Month: December 2016

Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown, oval insects. They are wingless. A few decades ago, bedbugs were somewhat of a novelty in developed countries. But since the early 2000s, infestations have become more common in places like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bedbugs feed on the blood of humans by inserting a sharp proboscis, or beak, into the victim’s skin. The critters become engorged with blood in about 10 minutes, which fills them up for days. The insects are most active at night, though they are not exclusively nocturnal. Bedbugs are attracted to warmth, moisture and the carbon dioxide released from warm-blooded animals, according to Purdue University. On sleeping human hosts, bedbugs often bite exposed areas of the body, such as the face, neck, arms, and hands.

Adult bedbugs are brown in color, although their bodies redden after feeding. Full-grown bedbugs move relatively slowly and measure between 4 to 5 mm. Homeowners sometimes have the misconception that bed bugs are too small to see with the naked eye. The nymphs may be small and difficult to see, but the adults are detectable with the naked eye and may be found in the cracks and crevices they use to hide. Newly hatched nymphs are approximately the size of the head of a pin and are white or tan until they feed. They often are described as being about the size and shape of an apple seed. Also, bedbugs reproduce by a gruesome strategy appropriately named “traumatic insemination,” in which the male stabs the female’s abdomen and injects sperm into the wound. During their life cycle, females can lay more than 200 eggs, which hatch and go through five immature “nymph” stages before reaching their adult form, molting after each phase.

Bedbugs lurk in cracks and crevices and they’ve been living on human blood for centuries. They can crawl more than 100 feet in a night but typically creep to within 8 feet of the spot its human hosts sleep. Although they do not transmit disease or pose any serious medical risk, the stubborn parasites can leave itchy and unsightly bites. There have also been some strange cases linked to bedbug infestations. Researchers reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 2009 that they treated a 60-year-old man for anemia caused by blood loss from bedbugs. Another study published in 1991 in the Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology found that people with asthma might be more susceptible to allergic reactions from bedbug bites. A bedbug infestation can take a psychological toll on those affected: People whose homes have been infested with bedbugs may have trouble sleeping for fear of being bitten in the night. Also, there is social, public health and economic consequences; office buildings and schools often have to close if they are dealing with a bedbug infestation.

Bed bugs are found in cracks and crevices, including mattress seams, sheets, furniture, behind baseboards, electrical outlet plates, and picture frames. They are often found sneaking in hotels where they can travel from room to room, in visitors’ luggage or other personal belongings like briefcases, handbags, etc.

Let us look at some current updates pertaining to bedbug nuisance:

Bed bugs a growing concern in Muskogee
By David Norris, December 2016, abcTulsa, USA

If you feel itchy at the mere thought of bed bugs, you’re not alone.

And if you think your house is safe, C.B. Abel of Vanish Pest Control in Muskogee says you could be wrong.

“I’ve seen houses that were extremely clean, that had maids who came out twice a week and cleaned the house,” said Abel. “And they had an infestation of bed bugs.”

He says over the years bed bugs have become more resistant to chemicals.

“Three years ago, we’d get six calls a month, six calls every three months for bed bugs, and now, we’re getting six calls a week,” said Abel.

He says the problem gets even worse during winter months when people spend more time indoors.

“Which makes them feed more, which makes them lay more eggs, which makes them populate more,” said Abel.

Bed bug infestation hits a public housing building in Green Bay
By Aisha Morales, December 12, 2016, USA

A bed bug infestation is causing some headaches for residents of Mason Manor, a public housing building in Green Bay. The housing authority says it is doing all it can to clean it up, but what bed bug experts want you to know is, this can happen to anyone.

“While bed bugs are known to carry 45 different human pathogens, they don’t actually give disease,” said bedbug inspector Jon Sandberg, who owns K9 Solutions.

Sandberg says he’s been to Mason Manor where 20 units have been infested with bedbugs. The Green Bay Housing Authority says it’s doing all it can to get the situation under control.

So how do we get rid of them? Regular pest control is considered to be one of the solutions. However, the use of toxic insecticides is now proving to be futile in getting rid of these nasty little creatures. A 2013 study in the journal Nature Scientific Reports suggested that bedbugs have evolved ways to resist insecticides.

So is there any other effective solution for this problem?

Yes, there is!

Termirepel™, an anti-insect additive, a C Tech Corporation product is an ideal solution for the prevention and control of bedbug infestation. It follows 6 pronged strategy which is extremely effective in preventing the damage caused by bedbugs as well as insects like ants, beetles, grasshopper, termites, etc.

Termirepel™ is an extremely low toxic and low hazard insect aversive repellent. It is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH, APVMA, NEA, EU BPR compliant and FIFRA exempted. The product in the form of liquid concentrate can be blended in any paint or organic solvent and can be applied to the various surfaces vulnerable to damages caused by bedbugs like the walls, ceiling, etc. Termirepel™ lacquer can also be used as a coating for furniture for protection. The masterbatch of Termirepel™ can be incorporated into wires and cables which are used in domestic wiring.

Aphids belong to the family of Aphididae. They are a group of sap-sucking, soft-bodied insects and are about the size of a pinhead. Aphids are most passionate, prolific and damaging. They are one of the serious plant pests and they hinder plant growth, transmit plant diseases, and lead to the deformation of leaves, flowers, buds, roots, and sap. There are about 6000 aphid species found in North America alone. Rosy apple aphid is one of several aphid species that can occur on apple trees and is generally the most damaging.
Rosy apple aphid is a tiny soft-bodied sap-sucking insect that feeds on apple foliages and fruits during spring and early summer. They are one of the major agricultural pests when it comes to apple. Even small numbers of aphids can cause significant damage to these fruits. The body of aphid has a waxy coating and usually a slight purplish or rosy tint. Rosy apple aphids lay oval-shaped eggs in bark crevices and around the buds of shoots of apple trees in autumn. When first laid the eggs are bright yellow that gradually changes to greenish yellow and finally within two weeks to shiny jet black. These eggs hatch in spring as the leaves begin to emerge from the buds.

Colonies of pinkish grey aphids develop on the underside of the foliage. Affected leaves at the shoot tips become curled and yellowish. Heavily infested shoots show curbed growth with distorted leaves which start to turn brown during the summer season. Also, the prolonged sucking of sap destroys the normal growth of fruits. While sucking up sap, the aphids secrete chemicals into the foliage with the help of its saliva, which causes the distorted growth and also develops a sooty mold on fruits and leaves. Systemic effect of malignant saliva also leads to reduced growth of roots, photosynthesis, and other woody tissues. Damage can be most severe on young trees where shoots are affected badly leading to permanent damage to the plant. The fruits attacked by aphids often remain small in size with a pinched appearance around the eye end which is formed in the growing season.

Rosy apple aphids are capable of attacking all apple varieties; therefore it is essential for apple growers to monitor their trees carefully for rosy apple aphids. A few colonies are potent of rapidly infesting the entire tree. Rosy apple infestations often go unnoticed until the leaf curl damage is observed. As control becomes extremely difficult in the later stages, aphids are best controlled at the pink stage of bud development, before the serious leaf curl has occurred. It is reported that these noxious insects can cause 50% of fruit injury in severe cases and are most difficult to control.

To tackle this problem of aphids various methods have been tried and tested, the conventional toxic chemicals, pesticides are no longer effective in protecting the attack of these vile pests and also pollute the soil, groundwater reserves and harm the beneficial species like bees, earthworms etc. The use of pyrethrins as a pesticide destroys the aphid predators and parasites leading to the surplus gathering of aphids. Also, there are reported incidences of insects becoming resistant to many toxic pesticides. Unlike these chemicals, CTech Corporation’s product Termirepel™ is the best solution to deal with the problem of these pests. Termirepel™ is non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, non-hazardous and environment-friendly insect repellent. Termirepel™ works against 500 species of insects. Termirepel™ is available in form of solid masterbatches, liquid form, and lacquer. The product does not kill the target species; it just repels them.

It follows 6 tiered mechanism, which is extremely effective on insects like aphids, ants, beetles, grasshopper, termites etc. It does not volatilize and does not degrade the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted. Termirepel™ masterbatch can be incorporated in agricultural films, mulches, etc. during polymer processing which would provide protection from the pesky aphids. The liquid concentrate and the lacquer can be coated on the fencing, tree guards etc.