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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 29 September 2011 10:52 |
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Bedbugs have feasted on sleeping humans for thousands of years. After World War II, they were eradicated from most developed nations with the use of DDT. This pesticide has since been banned because it's so toxic to the environment.
Spurred perhaps by increases in international travel, bedbugs are becoming a problem once again. The risk of encountering bedbugs increases if you spend time in places with high turnovers of night-time guests — such as hotels, hospitals or homeless shelters.
Bedbugs are reddish brown, oval and flat, about the size of an apple seed. During the day, they hide in the cracks and crevices of beds, box springs, headboards and bed frames. It's a daunting task to eliminate bedbugs from your home. Professional help is recommended.
References
- Goddard J, et al. Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) and clinical consequences of their bites. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2009;13:1398.
- Potter ME. Bed bugs. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/entfactpdf/ef636.pdf. Accessed Oct. 20, 2009.
- DDT ban takes effect. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/ddt/01.htm. Accessed Oct. 20, 2009.
- Elston DM, et al. Bedbugs. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 20, 2009.
- Kells SA, et al. Prevention and control of bed bugs in residences: Information for homeowners and tenants. University of Minnesota Extension Service. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/components/DK1022.pdf. Accessed Oct. 21, 2009.
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Bed Bugs & National Geographic |
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 29 September 2011 10:22 |
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http://youtu.be/WfKCcSPCOQo |
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How To Identify Carpenter Ant Damage |
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 29 September 2011 10:16 |
Identifying Carpenter Ant Damage
That being said, if left untreated for a long time, carpenter ants can do significant damage above and beyond that caused by moisture itself.
In the photo on the right, we see carpenter ant damage to a house's sill plate and bandboard. This kind of damage can be very expensive to repair because the entire superstructure of the house sits on top of the sill plate, making it very difficult and expensive to replace.
Carpenter ant galleries are very smooth inside, with an almost sandpapered appearance. The smooth galleries are one way to distinguish carpenter ant damage from damage caused by termites or wood-devouring beetles.
In addition, termite galleries often contain large amounts of mud and soil, which usually are absent in carpenter ant galleries.
Carpenter ant galleries often have "windows" through which the carpenter ants enter and leave the nest when foraging, and through which they eject frass and debris. Sometimes the damage inside a piece of wood will be quite extensive, but the surface of the wood will appear essentially intact, except for the windows (and, of course, the ants traveling in and out of them.)
The ants themselves can easily be distinguished from termites by their bodily differences, which you can see here. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 29 September 2011 11:00 |
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Tips To Avoiding Hotel Bed Bugs While Traveling |
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 29 September 2011 09:40 |
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The crazy ant, Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille), occurs in large numbers in homes or out-of-doors. Ants of this species often forage long distances away from their nests, so nests are often difficult to control.
The crazy ant, Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille), occurs in large numbers in homes or out-of-doors. Ants of this species often forage long distances away from their nests, so nests are often difficult to control.
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