Travelers Be Warned: Bed Bugs Hungrier Than Ever

The National Pest Management Association cautions travelers as recent hotel and lodging vacancies have emboldened bed bug populationsJune 08, 2020 10:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time

FAIRFAX, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As many Americans prepare to hit the road for their summer vacations over the next few months, experts at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) are reminding travelers to stay alert for hitchhiking pests during Bed Bug Awareness Week, this June 7-13. This annual observance, recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events, serves as a reminder to those traveling that one tiny pest could mean one giant problem if not detected early.

Bed Bug Awareness Week is June 7-13. Do you know how to keep safe from these pests while traveling this summer? Head over to @PestWorld to learn more about bed bug prevention tips.Tweet this

“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 they remember to stay vigilant against bed bugs,” said Brittany Campbell, Ph.D., entomologist for the NPMA. “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.”

To prevent bringing bed bugs home, travelers should conduct a thorough inspection of their room immediately upon entering and report any signs of an infestation to management.

From April 2019 to April 2020 there was a 70 percent increase in online conversations in the U.S. around the topic of encountering bed bugs, with more than 6.1 million conversations occurring in the last month alone.* To ensure travelers aren’t unknowingly transporting any hitchhikers with them, NPMA recommends taking the following steps to prevent an infestation upon returning home:

• Upon entering the room, put your suitcase in the bathroom on a tiled floor or counter surface rather than a carpeted floor or on the bed.
• Thoroughly inspect the entire room, including behind the headboard, under lamps and inside dressers, drawers, sofas and chairs.
• Pull back sheets on the bed and inspect the mattress seams, particularly at the corners, for telltale stains or spots.
• Carry a small flashlight to assist you with visual inspections.
• If you see anything suspect, change rooms/establishments immediately. Do not stay in an adjacent room.
• Consider keeping luggage in plastic bags or on the tiled floor for the duration of your stay.
• Vacuum and properly inspect suitcases outside after returning from a vacation. Do not bring the suitcase into your home until it has been inspected.
• Contact a licensed pest control professional if an infestation is suspected in your home.

For more information about bed bugs, visit PestWorld.org.

*Online engagement findings are a result of research conducted by Advanced Symbolics Inc.

About the National Pest Management Association

The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 5,500 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food and property from the diseases and dangers of pests. For more information, visit PestWorld.org or follow @PestWorld on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.

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BBFS Blog: 2011 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 9,700 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Bed Bug FREE Holidays

Every year, we open our homes to spend the holidays with close friends and family. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, millions of people travel by plane, train or automobile to spend time with their loved ones. But in addition to clean sheets and towels, holiday hosts should also prepare their homes for an unexpected visitor known to hitchhike with travelers: bed bugs.

With the 2011 Holiday Season officially upon us, BBFS thought we’d take a minute to share some Travel Tips to avoid the vampire hitchhikers and enjoy a Bed Bug FREE Holiday. With a little education, awareness and diligence you can be sure that aren’t bringing any unwanted guests home for the holidays.

Bed bugs cling to baggage, backpacks and clothing, and have been found on airplanes, in hotels and on buses. Travelers are easily susceptible to the pests without even knowing it. And once they are brought into a home, it can be extremely difficult and costly to get rid of them.

Traveling ( or Planes,Trains & Automobiles )

Unfortunately, with the increases in reported bed bug cases in major forms of transportation comes the realization that many of the business “road warriors” that frequent our more infested cities have assisted in the spread of the bed bugs this year. That means that if you are flying, renting a car or taking the train, you should take a few steps to protect yourself AND your luggage this holiday season.

1. Take a Look: When getting to your assigned seat, your rental car or your train car, take the time to visually inspect any areas where you will be sitting, standing or laying down for an extended periods of time. Use a flashlight if possible to check creases, cracks and crevices for evidence of bed bugs such as stains, nymphs and/or shed cask skins.
2. Watch your backside: Protect yourself by investing in some temporary seat covers which provide additional protection, can be cleaned and reused and which offer some peace of mind for the truly paranoid
3. Bag It and Tag It: Protect your luggage by investing in some encasements for your bags or at least bring some plastic or ziploc bags to temporarily hold your bags while they are placed on the floors of planes, trains, buses or rental cars.
4. Stop ‘Em at the Door: Bed Bugs biting you en route isn’t the problem, its bringing them home to setup shop at your place, your parents place or at a friends. The way to keep this from happening is with stringent preventive measures. Establish a “bed bug checkpoint” for all of your travel items. Don’t bring luggage or carry-ons inside your home, but empty them outside and wash clothes and anything else that’s washable. A hot dryer will also kill bedbugs, so dry anything you don’t want to wash. Keeping your luggage wrapped in plastic and in the trunk of a car in the sun will give some added protection and peace of mind.

Staying Abroad: ( Hotel Hell )

Prior to checking in, visit BedBugRegistry.com, to research past reports about your location. Understand that The Bed Bug Registry is a 100% user-generated site with little or no reporting management. As with anything on the web, it should be taken with a grain of salt (or in the case of Bed Bugs, a spoonful of DE). Contact hotel management before checking in, to find out their policies and procedures for handling bed bugs. Having a proactive prevention and maintenance plan in place is key to successful elimination.

Be aware and observant of your surroundings. Investigate all areas you plan on lying down, sitting or standing still in, for any extended period of time. This is important, since bed bugs are attracted to the heat and carbon dioxide your body produces.

Inspect rooms you are visiting:

• Use a flashlight to look for bugs or blood spots in corners, cracks and crevices
• Behind the headboard (lift off brackets on the wall)
• Along the seams, crevices and piping around the mattress
• Under the mattress pad and under the sheets
• Along the edges and underneath the box spring
• Around joints in bedside tables (including drawers) and pictures above the bed

Steps you can take:

• Never set luggage on the bed or floor
• When entering a foreign room, place luggage in the bathtub and do an inspection, then store luggage on racks set away from the wall or hang items up
• Bring your own hangers for items that will be pressed or hung up
• Visually inspect the ironing board PRIOR to using it, there have been reports of bed bugs on these items since they are often removed/cleaned with the hotel linens causing exposures.

When you get home:

• Put any suspect items in sealed plastic bags until you can heat treat them or have them professionally treated with Sulfuryl Flouride.
• Put everything you can into the dryer on HIGH (122 degrees minimum for 60 minutes)

Staying Home (ugh! The “in-law” are coming Home for the Holidays )

If you’re having guests at your house for the holidays, follow the tips below to help minimize the chance of bed bugs hitchhiking in on them.

• Before guests arrive, reduce clutter and vacuum floors, rugs and curtains.
• Also, encase every mattress, box spring and pillow with protectors that feature bed bug proof fabric and reinforced seams and zippers.
• Don’t allow anyone to wear shoes inside the home. Leave shoes outside, place them in sealed plastic bins or bags and/or heat treat them in the dryer.
• Keep a designated place where guests can keep their coats, purses, etc. and do not place belongings on couches, beds, etc.
• Have your home pre-treated by a referred pest control operator before the holidays for added protection.

We here at BBFS hope this information helps you have the best possible 2011 Holiday Season if your staying home and having guests, if your traveling for family/friends, or if you are simply getting away for some gourmet turkey fixings or winter wonderland fun. Help spread the word and share this blog and information with your closest friends & family. Happy Holidays from BBFS!

2012 State of the Industry Report – Pest Management Professional Magazine

The following is a summary of the 2012 State of the Industry Report from Pest Management Professional (PMP) Magazine which was sponsored by Bell Laboratories and given out at the PMP Booth at the 2011 NPMA Pest World Convention & Expo in New Orleans, LA.

 

PMP’s NOT Slowing Down: Economy stalls in neutral, but industry confident traveling the road ahead

Optimism reigns in the pest management industry heading into next year, but it’s tempered with the reality that a full economic recovery for the nation won’t be accomplished anytime soon. How the economy affects business is top of mind for many pest management professionals (PMPs) surveyed in this year’s State of the Industry by pmp. Seventy percent of respondents to the survey say their biggest concern is a prolonged recession and almost half (47 percent) say it’s their biggest concern…

Even though a prolonged recession, higher taxes and fuel costs are keeping PMPs up at night, only 9 percent sat the state of the pest management service market in their region has slightly or significantly declined. Those who have an optimistic business outlook heading into the coming year increased 6 percent. Some are making sure their business outlook is rosy by employing tried-and-true business strategies, which include:

• ramping up advertising,
• increasing web presences,
• networking more,
• participating in home & garden shows,
• stressing to employees the importance of keeping customers happy, and
• working hard to keep those same employees happy with the company too.

Spotlight: Bed Bugs – Still lapping the revenue competition, these little pests show no signs of putting on the brakes.

Bedbugs still are appearing in media stories throughout the country. With all the publicity and infestation that continue to plague customers, PMPs continue to see revenue related to the pesky pest increase. There was a 36 percent increase in bedbugs from 2010 to 2011, according to the pmp State of the Industry survey. bedbugs left hotels, and headed off into society at large, which has put PMPs into demand.

Bed Bugs continue to be the revenue leader, but termites, ants and rodents also are helping the bottom line

Average Price of a Bed Bug Job in 2010 – $465.44

Average Price of a Bed Bug Job in 2011 – $497.52

All indications show 2012 will continue the ongoing increases we’ve seen during the past few years.

Some additional interesting snippets/stats from the 2012 SOI Report from PMP:

• PMPs reported that Single-Family Residential Homes continue to be the area for the most growth (50%) for their companies, with Commercial/Industrial coming in at 28%, Multi-Family Structures/HOA (17%) and Government/Institutional/Other (3%) coming in significantly lower than previous SOI reports.
• Customer Retention Rate for 2011 = 82% of survey respondents say that they were able to keep between 76% and 100% of their current customers, up from 76% in 2010.
• Overall Business Outlook:
• 2011 – 27% very optimistic/46% somewhat optimistic/22% uncertain/5% somewhat pessimistic
• 2012 – 33% very optimistic/36% somewhat optimistic/27% uncertain/4% somewhat pessimistic

 

Pest Management Professional Magazine presents, along with Bug Off Pest Control Center, the 2011 New York Pest Expo on 11/11/11. For more information about the NYPE, visit this site. For more information about PMP Magazine, visit their official website. You can preview the digital version of the October edition of PMP Magazine 

 

Bed Bug Fumigation Specialists (BBFS) is a Pest Elimination Company that provides affordable, convenient and 100% effective bed bug treatment solutions, using both Vikane gas fumigation AND Thermal Heat Remediation. Based on the need for options to prevent the infestation of bed bugs in difficult multi-unit urban environments, BBFS has created two unique solutions: The Cimex SMART Cube and The Cimex FUME Cube. The BBFS Cimex Cubes offer cost-effective solutions for discreet bed bug eliminations in hard to service locations such as: Apartments/Condos, Professional Offices, Retail Stores, Used Furniture/Rent-to-Own Stores, Schools – College Dormitories, Hotels and Motels, Hospitals/Assisted Living facilities

BED BUG FUMIGATION SPECIALISTS (BBFS) TO INTRODUCE NEW “CIMEX SMART CUBE” AT NEW YORK PEST EXPO 2011

–NEW Bed Bug Elimination Cube offers On-Site Bed Bug Control and Elimination Technology in a Safe, Convenient, Affordable and Effective Way to All —

New York, November 3, 2011 – Bed Bug Fumigation Specialists, www.bedbugfumigators.com, the first company specializing in eradicating bed bug infestations using the industry-leading Vikane® gas fumigant, announces a new bed bug elimination chamber solution specifically designed to make bed bug elimination and prevention more convenient, affordable and accessible for all suffering from a bed bug infestations.

During the upcoming New York Pest Expo (NYPE), presented by Bug Off Pest Control Center and Pest Management Professional magazine, BBFS will officially introduce for the first time their new bed bug eradication chamber, named the “Cimex SMART Cube”. Being held on 11/11/11 at The Armory in New York City (216 Fort Washington Ave, Manhattan), the 2011 NYPE promises to be the finest pest management training and exposition in New York with an impressive bunch of professional speakers, over 70 exhibitors and hundreds of attendees.

“The mission of BBFS is to directly affect existing bed bug populations by first preventing their continued movement from currently affected locations,” says BBFS’s National Sales & Marketing Executive, Tyler LeCompte, “and second, systematically eliminating the remaining populations through proven IPM (Integrated Pest Management) techniques. After that, it’s all about watching the front door”

Expanding on the original “Fume Cube” design developed as a modular fumigation chamber for BBFS clients managing multi-unit residences, condominiums and co-ops; the new Cimex SMART Cube integrates Thermal Pest Remediation (Heat Treatment) with a Technologically-Advanced Steel Container to develop a brand new bed bug elimination cube.

“The NEW Cimex SMART Cube is what every building needs to protect itself, its tenants and its neighbors from bed bugs and minimize the financial, social and emotional consequences of an infestation,” said LeCompte. “This inventive new solution will allow pest control professionals, property managers and property owners to quickly integrate Heat Treatments into their Bed Bug Management plans on-site in a safe, controlled manner while limiting overall costs, increasing treatment effectiveness and reducing total treatment time.”

Source Elimination using the Cimex SMART Cube is one part of a larger 3-part methodology that BBFS practices in successfully eradicating bed bugs from a property:

• Tenant Education 
• Source Elimination (Fumigation/Heat Treatments)
• Current Population Eradication (Traditional Residual Pest Control)

Source Elimination can be achieved by using a Cimex Cube (Fume Cube or SMART Cube) as a “bed bug checkpoint” for your building; requiring tenants to fumigate/heat treat their personal belongings prior to entering into a managed property with a conveniently located Cimex Cube on-site or by utilizing a local BBFS Fumigation location. Fumigating/Heat Treating items such as furniture, bedding, luggage and/or larger deliveries prior to entering building gives clients peace of mind that they are leaving bed bugs behind them, offers the property manager and other tenants the peace of mind that a tenant will not accidentally infest their unit and ultimately the entire building.

Currently, BBFS manages a network of fumigation network partners which include rental truck companies, professional moving companies, pest control operators and independent k9 bed bug scent detection companies to provide comprehensive bed bug management to individuals, companies and organizations throughout the Tri-State Area and Florida.

For more information about BBFS, the BBFS Cimex Cubes or how using Vikane gas fumigant or Thermal Pest Remediation can eliminate 100% of bed bugs in a single application, call BBFS at 877-966-4824 or visit www.bedbugfumigators.com or www.cimexcubes.com. 

Bed Bug Fumigation Specialists is a Pest Elimination Company that provides affordable, convenient and 100% effective bed bug treatment solutions, using both Vikane gas fumigation AND Thermal Heat Remediation. With over 40 years of collective fumigation experience, BBFS is the company with the record you can count on. Our professionals have safely completed more than 50,000 fumigations in our history, including over 2500 successful bed bug eradications in NYC alone. BBFS is also a recipient of DOW AgroSciences Commitment to Excellence (CTE) award for safely administering Vikane for thousands of customers. For more information, visit www.bedbugfumigators.com.

Don’t bring THEM home…

The next time that you travel, you might want to follow these tips:

Use a flashlight or UV light to inspect your hotel room for live bed bugs or evidence of activity such as fecal material, shed skins or bloodspots. If room is suspect, request a different room.

Using a business card and hand lens to examine the cracks and crevices around the mattress, bed frame, headboard (most will lift off the wall easily), carpet edges, picture frames, closets, nightstands, luggage racks and dressers to inspect for evidence.

Move the bed away from the wall or headboard if possible. The number one trouble spot in hotels is the headboard (if any). Number two are the picture frames directly above/behind the headboard area.

Don’t unpack leave your clothes in a closed suitcase, knapsack or zipped up clothing bag. You might want to tape the zipper or put it in a large clear plastic bag.

Keep your suitcase, etc. away from bed and don’t leave clothes laying about or in dresser drawers.

If traveling light, hang your clothing bag on the shower rod in the bathroom

Bag and Seal pajamas in a clear plastic bag and examine later.

Check yourself for bites or itching, although bed bug bites are not always immediately noticeable.

When you get home:

Unpack over a white sheet, directly launder washables in water over 140 degrees and then dry on high heat for an hour minimum. Dry cleaning is NOT as effective as previously thought, so save your money there… Consider a dry-vapor steam machine for yourself or a heating solution, such as a PackTite, Bed Bug Annihilator or BBFS’s Cimex SMART Cube.

Inspect and vacuum suitcases before putting them away. If you think you may have come into contact with pests you might consider having the items treated further off-site prior to unpacking at home.

Still Paranoid?:

Travel with large, clear plastic bags and enclose suitcase, clothing bag and all belongings (including what you are wearing prior to returning home (change in the car, driveway or garage) and seal with tape. Consider having items fumigated using Vikane gas fumigant, subjected to a controlled heat treatment of over 135 degrees for one hour minimum or treated with a topical, aerosol insecticide labeled for use on bed bugs.

Some additional information:

Standard Pest Management‘s –  “Don’t Bring THEM Home: Avoid Bed Bugs While Traveling” Guide

NYC.gov “Guide to Stop Bed Bugs in Hotels Safely” (PDF)

 

CDC Study: One Death, 100+ Illnesses linked to Bed Bug Targeting Insecticides

Thinking about tackling that bed bug problem in your building by yourself? You might want to think again or at least get a second opinion before you pull the pin on that “bug bomb” in your hand. According to a recent report by the CDC and EPA, from 2003-2010 nearly 111 cases of illness and one fatality were attributed to insecticides used in targeting Bed Bugs (Cimex Lectularius). Here is a brief summary of the findings:

Bed bug populations and infestations are increasing in the United States and internationally (3,5). Bed bug infestations often are treated with insecticides, but insecticide resistance is a problem, and excessive use of insecticides or use of insecticides contrary to label directions can raise the potential for human toxicity. To assess the frequency of illness from insecticides used to control bed bugs, relevant cases from 2003–2010 were sought from the Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks (SENSOR)-Pesticides program and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH). Cases were identified in seven states: California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Texas, and Washington. A total of 111 illnesses associated with bed bug–related insecticide use were identified; although 90 (81%) were low severity, one fatality occurred. Pyrethroids, pyrethrins, or both were implicated in 99 (89%) of the cases, including the fatality. The most common factors contributing to illness were excessive insecticide application, failure to wash or change pesticide-treated bedding, and inadequate notification of pesticide application. Although few cases of illnesses associated with insecticides used to control bed bugs have been reported, recommendations to prevent this problem from escalating include educating the public about effective bed bug management.

Although the number of acute illnesses from insecticides used to control bed bugs does not suggest a large public health burden, increases in bed bug populations that are resistant to commonly available insecticides might result in increased misuse of pesticides. Public health recommendations to prevent illnesses associated with insecticides used to control bed bugs include media campaigns to educate the public about bed bug–related issues, including nonchemical methods to control bed bugs, methods to prevent bed bug infestation (e.g., avoiding the purchase of used mattresses and box springs), and prudent use of effective insecticides (3). Persons who have a bed bug infestation should be encouraged to seek the services of a certified applicator who uses an IPM approach to avoid pesticide misuse. Persons applying insecticides should follow product instructions for safe and appropriate use. Insecticide labels that are easy to read and understand also can help prevent illnesses associated with bed bug control.

Many of the reported cases were do-it-yourselfers who misused the chemicals or used the wrong product.  Most of the cases were in New York City, the apparent epicenter of the recent U.S. bed bug comeback. For more information on safely treating your bed bug problem, contact BBFS at 1-877-966-4824 (No-ITCH) or visit our EDUCATION section on the BBFS website!

Bedbugs in Hotels: New Data behind the Growing Epidemic

SEATTLE, Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Thousands of US travelers hoped that the bedbugs wouldn’t bite this summer but reports show that they did, at an outstanding rate. In the wake of the 2010 Bedbug Epidemic the number of bedbug reports for 2011 (January 1–September 1) shattered 2010 totals by more than 660%.

Since the beginning of the year reports of traveler encounters with bedbugs have trickled into Raveable.com, which compiles reports from users. Since 2010 the number of individual hotels with bedbugs has risen 250%, showing that bedbugs aren’t last year’s issue. Below are cities with the highest number of hotel bedbug reports in 2011 during the period January through September 1.

        Rank City Name        % Increase 2011/2010
        ---- ---------------- --------------------
        1    Las Vegas        330%
        ---- ---------------- --------------------
        2    New York City    135%
        ---- ---------------- --------------------
        3    San Francisco    209%
        ---- ---------------- --------------------
        4    Orlando          317%
        ---- ---------------- --------------------
        5    Atlantic City    282%
        ---- ---------------- --------------------
        6    Chicago          207%
        ---- ---------------- --------------------
        7    Los Angeles      329%
        ---- ---------------- --------------------
        8    Washington, D.C. 192%
        ---- ---------------- --------------------
        9    Columbus         667%
        ---- ---------------- --------------------
        10   Anaheim          340%
        ---- ---------------- --------------------

“It is a groundbreaking year for bedbugs,” says Philip Vaughn, CEO of Kirkland hotel review website Raveable.com, who notes that some of the most popular summer destinations are the hardest hit by hotel bedbug infestations. Last September and October reeled in some of the highest numbers of bedbug reports. This fall is projected to be worse. As the bedbugs enjoy the late summer travel season, travelers can do nothing but arm themselves with information and hope that they will not become another statistic.

Travelers concerned about bed bugs can “look before they book” by checking out Raveable’s Bed Bugs in Hotels resource page, provides links to city-specific bedbug data and gives tips on how to stay safe during their stay.

About Raveable.com: Raveable is an award winning travel website, named Top Travel Website by Travel+Leisure. Raveable’s mission is to provide travelers with the most reliable, credible and up-to-date information to help them find a hotel that best suits their needs. Raveable analyzes and consolidates millions of traveler opinions and thousands of bedbug alerts, giving them the inside scoop on more than 160,000 hotels, resorts and bed & breakfasts worldwide. The company has been featured in MSNBC, the LA Times and other publications. To learn more go to: Raveable.com.

SOURCE Raveable.com

Copyright (C) 2011 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Top 10 Bed Bug Infestation Spots

Bed Bugs are no longer restricted to people's homes and apartments. Watching out for potential bed bug infestation points during your day can greatly reduce your risk of infestation.

Sure, we’ve all heard the nursery rhyme, and we’ve all seen the pictures of rooms cluttered with bed bugs, their nasty skins and droppings, and read the news stories about bed bug infestations, their resistance to pesticides and how they are increasing to pandemic levels throughout the United States. But you are still thinking that you only have to worry about Bed Bugs at home and at Hotels right? RIGHT? Wrong. Here is a Travel Channel list of the Top 10 Bed Bug Infestation Spots (where you are most likely to be exposed and/or bring these little vampire hitchhikers home).

1. Public Libraries
2. Retail Stores
3. Movie Theaters
4. Planes, Trains and Buses
5. Daycares, Schools and Colleges
6. Places of Worship
7. Business Offices
8. Laundry Facilities
9. Hospitals and Nursing Homes
10. Consignment, Thrift and Rental Stores

In other news, Vikane (Sulfuryl Flouride) Fumigation is 100% effective against all life stages of the pesky bed bug, including the hard to control egg stage. One single fumigation treatment to a structure, a container or a moving/rental truck and/or its belongings can eradicate the source population, prevent any pesticide resistant generations from continuing to unnaturally evolve, and make future preventative measures (such as a defined Integrated Pest Management program) more successful. DOW Vikane Fumigation is the only 100% effective eradication method for all stages of bug infestation that leaves no detectable residue.

Bed Bug Fumigation Specialists (BBFS) is the industry leading Vikane Fumigation Treatment Service specializing in bed bugs, termites, clothes moths, powder post beetles and other pest infestations. With over 40 years of collective fumigation experience, BBFS is the company with the record you can count on. Our professionals have safely completed more than 50,000 fumigations in our history, including over 2500 successful bed bug eradications in NYC alone. BBFS is also a recipient of DOW AgroSciences Commitment to Excellence (CTE) award for safely administering Vikane for thousands of customers.

“BedBuggedNYC” : 9/15/11

BRICKUNDERGROUND TO HOLD MEETUP: “BedBuggedNYC”:  Thursday, September 15^th, 6:30pm-8:30pm

–Event Co-Hosted by Neighborhood Social Networking Site Romio.com and Sponsored by Bed Bug Fumigation Specialists–

New York, August 22, 2011 –BrickUnderground, http://www.BrickUnderground.com, the online survival guide to finding a NYC apartment and living through the aftermath, has announced its second Meetup event, “BedBuggedNYC.”

The free, panel-style event and Q&A will take place from 6:30pm-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15 at the West 23rd Street penthouse headquarters of co-host Romio.com, the neighborhood social networking site.

In-the-know BedbuggedNYC Meetup experts will dispense the practical lowdown on bed bugs, including what bed bugs really look like and where to find them; the best ways to get rid of them; who pays for removal; how to get your landlord or board to do the right thing; and how to deal with the emotional upheaval and social stigma of infestation.

Meetup sponsor Bed Bug Fumigation Specialists will be on hand to explain fumigation using Vikane gas, provide steps to bed bug-proof your next move, and introduce attendees to The Fume Cube, an innovative portable solution for bed bug treatments in a multi-unit urban environment such as New York City. While The Fume Cube has been available and in operation in NYC since 2008, BBFS will introduce a second-generation Fume Cube for the first time at the Meetup.

The BedbuggedNYC panel will be moderated by BrickUnderground’s founder and former New York Times real estate contributor Teri Karush Rogers, who has been reporting on the city’s bed bug epidemic since 2009. Panelists include:

• Gil Bloom, president of Standard Pest Management: An entomologist and pest control operator as well as New York Magazine’s “Best Bedbug Warrior of 2011,” and a former member of Mayor Bloomberg’s Bed Bug Advisory Board, Gil has also provided training to a number of city agencies. Gil will kick off the BedbuggedNYC Meetup with an overview on the essentials of  bed bug biology, prevention, detection and banishment of bed bugs.
• Steven Wagner, real estate lawyer, Wagner Davis PC: An attorney extremely familiar with the tactical and legal complexities of blame-placing and exterminating bed bugs in apartment buildings, Steve will explain how to get landlords or boards to  properly address a bed bug problem, as well as talk about who is responsible for the cost of extermination and whether a landlord can refuse to rent to you if you had bed bugs in your last home.
• Theresa Braine, journalist, bed bug survivor, and BrickUnderground’s Bedbugged! columnist: Fresh from a seven-year stint working as a journalist in Mexico, Theresa returned to NYC in late 2008, took over her brother’s apartment, and found a jarring surprise: A bed bug infestation. Reflecting on her yearlong battle to get rid of the bugs, Theresa will discuss the emotional and social side effects of having bed bugs, the coping measures that worked for her and what she’d do today if faced with the same situation again.

“The object of this Meetup isn’t to stir up fears, gross people out, or engage in policy debates,” says BrickUnderground’s Rogers. “Our panelists will tell you exactly what you need to know to protect yourself, your family and your neighbors from bed bugs and minimize the financial, social and emotional consequences of an infestation.”

Spots at the Meetup are limited, so participants are strongly advised to register in advance on BrickUnderground’s Meetup page, www.meetup.com/BrickUnderground-NYC-Real-Estate-Meetup/.  Light refreshments will be provided by Romio.com.

About BrickUnderground

BrickUnderground.com is the online survival guide to buying, selling, renting and living in a NYC apartment. Content on BrickUnderground is updated three times daily and features smart, originally reported stories on topics that matter to NYC apartment dwellers, seekers and sellers. For more information, please visit http://www.brickunderground.com

About Romio

Romio’s mission is to efficiently connect people, businesses, organizations, and groups around their interests in the neighborhoods where they live, work and play. Leveraging connection technologies, the social network enables residents to effectively find, follow and support those in their neighborhood who have like-minded interests, offer products and services and work toward solutions to better their communities. Romio launched its first neighborhood social network in New York City in 2011 by CEO Tarik Sansal. www.romio.com

About Bed Bug Fumigation Specialists (BBFS)

Bed Bug Fumigation Specialists is the industry leading Fumigation Treatment Service specializing in bed bugs, termites, clothes moths, powder post beetles and other pest infestations. With over 40 years of collective fumigation experience, BBFS is the company with the record you can count on. Our professionals have safely completed more than 50,000 fumigations in our history, including over 2500 successful bed bug eradications in NYC alone. BBFS is also a recipient of DOW AgroSciences Commitment to Excellence (CTE) award for safely administering Vikane for thousands of customers. For more information, visit www.bedbugfumigators.com.