BED BUGS & FIRE ANTS LEAD THE RACE IN INVADING YOUR SPACE.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (July 6, 2006) – Recent reports of a resurgence in bed bugs have shown that these pesky creatures, much like the fire ant epidemic in the southern United States, threaten our health and homes in the most personal ways. As fire ants run rampant in playgrounds, back yards, and front lawns, bed bugs get comfortable in beds, pillows and furniture. As with many other pests, bed bugs and fire ants stymie humans with their illusive nature and in the case of bed bugs, microscopic size.
The Harvard School of Public Health states, “Bed bugs seek out people and animals, generally at night, while these hosts are asleep. Bed bugs are increasingly becoming a problem within residences of all kinds.” Bayer Environmental Science agrees that the resurgence of bed bugs is reminiscent of the threat of fire ants before adequate fire ant control was introduced in that the public is ill-informed of how to handle the invasion of bed bugs. Just as it is necessary to use a preventive such as TopChoice® for fire ant control, bed bugs must be controlled by a professional. Although the health risks associated with fire ants are much greater, both species are uncomfortable and invasive to our privacy. They cause discomfort with bites and stings, they are hard to detect and are difficult and expensive to eradicate. Both species are also infamous for preying on unsuspecting victims,” says Dr. Nate Royalty, entomologist with Bayer Environmental Science.
A recent medical survey supports these statements of intrusive and dangerous fire ant behavior. This survey showed that 80 percent of medical professionals believe the most common place to get a fire ant sting is in the backyard (source: www.nofireants.com). And, a 2005 survey of more than 1,000 residents of the Southern U.S. found that 85 percent say they are actively engaged in the fight against fire ants. This same survey also shows that parents are more worried about their children getting stung by fire ants than they are about bicycle or water-related accidents (source: Matthew Greenwald & Associates, Washington, D.C.).
Treatment of both pests is time consuming and takes the knowledge of a professional to eradicate. Large numbers can be present in a room or in a lawn, but the signs of infestation are difficult to detect. “Bed bugs can be found in much more than the bed, including wall voids, but are nearly invisible unless one knows where to look, while fire ant mounds can extend eight feet beneath a lawn, without visible mounds being present in the grass,” says Royalty. Dr. Joe Hope of the Bayer Environmental Science General Insect Control group, who knows the threat of bed bugs well, adds to Royalty’s recommendations, “Thorough inspection for bed bugs should be performed to identify infested areas. Bed bugs are most-often found in areas close to beds and furniture nearby. Pay special attention to headboards, behind pictures, nightstands, mattresses, bed frames, couches and chairs.”
For those looking to safe guard their homes from these persistent and intrusive pests, Royalty recommends contacting a lawn care or pest management professional. “It is best not to take risks with fire ants, bedbugs, and other pest problems that are difficult to detect and control. Especially with fire ants, it is important to consult a professional if your children or pets are allergic to their venom,” Royalty says. He recommends TopChoice® a professionally applied product that offers a proactive approach to fire ant control, by not only virtually controlling existing mounds, but also controlling the formation of new mounds for a full year.
As for the first step in effectively treating bed bugs, Hope recommends hiring a pest management professional. The professional should treat the wall voids of the room with DeltaDust and make sure all natural openings are treated. The second step is to thoroughly treat with Suspend SC, using it on cracks and crevices inside the infested furniture in the room. A final step is to treat all baseboards using a crack and crevice treatment. Several applications may be needed to control the entire population.”
