Bed Bug Pesticide

First the good news: nature seems to be on your side. Bed bugs are not known to carry any diseases transmittable to mammals. Additionally, studies indicate that these nasty parasites prefer the blood of humans to those of household pets. This means that the health risks to your dogs or cats are relatively low.

However, that doesn't mean that your pets are immune. When humans aren't an available menu option, bed bugs will feed on the blood of other mammals. They can also use pets to hitch a ride and spread to a new location.

Here are a few tips on keeping your furriest family members safe.

Prevention: The Best Defense

You can save yourself the headaches of dealing with a bed bug infestation by taking some preventative measures.

There are some pet medications that protect cats and dogs from bed bugs (in addition to the usual ticks and fleas). If your pet is currently on meds, be sure to check the label. If it doesn't list bed bugs among the pests it protects against, assume that it doesn't repel them.

Perhaps the best way to protect your pets is to protect your home. One of the easiest things to do? Open the curtains and windows. Bed bugs hate fresh air and sunlight, so let in as much as you can. Making your bed in the morning will also help circulate air through your sheets, as well as let you check for any signs of an infestation.

Beyond the bed, make sure to vacuum at least every two days, keep clothing off the floor, and tend to dirty laundry promptly and often. Most importantly, keep your dog or cat off the bed - their fur will attract bed bugs to the mattress like a magnet.

What To Do If You Have an Infestation

If you see bites on your pet, inspect them closely. Bed bug bites are tough to distinguish from the marks of other insects, but they are usually small, red, and appear in a line instead of scattered. If you're not sure, check your linens (and your pet's bedding) for small spots of blood, feces, or shed skins the bugs may have left behind. If the results are still uncertain, take your pet to a veterinarian.

If you do find hard evidence of bed bugs, gather the linens in a plastic bag for transport, and then empty the bag into your laundry machine. Wash and dry at the highest temperature setting.

It's also a good idea to call a pest control service if you suspect your home has bed bugs. A professional exterminator can provide a thorough examination of your house and take the necessary steps if you do have a problem. But when making an action plan, be sure the exterminator knows you are a pet owner, so that no harmful pesticides or chemicals are used. Don't forget this, because bed bug extermination often requires more than one visit.

In the end, knowledge is your best weapon against bed bugs. Knowing what to do will save you lots of mental energy. With these tips in mind, you can keep dog tails wagging, cats purring, and safely cuddle up to your pets without worry.

Tim Taylor, President of Heritage Pest Control in Randolph, MA, is an expert in pest control, with more than 20 years of education and experience in residential and commercial pest control. Tim has an extensive background in entomology, and is a member of the National and New England Pest Management Associations and the Randolph Chamber of Commerce. Tim is also a 29-year member of the National Guard and is active in national and community activities including Pop Warner Football. Heritage Pest Control serves the greater Boston area including the suburbs of Brookline, Cambridge, Brighton, Allston, Milton, Quincy, Braintree and Canton. For more information, or to contact Tim, visit the Heritage Pest Control website at http://heritagepestcontrol.net or call 781-986-0701.

Fleas are a very cultured insect. They can live where ever they have a blood host to feed off of, either animal or man. They live on both wild and domestic animals. Some have a preference host, but any blood host will keep them fed. Fleas will get on your animals and catch a ride into your home. Once in your home they will quickly multiply. The fleas infest your furniture, bedding and carpets. When you are walking, sitting, or sleeping they attack you leaving groups of bites on your body.

Flea bites tend to be grouped together, because the flea tends stays in one area for random feeding. The most commonly found on your legs and ankles, because they jump from the floor to your legs. However, if they are on furniture the bites can also be found on your face and arms. Most flea bites are small red firm bumps. Some bites get small or large blisters in the middle of the bumps. They tend to be very itchy, especially to those that are sensitive. Young children and sensitive adults tend to react to flea bites with the large blisters. As with other insects fleas can be attracted to some people more so than others.

Getting rid of these gregarious insects is not an easy task. The pesticide bombs and sprays sold in stores for the do it yourself approach are not effective and require a tremendous amount of work. Most sprays and bombs require you to wash all fabric, kitchen ware, and any surfaces once the treatment is complete. Once you have treated your home and washed every surface of its contents and give your pet's flea treatments, nothing is more frustrating than finding that the fleas still share your humble abode and continue to feast on your ankles. Most of the home treatments do not kill the flea eggs. When you think the fleas have been exterminated and your home is safe, a few days later the flea eggs hatch. Then to your surprise, you find more flea bites on your legs from the new generation.

To get rid of the flea bite problem in your home you need to hire a professional pest control service and take your animals to be professionally treated. This is the most efficient way to rid your home of these pesky critters that continue to leave flea bites on you and your pets. An expert pest control service can evaluate your individual flea bite problem and provide you with a quick safe solution that will guarantee your flea bite issue is gone for good.

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There are several species of bed bugs that have shown a growing tendency to be resistant to the front line of commercially available pesticides, therefore for most infestations it takes a multi-step approach to reach your objectives and reclaim the bed from the insects. The first thing that should be known is that bed bugs are attracted to areas where they can hide until the night falls and it is time to feed. This can include crevices, cracks in the bed frame, and the area inside the mattress and the box spring of the bed. Therefore it is vital to inspect any such areas for signs of the bugs, and if they are found, it is necessary to clean the areas thoroughly, preferably by vacuuming. You should also perform an inspection of any luggage or clothing that may be harboring rogue insects, as an infestation can quickly reoccur if there are any bugs left in the house after the eradication process.

After having found out the extent of the infestation, the real work can begin. Any bedding should be removed and washed in hot water for no less than 30 minutes, and then dried completely on high heat. While the bedding is off, you should also treat the mattress, box spring and bed frame with a powerful insecticide to kill the bed bugs that have worked their way into these areas. After having done that, you can return the sheets and comforters to the bed, and you will be able to sleep soundly, knowing the bugs have been completely removed from the room.

As an expert, Whitney writes articles on various types of pest control. This article will help you know how to implement a do-it-yourself system at home to eradicate bed bugs. It can be tricky, but not if you know which professional grade products to use.

First- don't settle for the first pest control company listed in the yellow pages; you should take your time in choosing a pest control company. Contact the Better Business Bureau, or Angie's List to see what companies in your area are reputable. Talk to friends, co-workers and neighbors to see who they have used, and compile a list of companies to contact.

Once you have a list of companies, you'll want to create a list of critical questions to ask each provider. This list should include questions like:

• How long have they been practicing pest control in Maryland?
• Do they have references available, or customer testimonials?
• Do they belong to any recognized national pest control associations?
• Does the company carry liability insurance?
• Are their technicians fully licensed?
• Does the company have previous experience with your specific pest problem?
• Does the company use integrated pest management solutions to solve pest problems, or do they rely solely on the use of pesticides and chemicals?
• How soon can they get there, and how long will the service take?
• Does the company offer any service guarantees?

After posing these questions to your prospective companies, you may also want to gather some estimates for comparison. Although cost is important, don't let that factor alone determine which company you choose- one company may be cheaper than another, but you should remember that you get what you pay for. Some companies may take care of the pest problem for less, but sacrifice service or attention to detail. You will want to choose a pest control company that has a proven track record of success with your particular problem and can offer eco-friendly pest management solutions. They should offer guarantees that show they stand behind the work they perform. You will also want to be sure that they consider your pest problem from a holistic point of view. A responsible pest control company will look at your pest problem from all possible angles and will treat the issue with care and consideration for your home environment, your family and your pets. They will not turn immediately to the use of chemicals and will even look for possible non-chemical treatments that may be available. Besides making your home pest free, the best pest control professional will be concerned with keeping your home and family safe and having the least impact possible on your environment.

To keep your home and family safe, and to keep it free from pests, become a responsible consumer. It is up to you whom you invite into your home, so be picky: don't just settle for the best price- look around, and you will see that you have lots of options when it comes to choosing the right pest control professional.

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Do not use pyrethrin or pyrethrum on the mattresses, couches or pet bed directly. According to the poison control centres, these insecticides are known to cause loads of poisoning incidents as compared to all other pesticides. Therefore, read the labels before you choose any of your products for bed mites.

Limit specific areas for your pets to sleep. These bed bugs could be lingering in small openings, cracks or furrows around the house, which can cause a lot of problems to be pets. Hence, you must keep a safe sleeping area for your pets, free from the possible invasion of bed mites. You could also spray the pet beds with cedar oil and repeat the treatment every few weeks. In case if the pet beds are infested with bugs, you must either discard them or wash them in hot water.

Do not use conventional flea treatments to treat your pets of bedbugs. These treatments are not effective for bugs and they could be extremely dangerous for your pets. According to the environmental agencies, all those products intended to eliminate fleas have killed loads of pets every year. Flea medications normally come with a lot of adverse effects and most times, the pets are not able to sustain them.

The easiest way to kill Bed Bugs is to use the proper treatments that actually work, I realize this is a problem that requires urgent attention, so if you want to get rid of your bed bugs visit www.BugBedTreatment.com

Should I spray my house when there is a head lice outbreak? Contrary to popular belief, it can actually be a bad idea to have your house sprayed when someone in it has lice. The sprays that are used can be harmful to you and your family, and it will do little to prevent reinfestation. Head lice can only live on human hosts, and if they are separated from their host for more than 24 hours, they will die. For that reason, you just need to be wary of your person to person contact, ensuring that you are not sharing pillows or bed linens. Along with lice treatments such as 'Nix', you can easily rid your household of the problem without paying for harmful and unnecessary pesticides.

Are there any harmless ways of removing lice? Most of the solutions that are used to rid a head of lice involve harmful pesticides which can be damaging to you and your family. If you want to clear up the infestation with as little toxicity as possible, your best bet is to remove all the lice and nits by hand. Have two people comb over the infected person's hair, wearing gloves. When you find nits, the eggs of the head louse, use distilled white vinegar to loosen them from the hair follicle. If you go through this ritual every day until you find no lice or nits for two weeks, you've likely successfully removed the lice problem. Another method of destroying lice that some have found to be effective is the use of a common household hair dryer. By heating the lice to a sufficient degree, you'll be able to kill them off. Lice can withstand water and shampoo without a problem, but they are susceptible to heat. You need to employ caution when using this method, however, because it may cause you to burn the infested person's scalp. Using a combination of these two techniques may be the most beneficial to ridding yourself of a lice problem.

Now that you know the answers to these common questions, you'll be better suited to deal with a head lice infestation should one arise. These bugs have been around since the beginning of humanity, and there are ways of destroying them without using sprays or harmful pesticides. Best of luck!

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The first step is to prevent trouble before it can start. Here are four rules of good hygiene that will go a long way to keeping problems away:

• Use clean soil. Never bring unsterilized soil into the greenhouse. Buy special composts or potting soils that have been sterilized. If you use your own compost/soil mixture for starting seeds, then sterilize it first, either by solarization or by baking it in an oven for 30 minutes at 180F degrees. This will kill fungus that causes damping off.
• Keep a clean house. Remove waste and rubbish before it can accumulate. Remove dead leaves, old soil and plants that can hide insects. Wash all pots and germinating trays after they have been used. Disinfect the entire greenhouse once a year, in the down season.
• Good growing practices. Make sure you have good ventilation -- neither too dry, which encourages spider mites, nor too moist which encourages diseases. Use only clean water, preferably rainwater and water early so none of the foliage is wet overnight. Feed your plants regularly. If you grow in border beds, then sterilize the soil annually.
• Be aware. Look for signs of trouble regularly. Pay attention to the underside of leaves. Take immediate action if you notice a problem beginning.

• Try non-chemical ways first. Handpick off caterpillars or leaves with leaf miners. Remove any moldy fruits, leaves or flowers. Make sure your growing practices are top notch. One of the best remedies is a soap spray -- eco-friendly and safe to use. Use traps such as sticky fly paper for flies. Make traps for shelter-seeking insects like earwigs, sow bugs and slugs, and dispose of the trapped insects.
• Get the correct treatment. If spraying, dusting or fumigating are necessary, make sure the product you choose is recommended for use for the specific plants and for use in an enclosed space. Before you begin, remove any plants on the 'Do Not Spray' list.
• Follow instructions. Take all safety precautions when handling pesticides or fungicides. These products are designed to kill! Use personal precautions -- rubber gloves, long sleeves and a face mask. Close ventilators before using a smoke. Do not get too close to the plant with aerosols, and keep the spray away from blossoms. If you're using a spray, then thoroughly cover both tops and bottoms of leaves. Wash up well when done.
• Follow up. Follow the rules set out after you have applied a product. After fumigating, leave the greenhouse locked overnight, then open all ventilators the next day. Wash out your equipment as well as yourself, and store everything in a safe place, labeled and sealed.

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Look for more gardening tips, links and general articles on her gardening blog.

Pests like mice, rats, fleas, bed bugs and cockroaches are found in numerous amounts and it is essential to get rid of them. There are several methods to control these pests which vary from insect to insect. These services are playing a vital role for the lives of many people all around the globe as people are helpless in controlling these growing creatures on their own. These services are well equipped with new fly sprays and pesticides to control them from growing and infecting the whole environment.

The pest problems and several infections through them have created a lot of difficulties for the people. It is recommended to acquire pest control services in order to have a green and clean environment. They have professional people who are friendly and have all the expertise to control them on the right time and stop them from scattering. It is also advisable to have pest controllers' services which are ensuring people in order to have clean environment.

The services don't include any toxic pesticides which are harmful for the people. It is imperative to have pest control at home in order live a healthy life and without any germicide. Mostly, people are scared to have fly spray at their home because of poisonous substance used by some companies but only genuine companies are assisting people to avoid chemicals which are contagious.

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How Does a Bug Attack?

Bites on kids and adults are inflicted when a bed bug gets in contact with the skin surface of a human being. Bed bugs can also feed on warm-blooded animals, but human beings are more susceptible to bug bites because of its exposed skin surfaces unlike furry animals. Before sucking blood on their host, the bed bug injects saliva into the skin. Their saliva contains chemicals that prevent blood from clotting while this tick bites on human. A bed bug's saliva also contains natural anesthetic that prevents the host from feeling anything while it is still sucking.

Risk Factors of Bed Bugs

The bites are caused by tiny insects that cannot be seen without a closer look or serious scrutiny on possible areas where these bugs are located. However, there are certain situations that can make these parasites feed on your children more easily. These situations include any of the following:

* Buying second-hand mattresses or pre-owned furniture

* Recent travel with your kids and family where you stayed in hotel rooms

* Tick bites on human are increasingly noticed among students who stay in dormitories due to foreign students who possibly transfer bed bugs through airplanes and hotel stopovers

* Mattresses or beds that are not regularly cleaned or inspected

Home Treatment for Bug Bites

Tick bites on human especially children do not require serious medical attention, however if not treated quickly they can cause misery and discomfort. The bites can be treated by using home remedies or concoctions derived from your kitchen or refrigerator. These home cures include the following:

* Make a paste out of water and baking soda then apply it directly on the bug bites.

* If you suspect that you were bitten with bed bugs, wash the bitten area with rubbing alcohol to get rid of the saliva's itchy effect on human skin.

* You can also mix herbal tea powder and water to make a solution. Apply the solution on the affected area to get rid of itchiness.

* Get a slice of raw potato and place it over the welts and bites. Leave it on for a few minutes to get rid of swelling.

* Mix a teaspoon of oatmeal with water to make a paste. Apply it on the tick bites on human to reduce the redness. Powder oatmeal can also have the same healing effect on the host.

Prevention Techniques

* Avoid buying second-hand furniture and mattresses.

* Sundry your foams and mattresses every now and then to naturally kill bed bugs.

* Have your sofas and furniture dry-cleaned to prevent bed bug bites on your little ones.

It is crucial for every parent to know bed bug bites symptoms, says Chanda an Attorney and mattress writer critique,if they are to treat their loved ones effectively. Knowing the symptoms will save not just tears but costs for late treatment of these unwanted visitors may lead to complete change of the entire familys beds. A cost to be avoided if your beds still have a good life span on them. Chanda birthed http://www.best-mattress-4u.com from her own personal journey of attempting to find the best mattresses for herself and family after sleeping for years on what she terms"has seen better days" mattresses that greatly compromised their health and sleep.

Using a steamer is a great way to kill those buggers on contact, instantly. Wherever the infestation is spray it with the steamer. Areas might be the ceiling, floors, drawers, cracks on walls, beds, clothes, couches, walls and many more.

The steamer is just hot water. Nothing has been added or anything. No messing with chemicals or pesticides that you would smell for days. A simple choice on how to get rid of bed bugs yourself.

Bed bugs cannot tolerate the heat. They die at temperatures of 120F, but steaming those pesky bugs at a degree of 180F and up will kill them and their eggs instantly. If you catch those critters crawling around late at night, just whip out that steamer and roast those creepy critters.

Now using a steamer is a superb way to eliminate bed bugs, but it also has some drawbacks. With temperatures as high as 120F you could burn yourself if mishandled. And sticking a steamer on one spot that you see infestation for a while can also damage whatever surface you place it on.

Overall a steamer provides you with the power to kill them stubborn creatures instantly. Even though the temperature is pretty high, you can still do wonders with it when handled properly. Another thing is that you would not have to deal with using chemicals. There has been some talk now that those stubborn little guys are getting more tolerate to pesticides. Which means it is getting harder and harder to kill them.

Using steam is a great way to eliminate many bed bugs, and even though you will kill most of them, you still wouldn't be able to get rid of them all. These creepy pest are really tough to get rid of completely so you would have to use many other techniques. If you want to learn more tips on how to get rid of bed bugs yourself, visit this page at Remove Bed Bugs

In recent years, the resurgence of bed bugs infestations has been greatly attributed to an increase in international travel, as well as a restriction in the use of powerful pest-killing pesticides such as DDT that previously controlled the creepy little bloodsuckers.

Even with the restrictions on some pesticides, there are still a wide range of sprays and insecticides available for you to choose from.

However, the problem is with so many of the sprays claiming to be the best "bed bug killer" out there - the process to find one that will actually work effectively against these bloodsucking pests can become overwhelming.

So how do you know which spray to choose from and, what else do you need to know before you make that purchase?

First of all, an important fact that needs to be point out is that while there are many sprays that will kill those pesky bloodsuckers, there are no "ideal" sprays, insecticides or pesticides that are manufactured solely just for getting rid of bed bugs yet. And sprays are a not cure-all solution and every situation or "infestation" is different.

Nevertheless, in selecting the best spray to kill those bloodsucking pests, a good spray should at least meet the following criteria:

• The spray should be registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (for safety and quality standards so that we know they are not using any harmful agents or chemicals.)
• The spray must be able to kill bed bugs instantly in all stages of their life cycles (that including their eggs.)
• The spray must be cost effective and easy to administer (meaning it should be affordable and, if possible, no mixing required to get the job done.)
• The spray should be safe and non-toxic for use around children and pets.
• The spray should be water-base and non-staining so that it can be use on sofas, carpets and furniture frequently and at all times. (Some sprays are oil-base and you may not be able to use them on sofa or mattress where most of the bed bugs hide. Furthermore, oil-base agents are not allowed to be carried on plane if case you needed to bring one along on your travels.)
• If possible the spray should be non-flammable. (Some residual sprays are flammable so read the labels carefully before using them to prevent accidental fire.)

Residual vs Non-Residual Sprays

The choice to choose between a residual and non-residual spray really depends on where are the places that you would like to treat. Residual sprays are great for applying in cracks, cervices or holes however they cannot and should never be applied to mattress or furniture such as a sofa where there are frequent human contact.

Another reason that you may want to consider using non-residual spray would be the fact that residual spray may leave excess moisture that may ruin a furniture or cause molds to breed.

Keep the above ideas in mind as you consider choosing the best spray that might help you with your bed bug problems.

Need to get rid of bed bugs fast? Find out which bed bug spray is widely used at home, by hotels, pest control companies and cleaning professionals to kill bed bugs - for GUARANTEED EFFECTIVE results!!

Step 1 is how to do a correct inspection for these bed bugs. You will want to know what these bed bugs look like and where to inspect. In your inspection you will first start with the bed. Bed fleas can live in couches, beds, futons and many other locations, but we will use a mattress for an example.

In a mattress look through the seams or edges of the mattress. You will need to peel these back and sometimes find these critters sleeping or full of blood. After you carefully inspect all the edges and seams, you then want to pick up the mattress and look at the box spring. You can also pop open the mattress and inspect inside of it through the bottom.

So with your mattress inspected you will want to move toward inspecting around the room. The next items are very easy to inspect and will be important to focus on. First, check all the dresser drawers in your room. Take the drawers out and inspect the bottom of them.

After the dresser move on to looking at the plug outlets and electricity outlets. These outlets can be popped open and looked at. I have found many times bed bugs sleeping in these plug and electric outlets. Be sure to be careful when dealing with electricity outlets.

Now we can move to step 2, and step 2 is about using a natural speedy solution. Since you at this point only care about how to get rid of bed bugs from your home, then you will be presented a safe non-toxic fast solution.

I can only recommend one method on how to get rid of bed bugs without calling an exterminator. Now, exterminators can be excellent resources, but this is if you choose not to hire a professional.

It is quite simple to get rid of bed bugs without a professional. What I would recommend is to use a bed bug spray which the professionals. hotels, hospitals and other bed bug sufferers use. In my experience bed bug bully has been excellent resource and you can look for other types of natural bed bug sprays. Most you will find are harmful pesticides and may have you evacuate or throw away your furniture.

You do not need to throw away anything or evacuate when using natural bed bug solution, like bed bug bully. This is the fastest effective method I have found to be successful and it is truly up to you which solution you can use.

Step 3 is your last step and you will simply need to clean up the mess. In order to do this, you will want to take your vacuum cleaner and sweep around all the locations that had have bed bugs. If you use a good solution that is natural like the bed bug bully, you will not need to evacuate or throw any of your items away. You simply will just wish to take the vacuum and clean around all the mattresses, couches, futons, and other locations you may have had bed bugs.

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Discover how to kill bed bugs? Try a Bed Bug Bully Free sample during the special launch of this natural bed bug product and more about getting rid bed bugs forever! You will also receive Free inspectors guide and removal procedure to assist you. Stop the bed bug epidemic today!

Bed bugs were once a very common and annoying pest. However, during the 1940's and 1950's when the use of the synthetic pesticide DDT was popular the bed bug was nearly wiped out of existence. Lately though the crafty and flea-like insects have made an unwelcome comeback in major urban areas due to a number of factors with natural resistance to pesticides being at the top of the list. Another cause leading to the resurgence is that the more standard gel-based pesticides used today to exterminate cockroaches and ants do not work on bugs since the insects are not attracted to the gels.

Bed bugs tend to feed every five to ten days but studies have shown an adult bed bug can go up to 18 months without feeding. It is very common for infestations to go unnoticed for months and even years which make it easy for bed bugs to lay eggs and reproduce at alarming rates. More often than not a person will only know they have a bed bug problem after being bitten. Producing small, track like marks that produce a red welt or bump that causes itching and irritation bed bug bites are very similar to the traits of a mosquito bite and can be as hard to detect.

Bed bugs reach their hosts by crawling or climbing walls and ceilings and then dropping down on unsuspecting victims. These insects are attracted by heat and a warm human body at rest emitting carbon dioxide is a perfect landing spot for an adult bed bug. The bugs then pierce the human skin with two hollow tubes, one to inject its saliva and the other to withdraw the blood. Normal feeding lasts roughly five minutes after which the bed bug will return to its hiding place. Though not classified as nocturnal most bed bugs commonly feed at night or just before dawn and the insects have shown to have a natural aversion to sunlight.

Because of their light weight and small size bugs travel easily along pipes and floor boards and their flat bodies allows them to hide out in tiny crevices. Bed bugs usually congregate in groups and are often found in mattresses, mattress seams, mattress interiors, bed frames, carpeting, base boards, sofas and inner walls.

Bed bugs were originally brought to the United States by European colonists. Thriving in high occupancy places such as hotels and tenement buildings bed bugs found a perfect breeding ground in early 1900's American cities, primarily New York. In addition to US cities such bugs can be found around the globe including England, Spain, Germany, India and Australia among other nations.

Thought to be eradicated with the heavy use of DDT in the 1950's bed bugs have made a recent resurgence and the new generation of bed bugs is proving to be naturally resistant to many pesticides and chemicals. Normally using humans as hosts these bugs can also travel via household pets and wild birds making infestations more widespread. Of course, bed bugs are mostly known for hiding out in mattresses, sofas and other furniture.

Kevin is a professional writer with over 20 years experience in copy writing, advertising, journalism and marketing.

Going back as long ago as the Middle Ages, these insects were also known as the "Beetle of Our Lady." Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it was thought that these striking creatures had come from Heaven to save crops. In several places around the world, it is still believed that Ladybugs can predict an abundant harvest or good weather.

Ladybugs are really not bugs but beetles and, according to one source, their proper name is the Ladybird Beetle. North America has between 400 to 450 different species of Ladybugs while there are about 4,000 worldwide. The most prevalent beneficial species of Ladybugs in North America is the Convergent Lady Beetle. Other common names include Ladybird Beetle, the Asian Lady Beetle, and the Lady Beetle.

The life cycle for all Ladybugs is similar. They lay their eggs in the Spring and upon hatching, the larvae (the stage of development of insects between the egg and the pupae) will feed for many weeks and then pupate into adults. In Fall, the adults feed and then either lay eggs, die, or go into a state of hibernation for the Winter. Spring again brings awakening, to feed and lay eggs.

When it comes to biological pest control, the best known and most popular insects for the job are Ladybugs. Famous for their appetite for aphids, Ladybugs are also voracious in decimating white fly, mealy bugs, scales, and mites, plus many other soft-bodied insects and will consume boll worm, broccoli worm, cabbage moth and tomato horn worm. Various sources credit Ladybugs with the ability to eat up to either 1,000 or 5,000 (that's a significant difference!) aphids in the beetle's lifetime, in both their larval and adult forms and to work well in gardens and greenhouses.

Ladybug larvae are sometimes known as "aphid lions." Generally, they are black with red-orange spots on the back. They rather look like little alligators, with both the head and tail ends flattened and narrowed down from the rest of the body, and with a ridged and textured surface. Their legs are small and seemingly insignificant but if sufficiently incited, they can move very quickly. Ladybugs, in their larval stage, can surpass adults in their insatiable quest for aphids.

Releasing adult Ladybugs into your garden is not difficult but certain steps must be taken to insure a prompt farewell to the aphids. The suggested manner of release is as follows:

• Obtain your Ladybugs from a reputable nursery, mail-order firm, or online. Buying them online might be a better idea than going directly to the nursery; there have been many occasions when I have gone for my Ladybugs only to find the garden center either had sold out or never did receive a shipment. Not good.
• As soon as you arrive home, gently spray a few drops of water into the net bag that is the temporary home to your Ladybugs. Place them (still in their bag) in your vegetable crisper or refrigerator immediately. They will not be harmed by the chilling.
• While your Ladybugs are cooling, go outside and give your garden a thorough watering. The Ladybugs will be very thirsty from their three to five day journey without any water to drink. You don't want your lovely little predators to get too cold; it is time to take them out of the refrigerator. Brr.
• The proper time to actually release the Ladybugs into your well-watered garden is just after the sun sets. The cover of darkness will prevent the Ladybugs from being eaten by not-so-friendly birds looking for a snack. If you can't see them, you can't eat them.
• After you have given your Ladybugs a good drink and tucked them into bed, so to speak, they should wake up the next morning very hungry. Watch out aphids! Your number is up.
• Never, never, never use pesticides in your garden unless you want hundreds of dead Ladybugs.

Ladybugs will hunt for aphids and other non-acceptable denizens of the garden from dawn until dusk. They really aren't fussy as long as they have fresh water and a steady supply of aphids. For Ladybugs to be able to produce new eggs, they must have aphids or other prey available.

If your Ladybugs are acting sluggish or conversely, are irritable and moving around too quickly, give them a spritz of apple juice or grape juice from a misting bottle. You can use some 7Up, Sprite, or Gator Ade in place of the juices. Be sure to dilute the juices by at least of 50%. The water and sugar will delight them and their grumpiness should disappear, leaving a happy army of hydrated Ladybugs, ready for another meal of Aphids du Jour. Ladybugs are quite territorial; those which have been hatched in your garden will continue to call it home.

Using natural pesticides such as Ladybugs and other predatory insects with rapacious appetites, your garden (especially your roses) will soon be glowing again and be a safe place for your children and pets to play.

Make Ladybugs a family activity. They are cute and harmless to humans and your children will enjoy them so much from gently handling them. At the same time, the concept of the Cycle of Life, from hatching until the end of life, with all the physical changes in between, is easily and painlessly introduced. Your small children will feel so proud of themselves helping Mom or Dad release these stunning, beneficial insects into your garden.

Terry Kaufman is Chief Editorial Writer for Niftygarden.com and Niftykitchen.com. See more on environmentally responsible pest control at Niftygarden.com Pest Control

©2007 Terry Kaufman.

What are your options? There is the mainstream once a month spot treatment that is recommended by Vets. And those work to some degree but to what end? They are poisonous chemicals that you are putting on your pet and every time you touch your pet you are having contact with those poisonous chemicals yourself. Have you ever wondered why the instructions say not to get it on your skin? If it is not safe for your skin, is that something you want to put on your pet who lives and in some cases sleeps with you? Both over-the-counter and veterinarian-prescribed flea-killing topical treatments are pesticides that enter your pet's internal organs (livers, kidneys), move into their intestinal tracts, and are eventually eliminated in their feces and urine. Not only that, but the humans and other household animals who closely interact with pets who have been treated with these chemicals, can be affected by the toxins. All the "active" ingredients in these spot-on preparations - imidacloprid, fipronil, permethrin, methoprene, and pyriproxyfen - have been linked to serious health effects in laboratory animals.

There are safe natural flea and tick options provided my Mother Earth. It makes sense to me that we are part of the Earth so it makes sense that the Earth would provide everything we need for health and well being. I have built a business on this premise and I continue to find alternative and sometimes far superior methods to conventional chemical and drug therapies.

Diatomaceous Earth

You may have heard of this but not known exactly what it is or how to use it on your pets. Diatomaceous Earth is one of natures greatest gifts to us. Sprinkled onto your pets and brushed in it will eliminate all fleas, and ticks. It works by microscopically scratching the outer layer of the insect which causing it to dehydrate and die. Usually within 24-48 hours. It odorless and safe and can also be sprinkled into bedding and carpet.

Essential Oils

Plants produce essential oils as their own survival technique to repel bugs. This makes essential oils great insect repellents for animals (and humans, too). Essential oils are all natural and will kill most fleas within a few seconds. They will leave your pets' coat healthy and vibrant while working at a cellular level to boost the immune system. For centuries, they have been used in a variety of ways to kill and repel fleas, ticks and other biting insects. Some of the more common oils that act as flea and insect repellents are: lavender, citronella, cedar, peppermint, eucalyptus, geranium and lemongrass. Used by indigenous peoples for insect repellants, essential oils provide safe, long lasting protection against fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, flies and gnats. Diluted essential oils can be sprayed or wiped onto you and your pet with no worries about detrimental health effects.

Dietary Tips

Adding thiamin (vitamin B1) and or brewer's yeast to your pets daily food can be quite effective at repelling insects. This will give off an odor that can keep insects away but you won't smell anything. The biggest key to flea and tick prevention - and to your dog (or cat) having a strong immune system - is proper species appropriate nutrition. A healthy diet of fresh foods (NOT processed kibble or canned foods) will do wonders to keep pests away.

Bathing and Grooming

Use only natural shampoos that contain essential oils. Work the shampoo into a thick lather and leave on your pet for at least 15 minutes to kill all the fleas. Regular grooming with a flea comb will remove fleas easily and there are special tick combs for safe tick removal.

You can easily rid your pet of fleas and ticks fast with natural alternatives. You can find the very best products for natural flea and tick control by visiting Alternative Animal.

Roxanna Whittington is the creator of Wormfree Naturally and the owner of Alternative Animal, your online resource for back to natural pet care products and information. What you don't know may be harming your animals. Download your free report "Possible Side Effects of Chemical Wormers" at http://www.alternativeanimal.com

In order to avoid flea contaminates, take care of pets and animals during the start of flea period and become meticulous with regards to vacuum cleaning as well as all round cleaning up. By doing this, fleas and other insects will likely not have enough opportunity to turn into developed creature on their own dogs or cats, inside their animal's bed linens or perhaps in their very own carpets and rugs. Typically the particular date to commence treatment method will be different year upon year, based on environment as well as moisture content.

Generally in most regions of the United States, flea period usually lasts from the month of March or perhaps April until the month of November or maybe December. All of the states bordering the Pacific Ocean along with the majority of the southern area of states within the U.S. do not have periodic time away out of fleas and other insects. Flea months out there are prevalent for the next twelve months. Fleas and other insects are living just about everywhere on the planet. Flea months are marginally diverse place to place, nevertheless areas having warmer, damp environments experience fleas all year long.

Cozy, moist weather conditions are excellent climatic conditions meant for bugs. In the course of the later part of springtime as well as throughout warmer summer months, most locations encounter episodes of fleas. On the other hand, fleas and other insects usually do not are concerned about the actual calendar. As a consequence of climate-controlled residences, fleas and other insects very easily reproduce within mostly yearlong in the event that property owners usually do not get rid of fleas, flea ova as well as flea larvae.

Click here for more information about flea season or know about how big is a dog tick.

Pests can have ruinous impact on the health of your family and if it's not controlled at the right time, they can multiply, that is breed very quickly and can cause the maximum damage possible.

Hence, an effective pest control system is the only way to get rid of these irritating creatures. There are various quick remedies which is handy which you can get commercially in the market, it might be in powdered form or gel or in sprays. It is mostly available in the spray form which can be used where the pests are. Or if it is an out of control condition, you can always rely on a reputed pest control company. They can help you out in your problem, rendering a good service within a short span of time and without any hassles.

Pest Control Company's are increasingly becoming popular recently because of the rapid breeding of the pests in homes, offices and in many places which can ruin the health of people and also cause damage to the place they live. For example, they can dirty the place, rats can do anything and everything, it can bite materials like clothes, leather any many more. So it is best advisable to go for a good pest control company which has all the most modern techniques and innovations in the field of pest control, to solve your trouble.

Pest control department generally specializes in giving personalized service to people, depending on their requirements, type of pest, damage caused, and structural condition of the house or office. They have a team of professionals who can come to your place and assess the situation and advise methods by which they can exterminate these pests without wasting much of your valuable time and money. They also consider the health risks that can be caused especially to children during the course of pest control services. Most of the pest control company use natural methods and pesticides which are analyzed and certified and hence they are safe for usage, which cannot have any hazardous effects to the environment.

Once the service is done, make sure you have a periodic examination of the already affected areas and all the possible areas where you expect pests to set in, and maintain it well, secondly, follow proper sanitation practices all time, even after all these kind of precautions if you still face the problem of re occurrence of pests, get a pest control service, but this time go for a good company who can find out the reason of the pests re occurrence and can give a solution for it.

Peterson is an expert author for bed bugs. He has written many articles about wasps exterminator, Moles, Silverfish, bedbugs. For more information visit our site bed bug extermination. Contact him at avonpestcontrol@gmail.com

Fire retardants, present in almost all bedding, except certain organic materials that are naturally retardant, are known to give off chemical fumes that can be harmful to your health. Stain resistant solvents are used to keep food spills or bodily fluids from staining your expensive mattress, sheets or comforters. A great idea until you realize that fumes from those same solvents may be absorbed into your skin or breathed in as you rest through the night. Pesticides can be present in bedding to help keep bugs out of your bed. Again a good idea you may think, except when you realize that you are lying there breathing in their fumes all night even if only in microscopic amounts.

And then there are the materials from which the bed is made. There is polyurethane foam as well polyester fiber in sheets and pillowcases which are again made from petrochemicals. It is true that some polyesters are natural but most that are used in bedding materials are synthetic and people with sensitive skin should be wary of bedding materials containing polyester.

The chemicals in bedding most often cited as potential sources of concern are pesticides, herbicides, fire retardants, stain-resistant solvents, the various substances in synthetic fibers, and formaldehyde. Quoting Doctor Rosalind Anderson of Anderson Laboratories Inc., after studying some of the best-selling mattresses, who knew that most mattresses are chemical "wastebaskets" full of potentially health damaging material, For instance most mattresses contain polyurethane foam and the chemicals from which polyurethane is made are known carcinogens.

Over the years we have been told that materials manufactured from petrochemicals are safe but, are they really. It seems to me that staying with natural and organic materials is a safer alternative. Natural and organic wool, organic cotton and latex foam provide all the comfort you could want without the risks of chemicals seeping out of your bedding and into your body, either through your skin or in the air you breathe, as you rest.

To make you bed safer, keep your current bed and use barriers such as mattress covers made of high quality organic cloth to separate you from the harmful chemical filled mattress or replace your bedding altogether with a natural organic sheets, pillowcases comforters or duvets and even an organic mattress.

Do you want to know how safe your bed is? Go to http://www.care2.com/greenliving/quiz-healthy-bed.html# and take the quiz. To purchase Organic bedding, organic sheets or organic duvets go to http://www.organicbeddingplus.com and get a better and healthier night's sleep.