BedBugs are hitch-hikers… you’ve heard us say that over and over, so it’s no surprise to see reports of BedBugs at workplaces. A few weeks ago, someone commented on this blog that they wished the telemarketer on their phone had BedBugs in the cubicle. That’s a little harsh. LOL
Mr BedBug on the set of MrBedBugTV
I’m Mr BedBug, Chief SpokesBug for FLfresh.com and EcoBugFREE, the BedBug Eliminator. I am a TV star on MrBedBug-TV and Editor of the BedBug News Reports.com
The reality is: BedBugs will travel anywhere that you “tasty-humans” travel. We think you are SO yummy. Finding Bedbugs in the work place is NOT new, but few employers know how to correctly deal with the situation, or have procedures in place. In today’s world, every workplace should have a policy and a procedure to follow.
Here are my suggestions:
#1 Take every report seriously and try to capture or “squish” any suspicious “bug”. Not every bug found will be a BedBug, so just like on Law&Order or CSI… the Detectives need to see the “body”.
#2 Know who to call. Sadly not every pest control company is an expert at every “bug”. They will all claim to be Bedbug experts, but few really are. Find someone you can trust, before you have an incident.
#3 BedBugs are unlike any other insect, in that their only feeding source is a human. Ants and roaches love grit and grime, but Bedbugs don’t. This means that you can’t “pre-spray” for Bedbugs, like you do for ants and roaches. The flip side of the coin is true too. The day AFTER the exterminator tests/ declares the office “BedBug FREE”… another bedbug could arrive, clinging to the pants cuff or purse of the first person in the office the next day. That restarts another infestation.
#4 Do NOT panic. BedBugs do NOT spread disease. Ants and roaches DO. Mosquitos and ticks DO. BedBugs don’t spread disease, BUT “we” have an un-fair reputation. BedBugs are NOT a problem for only the poor, unclean, or people who hang out in seedy motels. Bedbugs are equal opportunity pest, because all humans look like an all-you-can-eat buffet opportunity to us. The bedbug News Reports commonly see news of BedBugs in 5-*star hotels, movie theaters, opera houses and appearently call centers at the Harris County [Texas] Toll-Road Authority.
Below is the ABC13/ Houston (KTRK) news story by Steve Campion.
http://abc13.com/news/hctra-warns-employees-of-bed-bug-infestation/359975/
The BedBug News Reports is here, so you can learn from the “mistakes” of others. We try not to make comments about factually incorrect statements that local reporters make on TV Newscast. They can’t be an expert on every subject they report on and sadly, many just Google “BedBug” and repeat some of the myths and folklore that others post on the internet. Sometimes we question the accuracy of quotes. In this case the broadcast story is correct, but the text version [on the page linked above] has some wrong-headed info. It’s not “wrong” to say you can kill adult Bedbugs with rubbing alcohol, but you would die if dunked into a swimming pool of the stuff too. In this scenario, Did you die because of the rubbing alcohol?… or because you can’t swim? Heat is a very effective treatment for a major BedBug infestation, but again, it is mis-leading to imply it’s the “best” or “most effective” way.
If you want to learn HOW TO AVOID BEDBUGS, Get the facts. All the latest research [and Battle plans from the Bedbug Wars] is compiled at www.FLfresh.com Get effective “Tips and Tricks” on how to avoid a Bedbug infestation in the first place, and learn the options you have to clean a BedBug infestation in your home or apartment/condo and workplace. Separate FACT from FOLK-LORE and Myth. www.FLfresh.com is the national distributor of EcoBugFREE, the BedBug Eliminator . It is a non-toxic [kid-safe and pet-friendly] way to KILL BEDBUGS.
The more you know about HOW BedBugs live, hide, feed, breed and travel, the better you can protect yourself in the “BedBugs Wars”.
Hello, I am being unfairly blamed for giving employees bed bugs. if they are in my building, the employees had to bring them in. no insects just magically appear. How can I document this, so I don’t keep hearing complaints and whispers around the office.
Hello Oscar… I’m glad you found “the right page”. I’ll bet an employee sent you this link, because you appearently don’t believe YOU have a problem.
#1 re-read the post above.
#2 read it again
#3 stop trying to place “blame”. It;’s not your emploees “fault” [you are correct, BedBugs do NOT magically appear. They had to enter the building, clinging to the jacket, pants, blouse or hat of someone. I could be an employee [or a customer / vendor sales rep, etc. You didn’t ID what kind of business you have.]
#4 mass-mail this page link BACK to where it came from so that the office-gossips see this post too. [per the commentary above] Placing “blame” is not productive. Yes, the employees may have brought Bedbugs into the office/workplace, but everyone needs to work together to stop the spread. Education and treatments “on-site”, will kill the BedBugs….. today. What about tomorrow and next week. BedBugs are in movie theaters, kid’s schools, buses and cabs, etc. lots of places real people go every day. They are not just in “hooker motels” on the bad-side of town [That’s a myth, that was never true] Without education and awareness, you’ll see this “gossip” over and over.
Learn more about how Bedbugs live, travel, feed and breed on http://www.FLfresh.com you can ask me more specific questions – MrBedbug@FLfresh.com
Dr Mr BedBug.
I’m the boss. All the sudden all the employees think we have bed bugs in the office cubiles. One smartie-pants -anonymously- e-mailed me this article. I hope you post this questions, so the folks at [name of company removed] will all read it.
it’s not our fault.
we all need to work together
i’m doing the best I can…… yet no one wants to come it the office on Saturday to help clean.
what can I do?
Well Winston, what can I say… tasty-humans read and hear exactly what they want to see/hear. Re-read to post-reply to the last comment. As too staff help cleaning, ask for volunteers. It’s probably no a US Labor Law Violation to require it, but awful lousy PR. I would however reward those who do offer to help, since they are saving the company lots of $$ vs contract pest control than may bot be as effective/more money.
One reminder… Before you get all carried away, PLZ make sure you actually have a Bedbug problem Your contract PCO [pest control operator] probably has [i think it a requirement-but that just me] ..they should have someone on staff who can definitively tell you exactly what bugs you have. Make SURE you have BedBugs, FIRST, before taking any action steps/wasting time/effort and employee morale.
Greetings from Ohio! appearently we are the damn bedbug capital of the f#%*# world. I’m bored to death at work so I decided to check out your site on my lunch break.
I really like the info you provide here and can’t wait to share with the hubby, so he will calm the F#%*# down. Do you know how I can hire someone to come do this, because I’m lazy, and he’s not “handy”. this looks like a LOT of work, that he will MAKE me do.
hey, hey- HEY !!! this is a family web site. LOL [sorry I couldn’t resist, but we did edit you comment slightly.]
yes, you ARE the -F- BedBug capital of the USA. [not the world, more on that elsewhere]
Yes, it is a tedious chore to clean a bedbug infestation.
yes, you are lazy…. yes, you can hire folks, but if THEY are lazy too, and don’t do the work correctly the BedBugs won’t DIE. When 1/2-assed cleaning jobs don’t kill all the Bedbugs, they go hide for a few days or a week, then return for more all-u-can-eat buffet of tasty-human snack-a-liciousness.
Take the time to do the cleaning correctly. DIY or hired help doesn’t matter…. get the job done right!!!