Bed bugs were commonly found many years ago. Then for about 25 years, they didn’t pose a problem. But, now these nighttime visitors have again emerged to feast on blood from sleeping humans.
The bed bug primarily bites humans, but can feed on any warm-blooded animal, including birds, mice and pets. It’s usually just under a quarter-inch long, brown or reddish brown, and relatively flat. It’s able to crawl into very small crevices in and around human living spaces. These include between mattresses, seams in bed linens, upholstery, behind wood trim, inside electrical boxes, in floors, behind wallpaper and in other spaces close to a potential meal. A female can lay 10-20 eggs per week (500-1000 eggs per year).
An infestation doesn’t necessarily mean there are unclean or unsanitary living conditions. Even highly regarded multi-unit establishments in the USA have had bed bug infestations lately, probably because of domestic and international travel.
Are you struggling with fruit flies in your home or business, but you’ve found the advice I gave in a previous blog entry just doesn’t seem to help? If so, there’s a good chance you may be dealing with a fruit fly imposter. Let’s take a look at each of these fakes.
Fruit Fly Imposter #1: The Fungus Gnat
Our first imposter, the fungus gnat, is primarily found indoors, favoring rooms with potted plants. To test to see if you have fungus gnats, tap your fingers against each of the plants in the area. If you see flies coming out of the plant, then you know that you have fungus gnats. They normally show up when soil in pots is overwatered, ...