Frequently Asked Questions - Answered

People know that the folks at Knockout Pest Control are Pest Control Experts, so they ask us lots of questions about…well…Pests and related questions. To help save our client time and free up our telephones for homeowners, apartment dwellers, and business owners are calling to ask for service, we have complied a series of the most frequently asked questions and put a few answers to them. We hope this questions and answers are informative and helpful. If YOUR question is not here, well that's okay. We get hundreds of questions a day, these are just the most frequently asked. Please feel free to call us and ask YOUR QUESTION. One of our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be more than happy to answer YOUR question.

What are Bed Bugs?

How come I read so much about Bed Bugs lately?

Are Bed Bug bites harmful?

My neighbor was just doing some renovation and found termites in his house; what are the chances I have termites too? We had our house inspected when we bought it 2 years ago and we didn’t have any.

My house was treated with termicides by ANOTHER pest control company 3 years ago and we have Termites again. Why is that?

Q: What are Bed Bugs?

A: Bed Bugs are small wingless, but rather fast moving, reddish brown parasitic insects, about ¼ inch long at maturity, that feed exclusively on the blood of warm blooded animals, preferably human, but have been known to feed on household pets, and household pests like: rodents and bats. Bed Bugs are nocturnal so they generally feed at night, which is why their preferred habitat are beds where they can feed while people sleep, often WITHOUT people really noticing the tiny bites. Bed Bugs are attracted to the CO2 from people breathing. Hence the name Bed Bug, however Bed Bugs can infest not only beds, but upholstered furniture, behind baseboards, clothes, shoes, luggage, bed frames, inner walls & electrical outlets, and electronic equipment, (usually near a bed). And because they can hide so well AND can live over a year without a feeding…they are one tough pest to eliminate.

Q: How come I read so much about Bed Bugs lately?

A: Bed Bugs were almost eradicated throughout North America, however due to restrictions on broad spectrum pesticides that killed a variety of insects; in the mid 1990s environmentalist had these pesticides removed from the marketplace. Now that pesticides that killed more common insect pests, like cockroaches are now more insect specific, Bed Bugs have been slipping through the gauntlet of insecticidal agents. Now that travel is so prevalent, Bed Bugs are now traveling along with vacationers and business people in luggage and on clothes. Bed Bugs have been found in some of the finest homes, poshest 5 star hotels, and best clothing stores. In one Southern State, the Department of Health inspected 700 hotels an discovered that 25% required treatment for Bed Bugs.

Q: Are Bed Bug bites harmful?

A: Harmful is relative. People with a sensitivity can develop small raised bumps/welts that can be itchy. Bites can take up to 10 days to appear. Some travelers can develop dozens of bites long after they left a hotel with a Bed Bug infestation. Currently, there is no research showing any “serious” diseases carried from Bed Bugs, as some blood sucking insects like mosquitoes can carry. However, there are cases when individuals have gotten infections from scratching Bed Bug bites and a few reported cases of extensive Bed Bug bites, (hundreds), resulting in systemic poisoning. The most common harmful affect is emotional. The sigma of having a Bed Bug infestation and knowledge that you have a Bed Bug infestation problem can be very emotionally traumatic, PLUS treating a Bed Bug infestation problem can be very tedious and invasive.

Q: My neighbor was just doing some renovation and found termites in his house; what are the chances I have termites too? We had our house inspected when we bought it 2 years ago and we didn’t have any.

A: From reading your entire e-mailed question, I see your home is on Long Island, which is a prime Termite area. In the Pest Control industry, there is a saying: “there are two kinds of Homes, those WITH Termites and those that WILL get Termites”. Sorry, but subterranean Termites are all around us, constantly seeking out food sources and expanding their colonies. If your house has not been treated and they are in your neighbor’s house, chances are they will eventually find yours. I suggest an inspection and a barrier treatment as well as an installation of a Termite baiting system, like Sentricon that will offer your home more protection and ongoing monitoring. And an annual inspection of your home is well worth the modest investment.

Q: My house was treated with termicides by ANOTHER pest control company 3 years ago and we have Termites again. Why is that?

A: If and when a TERMICIDE is properly used/applied, it should offer Termite control for at least 5 years. Having a Termite problem so soon might be the result of a gap in the TERMICDE barrier, OR the barrier was disturbed by plantings or new construction, like adding a deck or walkway. It is always good to get a long term agreement with your Pest Management Service so you can keep Termites in check as soon as you can. It is also important to make sure that the Pest Control Service you are using is both reputable and has a good history and experience in Termite Control. Yeah, like Knockout Pest Control.