Covid couldn’t conquer bed bugs

by Tommy Underhill, GreenTech Heat
June 9, 2021

The past year needs no introduction: 2020 was the year the world stood still.

We all stopped traveling, eating out, going to the office, attending church, and going to movie theaters. And it finally looks like we will start our long-anticipated return to “normal”... and, like it or not, we will be taking bed bugs with us!

Unlike cockroaches, bed bugs don’t feed off our filth. They move along with people, and prefer to feed on us anywhere we linger: homes, hotels, hospitals, offices, churches, senior housing, busses and planes, university dorms, and restaurants. For most people, their bites are painless. These pests are difficult to eliminate. They were nearly eradicated in the U.S. in the 1940s because of DDT and other potent pesticides, but the the insects returned to the First World again in the early 2000s with an increase in international travel.

Multiple changes in habits

Pest professionals have gotten fewer calls over the last year in part because the insects, which like to settle into mattresses and other tight crevices, haven’t been able to spread as widely or feed as often. “I’ve spoken with many people in the pest control industry, who have said that they experienced fewer calls in 2020 for bed bug jobs,” said Dr. Mike Linford, founder of GreenTech Heat Solutions. He added that aggressive treatment techniques have helped reduce the impact of bed bugs in the past few years. Heat is one of those aggressive treatments.

The National Pest Management Association cautions travelers that this past year-long shut-down has emboldened hungry bed bug populations. Total Shield Bed Bug Treatments wants to get the word out to every industry that any bed bugs that survived their last bed bug treatment have been patiently waiting for their next meal to arrive.

The return to bed bug normal

“Bed bugs can be found virtually anywhere, and while many Americans are excited to resume travel plans as stay-at-home orders are slowly lifted across the country, it’s imperative that [we all] remember to stay vigilant against bed bugs,” said Brittany Campbell, Ph.D., staff entomologist at the National Pest Management Association. “Bed bugs can survive several months without a blood meal and with many hotels experiencing low occupancy over the last few months, bed bugs will be hungry and may actually come out in broad daylight to feed— a dramatic shift in behavior for a pest that is notorious for feeding at night.”

Bug infestations have declined because people are traveling less, fewer workers go into offices, and people haven’t attended theaters. However, the impression that the bed bug problem has gone away is partly due to a reduction in reporting: people have been reluctant to invite pest control professionals into their homes. Unfortunately, residents may have turned to self-treating the infestations with off-the-shelf retail solutions, which is unlikely to be effective, promotes further spread, and can be unsafe if residents are not using appropriate materials or using materials incorrectly.

Tools to eliminate bed bugs

Bed bugs have survived the Covid pandemic. As society returns to normal, Total Shield Bed Bug Treatments is ready to heat treat your home or business so bed bugs cannot look forward to a modern “Roaring 20s”.

Heat treatments by Total Shield Bed Bug Treatments are 100% effective for bed bugs, cockroaches, and all other insects. Heat kills microbes, viruses, and bacteria that can cause allergies and odors. Heat safely kills insects and microbes everywhere they may be found in a single one-day treatment. Call us at 717-478-HEAT to get us started with heat treating your home or business today.

Heat will make your home or business a better place by killing bed bugs and other insects, dust mites, bacteria and other microbes. Trust Total Shield Bed Bug Treatments to kill all your insect and microbial pests. We do it right and do it safely the first time— in a single one-day treatment that even prevents an immediate reinfestation by killing all the eggs. Call us at 717-478-HEAT safely kill all your bed bugs with heat today.

Don’t take our word for it

It’s been 2½ months of that blissful feeling of getting into bed with all of our uninvited guests. I brought the bed bugs home from working in-home care. It is not any one person’s fault — these guys are the hitchhikers from H _ _ _. We sprayed, bombed, powdered, and turned the rooms upside down and picked bugs and put them into soapy water (soapy: otherwise they will swim right out). When we called and talked to Bill, we KNEW this was our solution. Of course it makes sense to heat the entire house. We even had a quote from a “large” corporation that said they would “treat” 4 rooms for a price ⅓ higher than Bill’s. If we had gone with Bill right away, we would have saved so much money in bombs, sprays, laundering, and mattress covers — but also time and aggravation. The house also felt so fresh after the treatment. Bill takes the time with you for you to feel comfortable in your decision. We left for the entire day and felt completely comfortable with Bill having the run of the house. Poor Bill, though. We had our home treated on the day of the first winter storm in November. That man spent longer hours at our place due to the extreme winds and cold. What a trooper. We would say that Bill is the type of person that we now call a friend. He is welcome at our home anytime.

Peg
5 Stars: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
February 14, 2019