Azex Pest Solutions

Bed Bugs – Fact & Fiction

azexpest — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:07:44 +0000

1. Bed bugs are only found in run down and dirty structures.

FALSE. Bed bugs are non discriminating. They have been found in 5-star hotels, cruise ships, single-family homes and public housing alike. They will hitchhike equally on designer luggage or discarded mattresses.

2. Bed bugs are only a problem right now in more densely populated areas

like New York and New Jersey.

FALSE. Bed bugs have reached epidemic proportion throughout North America. While the New York area is one of the country’s bed bug hot spots, the pests have been reported in all 50 states as well as in Canada. Urban locations have higher reported occurrences, but are commonly found in more rural locations, as well.

3. Bed bugs feed on human blood in the middle of the night like vampires.

TRUE. Bed bugs are most active in the early morning hours when humans are normally in their deepest sleep. A blood meal usually lasts around 10-15 minutes.

4. Bed bugs are only found on mattresses and bedding.

FALSE. Bed bugs hide in cracks and crevices of a structure, inside wall cavities, on walls and ceilings, under carpeting, in other upholstered furniture, even in electric outlets and within electronics. Mattresses are closest to their meals, so they are often found there.

5. Pesticides are the most effective way to kill bed bugs.

FALSE. While pesticide applications play a role in overall integrated pest management, there are definite down sides, including having to often apply pesticides multiple times on the same structure and also discarding and replacing mattresses. In fact, bed bugs are already showing resistance to powerful professionally applied pesticides according to recent university research (Dr. Michael Potter, University of Kentucky).

6. Heat is proving to be the method of choice for killing bed bugs and their eggs.

TRUE. Laboratory testing has shown that bed bugs begin to die when temperatures reach as little at 113 degrees F. Field research has shown 100% effectiveness in killing bed bugs and their eggs when exposed to high temperatures. The predominant (and original) heat and filtration technology, ThermaPure (www.thermapure.com), has been applied to tens of thousands of structures throughout North America.

7. Encasing your mattress with a plastic cover will solve the bed bug problem.

FALSE. Mattress covers can help with bed bugs already found on the mattress, and only partial control thereafter. Encasements will not stop bed bugs from crawling onto your sheets and blankets from behind headboards. Since bed bugs hide in many parts of the structure, as well as on other pieces of furniture, encasement’s should only be viewed as one possible component in the fight against bed bugs.

8. Bed bugs can be a source of health-related problems.

TRUE While there is no current evidence to show that bed bugs can transmit disease, we do know that bed bug bite victims often report itchy, inflamed skin and on rare occasions victims have reported asthma attacks and other allergic reactions. According to a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, bed bug bites should be considereda possible cause of iron-deficiencyanemia in people who havesigns of severe bedbug infestation.

9. Bed bugs are the most difficult pest to control.

TRUE. According to a recent survey from the National Pest Management Association 76% of pest control operators surveyed say bed bugs are the toughest — even more than cockroaches, termites and ants.

10. Heat treatments do more than just kill bed bugs.

TRUE. When properly applied by trained technicians, ThermaPureHeat^® pasteurizes a structure, killing bacteria, viruses, some types of mold and allergens, and even odors.

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Source: ThermaPure, Inc.^®Ventura, CA. www.thermapure.com

The reason why AZEX Pest Solutions targets insects outside before they become a problem inside!

azexpest — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:45:28 +0000

In-Home Pesticide Exposure Increases Parkinson’s Risk

SAN DIEGO, CA – Pesticide use and exposure in the home and garden increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to a study of almost 500 people newly diagnosed with the disease. Researchers announced their findings at a presentation at the American Academy of Neurology’s 52nd annual meeting in San Diego, CA, April 29 – May 6, 2000.

“This study is the largest yet of newly diagnosed individuals with Parkinson’s disease and it is the first study to show a significant association between home pesticide use and the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease,” said study lead author Lorene Nelson, PhD, a neuroepidemiologist at Stanford University School of Medicine. The preliminary results from this study mirror what is already known about the increased risk of Parkinson’s disease associated with occupational exposure to pesticides.

The researchers questioned 496 people who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease about past use of pesticides. Each patient was asked if they had used or been exposed to insecticides in the home or garden, herbicides or weed killers in the garden, or fungicides to control mold or mildew in the home or garden. Researchers asked detailed questions about past pesticide use including first exposures and frequency of pesticide contact.

The Parkinson’s patients’ lifetime histories were then compared to 541 people without the disease. Researchers found that people who had been exposed to pesticides were approximately two times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than people not exposed to pesticides.

In-home exposure to insecticides carried the highest risk of developing the disease. Parkinson’s patients were more than twice as likely to have been exposed to insecticides in the home than those without the disease. Past exposure to herbicides was also associated with the disease, whereas exposure to insecticides in the garden and fungicides were not found to be risk factors.

Damage to nerve cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra leads to the movement difficulties characteristic of Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, people exposed to chemicals that have a particular affinity for this region of the brain may be at particular risk for developing the disease.

“Certain chemicals that an individual is exposed to in the environment may cause selective death of brain cells or neurons,” stated Nelson. “If we could understand why these neurons are being killed in certain circumstances, we can then try and prevent it.”

But Nelson cautioned that more studies are needed before any conclusive statements can be made about the causes of Parkinson’s disease, including any genetic influence on a person’s probability of developing the disease.

Nelson also stressed that the results of the study must be interpreted with caution. “No specific guidelines regarding avoidance of pesticides can be given at this time but, in general, this is an area of public health importance that needs to be pursued,” said Nelson.

Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressive, neurodegenerative disease that affects more than 500,000 people in the United States. Parkinson’s causes the loss of dopamine, a chemical in the brain, which results in muscle stiffness and rigidity, slowness in movement and tremor of the arms and legs.

The National Institutes of Health provided funding for the study.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 16,500 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit its Web site at http://www.aan.com. For online neurological health and wellness information, visit NeuroVista at http://www.aan.com/neurovista.

Original Story found at: http://www.aan.com/

Multimodal Bed Bug Abatement Program

azexpest — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:05:49 +0000

Recent outbreaks in bed bugs are causing major issues for homeowners and the housing industry.
Many occupants report red marks and bites after one night’s rest resulting in loss of revenue and an overall negative perception of the affected structure. Studies show an increase of 800% in bed bug activity in the last few years as a result of increased world travel. The bugs can have one blood meal and gain six times their regular weight, and survive off that meal for up to one year. The female can lay up to 400 eggs in her lifetime.
Treatment options are numerous and the effectiveness of each is debatable. However, through a thorough proactive Integrated Pest Management Program utilizing a number of Bed Bug eradication techniques including Heat, Residual Chemicals and K9 Inspection and detection, 100% eradication and prevention of future infestations can be achieved in a highly cost effective manner.

Thermapureheat
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM), reduces chemical exposure rates to tenants and or staff. 100% Non-Toxic and Highly Effective.
• Kills all stages of bedbug growth including the eggs.
• Penetrates deep into bedbug harborages, including furniture, electronics and walls.
• Treatment completed in as little as 4 hours. No development of resistance.

Chemical Treatment of Harborages
• Treatment of Harborages w/ Non-Repellent and highly Persistent Materials where possible.
• Insect Growth Regulators – Breaks life cycle through sterilization.
• Non-Repellents – Highly Effective on pyrethroid-resistant strains of bed bugs. Will not disperse or “lock in” bed bugs.

Bed Bug Detection Dogs
• Quick Detection and Accurate Monitoring of Infestation throughout a structure.
• Ensures post treatment efficacy.
• Leads to lower remediation costs.

Click Here To Check out Cimex K9 for more information on the use of Bed Bug Detection Dogs!

Winter Pest Solutions

azexpest — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:28:46 +0000

It is true that many pests die off for the winter, or go into hibernation, or retreat to their winter forts, such as ants. But there are many pests that would rather not take a winter vacation. Instead they fly, crawl, or jump to the more tropical weather provided by the shelter you know as your house. For this reason, residential pest control shouldn’t be skipped for the winter months.

Due to this fact, we at AZEX Pest Solutions wanted to take a moment to remind everyone to not let their guards down over these cool and cold months, and to take advantage of our great fall and winter spray and pest solution specials including gutter clean outs.

FEDERAL COURT UPHOLDS PATENT INFRINGEMENT VERDICT IN FAVOR OF THERMAPURE, INC.

azexpest — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:18:06 +0000

FEDERAL COURT UPHOLDS PATENT INFRINGEMENT VERDICT IN FAVOR OF THERMAPURE, INC.

Judge Validates Jury Verdict, which Found Water Out Drying Corporation of NJ Violated ThermaPure Patent for Sanitizing Structures Using Heat

NOVEMBER 24, 2009, VENTURA, CA – The U.S. District Court in Marshall, Texas has upheld a jury verdict finding that U.S. Patent (No. 6,327,812), owned by California-based ThermaPure, is valid and has been infringed by New Jersey-based Water Out Drying Corporation.

The case was tried to a jury in March 2009 before United States Magistrate Judge Charles Everingham IV. The jury found Thermapure’s patent valid and infringed. On November 13, 2009, the Court denied Water Out’s attempt to overturn the verdict and granted Thermapure’s motion to set a new trial solely on the issue of damages. Jury selection for the damages trial is set to begin on March 1, 2010. The damages by the time of trial are estimated to be more than $17 million.

Thermapure had also brought a motion post-verdict for a permanent injunction to prevent continued infringement by Water Out. The Court will decide that motion following the damages trial.

“We appreciate the jury’s service and attention to our case. We are obviously thrilled the Court has affirmed their finding of validity and infringement,” said David Hedman, CEO of ThermaPure. “We intend to aggressively protect ThermaPure against any further industry infringement of our patent rights.”

The use of heated air to dry and sanitize structures affected by water damage, pests and other contaminants is a rapidly growing practice in the multi-billion dollar restoration and pest control industries. More than 40 restoration and environmental companies, and pest control operators in North America are currently offering heat treatments as ThermaPure licensees. However, a number of other providers are not and may be infringing upon ThermaPure’s intellectual property.

ThermaPure (www.thermapure.com) is a patented, non-chemical heat and filtration technology that utilizes structural pasteurization to sanitize structures. The ThermaPure process can also kill or denature mold, bacteria, viruses and insects, including bed bugs, termites and their eggs. The ThermaPure heat process is carefully measured and monitored, and includes filtration to help remove contaminants that are sent airborne because of the circulation of heated air. ThermaPure-trained technicians are also careful to protect or remove heat-sensitive items.

ThermaPure, Inc. was represented by Julien Adams and Jeff Eichmann of Dovel & Luner LLP; Christopher Bunt of Parker, Bunt & Ainsworth, P.C.; and Claire Henry of Capshaw DeRieux, LLP. The case is captioned Thermapure, Inc v. Water Out Drying Corp Et al. 2:06-CV-0453 and was tried in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Rodent 101- The first step to a successful rodent control program is the inspection process (1 of a 4 part series).

azexpest — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:56:33 +0000

A successful rodent program is dependent on the implementation of the first critical step, “The Inspection”. Any quality PMP (Pest Management Professional) always takes their time when performing an inspection and does not cut corners. Your PMP needs to first listen to the questions and concerns of the customer to gain a clearer picture of the rodent problem at hand. Your PMP should ask some critical questions during this initial conversation, which include but are not limited to: How long have you noticed this rodent problem? What type of rodent evidence have you heard or seen? What part of the structure have you heard or seen this evidence in? Do you have pets or small children living with you? Have you had a PMP address this issue in the past? If so, what were their conclusions and/or treatment for the rodent problem? If there is adequate customer cooperation in answering these questions the PMP will gain a better understanding of the specific situation before ever starting the inspection.
The House Mouse, Norway Rat, Roof Rat, and Pack Rats are the 4 species of rodents that a homeowner will most likely encounter in the southwest region of the U.S. There are 10 tail-tail signs to a rodent infestation that the PMP should be looking for, which include:
1. Rodent Tracks- Rodent tracks can be seen in areas where there is a layer of dust or soft and moist soil. The foot pattern of the rodent track will easily give away various types of different rodent species.
2. Grease Marks- Rodents produce grease or rub marks from the oil and dirt that collects on their bodies. These marks can be seen on walls, entry/exit points, and on common rodent runways.
3. Burrows or Nests- These are clumps of nesting material that show a rodent harborage or breeding site. These burrows or nests usually contain material that is found around the house which is chewed up and clumped together. Identifying material that is used to make the nest can indicate which part of the structure the rodent frequents when it goes out to forage (i.e. attic insulation).
4. Urine Stains- These stains caused by rodents can look and smell very distinctive. These stains are easily spotted through the use of a black light. Under this light the stains will fluoresce and give away frequently used runways.
5. Fecal Pellets (droppings)- One of the most obvious signs of a rodent infestation is the presence of fecal pellets or droppings. During the night hours rodents are most active and defecate quite often. A competent PMP should be able to distinguish between the different shapes and sizes of droppings to identify which type of rodent is present.
6. Rodent Sounds- A PMP who performs a quiet and stealthy inspection can usually hear one or more of the sounds that rodents make such as: high pitched squeaks from young pups, digging, gnawing, scurrying, scratching, or the rustling from two rodents fighting.
7. Gnawing Damage- The presence of gnawing damage can be another sign that you have a rodent infestation. Rodents are constantly gnawing on things and your PMP should be able to tell what type of rodent your dealing with by the size and shape of the gnaw marks or the pattern and shape of the hole that was chewed into food packaging.
8. Runways- Rodents are creatures of habit and repeatedly use the same pathways to travel between food and nesting sites. Therefore these runways can be very distinctive and typically have a strong urine odor associated with them.
9. Rodent Odors- There is typically a very distinct smell associated with rodents especially in a moderate to large sized infestation. Rodents are very active creatures who defecate and urinate on a regularly and continuous basis. An experienced PMP has a good nose and will pick up on this odor immediately when they encounter it.
10. Live or Dead Rodents- The presence of dead rodents is a good sign that an infestation is present or was present at one time. Usually a PMP can tell by the decomposition of the rodent if it is an old infestation or a new one. Typically dead rodents caught in traps or poisoned will not deter the living population from the area or cause them to create an alternate runway around them. Because of this your PMP should continue their trapping and baiting on that same rodent pathway until no results are found.
A complete and thorough inspection by a qualified Pest Management Professional will yield a cost-effective, efficient, and successful rodent program for the customer. A careful and meticulous inspection of these 10 signs of a rodent infestation will enable the PMP to formulate a very effective game plan therefore maximizing their chance of a successful remediation and minimizing their chance of a long, drawn-out, and costly endeavor.

Integrated Pest Management – A Lesson in Environmental Responsibility

azexpest — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:45:21 +0000

Insects and pests have been invading our homes and gardens since before our times in the caves. Of the 900,000 plus currently known insect species of the world, only about one-and-a-half percent cause any health or economic concern or harm. Many, if not most of the species of insect and pests, in fact, provide indispensable services to humans and are an integral parts to the ecosystem as a whole. Your property and home is indeed an extension and mixture of both artificial and natural ecosystems and deserves to be treated in a responsible and environmentally friendly manner in terms of preventing and managing our unwanted intruders with respect to the environment at large.

The most ecological and responsible form of pest management today resides in the concept of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. IPM consists of reducing the use and need for dangerous pesticides through the use of preventative, biological, and mechanical approaches as the first line of defense against pests. Your personal environment is an ecosystem and pests can be eliminated by using simple techniques to deprive them of their food, water, and or shelter. Chemical pesticides should always be considered a last resort. Rachel Carson, the author of “Silent Spring”, likened the use of chemical pesticides “As crude a weapon as the cave man’s club…” due to the fact that most pesticides kill a very broad spectrum of insects, and therefore can destroy many beneficial insects such as bees and indigenous pollinators. Most chemical pesticides can leave residues that may remain toxic from days to weeks and sometimes even months while poisoning our storm water caches and leaching into our fragile aquifers. Integrated Pest Management is in most cases purely common sense, such as planting particular well adapted, or insect resistant plants for the environment at hand, and the use of screens and barriers to prevent pests from entering your home or garden in the first place. IPM can be as easy as trimming back your weeds and or keeping a clean house and yard thus denying pests their essential components for survival and sustainability. The key to IPM and the overall reduction of pesticides in our home and environment truly comes down to a well informed property or homeowner. There is so much information on IPM approaches available on the internet today that the majority of your pest control situations can be addressed in a simple, cost effective, and most importantly, in an ecologically conscience manner without much effort.

However, despite our best intentions, in some circumstances all of the non-toxic/chemical-free means of the IPM approach may become ineffective for the control of pests. Therefore, chemical pesticides may become the only option remaining in which there are some major concerns to consider. Choose pesticides carefully, keeping in mind to first use the least toxic products and ALWAYS remember to follow the directions on the label to the letter while being sure to wear the required personal protective equipment. The label will always have directions for storing and disposing of the container or unused chemicals in a safe manner consistent with the label. Remember to always store chemicals above the high water mark for your particular area in the event of a flood. Any spills need to be addressed and cleaned up immediately to prevent contamination of our environment. Safe handling of pesticides is the key to reducing the negative effects of chemicals in the environment. If you need the services of a professional pest control company, first be sure they are fully licensed with the state pest control commission, and second, that they use the least toxic and most organic pesticides available such as Borates and Heat in conjunction with more advanced and extensive IPM techniques.

NON TOXIC PEST CONTROL!

azexpest — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:36:43 +0000

Pests have infested and occupied your home for many years. AZEX Pest Solutions can eliminate the uninvited occupants safely, effectively, and in an environmentally friendly manner without using dangerous chemicals thus turning your home back over to you and your family.

AZEX Pest Solutions uses natural, organic, botanical products and methods as well as a patented process from ThermaPureHeat® to apply heat an entire or partial structure for a fully PASTEURIZED HOME! Some byproducts of applying heat for pest control are: oxidizing odors and eliminating allergens that trigger asthma attacks. CREATES BETTER INDOOR AIR QUALITY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

Complete Pest Control Services, Rodent Control and Exclusions, and

Thermal Eradication Options

Non Toxic Pest Solutions • No Contracts or Start-Up Fees • Fast and Reliable Services to Fit Your Needs

Thermapureheat VS Pesticides

azexpest — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:28:50 +0000

Bed Bugs and casts

BED BUG TREATMENT BENEFITS: THERMAPUREHEAT VS PESTICIDES

Special difficulties that hotels, motels, and the summer camp industries face with respect to bedbugs are significant. If a client is exposed to pesticidal residue and gets sick, the person may sue. If the inhabitant is bitten several times, the result may be the same, as was the case when a couple on a cruise ship cabin received over 100 blood meal wounds and sued. If the facility has to close down in order to fumigate an entire structure, the loss of revenue can be substantial. If Vikane is used, unless the dosage is increased by ten times, it is not ovicidal. The items needing to be treated with harmful pesticides within a given room come into direct contact with the face and body of those staying there. This is a concern for guests who come to relax, sleep, clean up and eat.

We already know that bed bugs can be found inside books, like phonebooks, or in bookcases. Even by atomizing pesticides, it is unlikely to penetrate the pages of books in a drawer or tightly fitted on a bookshelf. A residual dust will not work in any visible area where a client eats or sleeps. Even then a desiccant dust is very slow acting over a period of two to three months. This would allow bed bugs to exist within a given habitation over too long a period of time. Even using low odor pesticides, women, with a more articulate sense of smell, will be cognizant, and perhaps concerned. If bedding is being changed from room to room, bed bugs may hitch a ride from one room to the next before the maid deposits the infested bedding into the laundry room. In fact, the bed bug may hitch a ride on the clothing of the maid.

ThermaPureHeat is lethal without ANY pesticides. Doctors have prescribed ThermaPureHeat for asthma patients to purify and cleanse the structure wherein they reside. ThermaPureHeat can achieve lethal levels inside mattresses, pillows, wall voids, books and all contents within a given habitation. Since bed bugs typically migrate upward, rooms on several floors can be treated simultaneously within 4 to 8 hours depending on the number of heaters and the size of the treatment. What that means is that rooms can be rented out by 6:00 p.m. if treatment commences in the morning hours. The loss of revenue is minimized, or eliminated by using ThermaPureHeat. Electric heaters will not arouse the same concern from patrons as will pesticides and fumigants.

In addition, ThermaPureHeat can oxidize odors. When negative air machines filter the heated treatment air, the particulates, odors and aldehydes are captured through filtration. Thus, the indoor air quality of the structure being treated has been purified and improved. The use of traditional pesticides could never accomplish either a complete eradication of the target pest that heat can, or the multiple benefits achieved by elevated temperatures, including the reduction or elimination of harmful bacteria, odors and eliminating the egg stage of the bed bug.

Bedbugs are back!

azexpest — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:59:40 +0000

Recent outbreaks in bed bugs are causing major issues for homeowners, hotels, and the summer camp industry. Studies show increase of 800% in bed bug activity in the last few years as a result of increased world travel and resistance to pesticides. Bed bugs can have one blood meal and gain six times their regular weight, and survive off that meal for up to one year. The female can lay up to 400 eggs in her lifetime!

Why ThermaPureHeatT for Bed Bugs?

No pesticides / Non-toxic
. Kills nymphs, adults, and eggs
. 100% effective
. Penetration into cracks /crevices
. Does not expand the infestation
. Disinfects building and living
space of other microbiological conditions (i.e. bacteria, mold)
How Is ThermaPureHeatT Implemented?
Clean, dry heat, is introduced to the bedroom or building and the inside air is slowly raised to a safe “sauna-like temperature”. To ensure that the temperatures of 140-160ºF are maintained for a kill of the target organisms. State-of-the art digital thermometers monitor inside ambient, surface, and core temperatures. This heating process penetrates cracks and crevices to kill bed bug nymphs, adults and eggs. Additionally the process kills inaccessible mold and bacteria for a higher level of cleanliness.