homes, including chewing up wires and creating fire hazards. The first reaction many people have if they notice a rodent problem in their home is a mix of shame and horror. While you are right to be horrified, you should not feel ashamed. It is a myth that rodents only inhabit dirty homes. When the weather gets cold, rodents will try to get inside any warm environment, and, if they can find a way to get into your home, they will. At Viking Pest Control, we will not only exterminate your rodent problem, but we will also help you rodent-proof your living space, to keep future invaders out!

By Gregory Covello, A.C.E. (Associate Certified Entomologist) Winter is normally a time when our focus on pests in the garden is at its least. The majority of the insect world is taking a break from visiting our gardens, orchards, and farms. However, not all pests take a winter vacation. The time is now that we take a look for signs of common rodents.

Winter

During the winter months most of the resources that rodents rely on dwindle. However, if you utilize winter cover crops, some of the much needed food sources for rodents still may exist throughout the winter. Inspect your grounds for trails or burrows that mice and rats may leave behind. Check for disturbances in leaf litter, soil, and vegetation. Trails will occasionally have rodent droppings present as well which will help you properly identify what rodent may be paying you a visit. Mice have pointed droppings approximately ¼ inch and rats have rounded blunt droppings approximately ¾ inch.

House Mouse (Mus musculus)

The most common winter pest is the house mouse (Mus musculus). The house mouse is a small rodent about 3-4 inches (head to tail) in length as an adult. Most commonly this type of mouse will have grey fur. The house mouse is classified as an omnivore however plant material is its primary choice diet. Any plant material can provide the house mouse with the nourishment it needs to survive the colder months. If a winter cover crop strategy is used, make sure you are inspecting your ground cover. Winter greens not only provide the house mouse with food, but a good ground cover provides the house mouse with shelter from the harsh cold environment.

Rattus Norvegicus

Another pest that growers commonly encounter in the colder months is the Rattus norvegicus. This rodent is referred to by many common names including the brown rat, Norway rat, common rat, and sewer rat. Despite the common name “brown rat”, the Rattus norvegicus can and commonly does have grey fur as well as brown fur. An adult rat is about 15-20 inches (head to tail). A brown rat is the epitome of an omnivore. There is very little that a rat will not eat. Gardeners and growers that have encountered brown rats would agree that corn is a commonly unrecognized favorite food. Unlike the smaller house mouse, the rat needs an ample water supply to survive through the rough winter months.

Integrated Pest Management Strategies

If you have identified either of these common winter pests roaming your grounds, it is time to implement (or revisit) an IPM (integrated pest management) strategy. Without a good IPM plan in place, the rodent population will be doing the majority of the blooming come the spring. Both mice and rats have quick reproductive cycles. Now is the time to manage outdoor populations of rodents as breeding often ceases during winter months. Remember, as with any IPM plan, the use of pesticides should be reserved as a last step. Start by removing harborage sights such as leaf litter and old abandoned equipment. (Spare tires, a broken down tractor, unused storage containers, etc) Search for any items that may be accumulating water and remove them. If weather permits, inspect and turn your mulch piles. Mulch may contain numerous sources of food if the pile isn’t properly managed. Monitor burrows by collapsing them or filling them with soil. If the burrows reappear within a few days, you have confirmed activity. Often landscape modification and good grounds maintenance is enough to expose mice and rats to predation. If these winter visitors still persist after implementing a cleanup strategy, trapping should be considered as the next step. As a final step, rodenticide baits and powders can be utilized. Be aware of local and state laws before applying any pesticides, or contact Viking at 1-800-618-2847 Now is the time to get an early start to the growing season this year by implementing your winter rodent IPM plan. Editor’s note: Gregory Covello, ACE is an Associate Certified Entomologist and District Manager for Viking Pest Control based out of Warren, Somerset County. He is a back yard gardener and hobbyist bee keeper. He can be reached at gcovello@vikingpest.com.

In the winter holiday season, which lasts from the weekend before Thanksgiving until the weekend after New Year’s day, millions of Americans spend their time traveling to see family and friends, or simply taking vacation opportunities while children are off from school and most workplaces are experiencing a slowdown. Over Thanksgiving weekend, alone, over 46 million Americans traveled more than 50 miles from home. While many of these travelers stay with friends and family, many others stay at hotels.

Mild Bed Bug Infestation

In addition to souvenirs, presents, and holiday leftovers, many holiday travelers may find that they have brought home unwanted guests with them after the holidays. Travel to different locations can expose people to pests that they do not encounter on a normal, every-day basis. A relative’s home may have a flea infestation, and you may find that you or your furry friends have brought home fleas or ticks to a home that was previously pest-free. Worse, you may find that you are one of those unlucky people that have been exposed to bed bugs during your travels. This is because bed bugs are hitchhikers. Moreover, someone with a mild bed bug infestation may not even be aware of the problem because early infestations tend to be asymptomatic.

Why are bed bugs such a problem?

After all, unlike many other pests, bed bugs are not associated with any type of disease transmission. In addition, many people have relatively benign reactions to bed bugs. The real problem comes when there is either a severe infestation or a combination of sensitive individual and bed bugs. In those circumstances, the bed bug bites can cause severe itching, and the scratching that results can actually be a source of secondary infection for individuals.

Best Treatments to Detect Bed Bugs

If you think that you may have been exposed to bed bugs, you may have a problem detecting the infestation in its early stages, which is exactly when you want to catch it to make eradicating the pests easier! Viking Pest Control uses the best technology available to help detect bed bugs- two beagles named Hagar and Helga who are NESDCA certified inspectors. They can uncover infestations that might evade human senses and help us help you tackle a bed bug problem! While Viking Pest Control can help with even severe infestations, the earlier, the better, because bed bugs reproduce extremely quickly. In addition to other methods, Viking uses a proven heat treatment to eradicate bed bugs much more quickly than other treatment approaches.