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How to Apply Insect Repellent - NPMA

Watch this video to learn the proper way to apply insect repellent when spending time outdoors. Video provided by the National Pest Management Association (NMPA).

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Today, I was dispatched to a beautiful apartment in Asbury Park, NJ to inspect for a possible bed bug infestation, and possibly start treatment.  As often happens with bed bugs, the resident did not see any live bugs, but she did see a common sign of bed bugs: several little blood stains on her bedsheets. She had a “bad feeling” that there was a bed bug infestation, but wanted a professional inspection confirm an infestation and institute a treatment plan if needed. This homeowner did exactly the right thing. With bed bugs, never use a “wait and see” approach. All you are doing is giving time for the bed bug infestation to become more entrenched over a larger area. Also, the resident mentioned that just the uncertainty of having bed bugs was making it hard for her to sleep. As a bed bug technician, I’ve seen that the psychological impact of a bed bug infestation on homeowners and tenants can be devastating.   I started my inspection of the bedroom, first scanning all of the wall junctures with the floor and ceiling to look for live bed bugs or signs of bed bug activity. After not finding anything, I slowly pulled back the sheets from the bed and placed them in a large plastic bag. It is important to remove the sheets slowly and carefully so that no bed bugs are “catapulted” to other areas of the room. The name of the game with bed bug infestations is to be slow, methodical, and thorough. I advised the resident to immediately wash and heat dry the sheets and blankets immediately to kill any bed bugs that may be attached. When I lifted up the mattress there was no sign of bed bug activity. The resident was observing me and thought that she may have overreacted or saw something that wasn’t there. I reassured her that she made the right decision by calling us and the inspection wasn’t over. I lifted the boxspring to examine the underside. At this point, I wished the resident wasn’t there. On the underside, there were several clusters of bed bugs. The resident literally shrieked. I told her that it was good news we found the bugs.  I quickly grabbed my vacuum that was already plugged in and ready to go. I vacuumed up all of the bed bugs instantly removing them from the infestation. I carefully vacuumed all of the seams and cracks and crevices of the boxspring to move any live bed bug activity. Knowing that there were bed bugs, I also vacuumed the mattress, bed frame, headboard, and nearby nightstands. Bed bugs do not like to venture far from their human host between their blood meals.  I then performed a light liquid application to all the potentially bed bug-infested areas. This application provides a residual protection barrier that will eliminate any bed bugs that manage to avoid my vacuum. Bed bugs are resilient insects. With these infestations, we always schedule a two-week follow-up to re-inspect and apply additional treatments as needed. Although the resident was upset she had bed bugs, she was grateful that the problem was identified and that I took immediate action to start treatment. We will work with this resident until the infestation is completely resolved and there are no more signs of bed bugs and there are no more mysterious bites.
Severe Bed Bug Infestation in Asbury, NJ
Recently, I was sent to a home in Spring Lake, NJ to resolve a raccoon infestation in an attic. Here, the access into the attic was originally made by squirrels that chewed their way through the gable vent. A “lazy” raccoon came along, saw the opening, and decided to take advantage of it. The raccoon not only used the squirrel’s access but also booted them out of the space. Life is tough in the animal kingdom! The homeowners now found themselves with a raccoon infestation rather than a squirrel infestation. Why not an infestation of both animals? Raccoons and squirrels will not inhabit the same space. Their lifestyles are incompatible as roommates. Squirrels are diurnal, active during the day, while nocturnal raccoons prefer the night shift. As nocturnal animals, they sleep during the day and do their foraging at night. Raccoons are also much larger, stronger, and aggressive. Eastern gray squirrels are arboreal rodents that weigh, at most, a little more than a pound. Raccoons, on the other hand, are far bigger. These animals can approach twenty pounds and sometimes weigh even more. Squirrels would have no interest in challenging a raccoon for territory. To resolve the infestation, as shown in the video, I covered the access with hardware cloth and placed a one-way device over the opening. A one-way is hinged such that it opens only in one direction. It allows the animals to exit, but they are blocked from returning.   Here, it was pretty clear how wildlife was gaining access to the roof. There was a nearby tree with overhanging branches. It is important to monitor landscaping to prevent animals with good climbing skills to easily make their way to the roof. Once there, the next step for them is to find a way inside the attic. I set a couple of baited traps that was right on the route from the tree to the attic access. I’m confident that it won’t take long to trap the raccoon. Once trapped, we will relocate the animal to a more appropriate habitat.
Raccoon Invasion in Spring Lake, NJ
Recently, a senior community in Manchester Township, NJ, one of several adult communities serviced by Cowleys, I was contacted by property management to assist an exceptionally friendly resident who has having an issue with pesky ants in her bathroom. She was concerned that the ants invaded her bathroom because it wasn’t clean, and I assured her that her bathroom was quite clean and that ant infestations can happen for reasons other than food crumbs! For example, ants will often infest homes to escape cold temperatures, flooding of their nests, and to seek out moisture. She led me to where she had seen ants, and I began my inspection. Foraging ants follow trails that they have established going to and from their nest. I carefully observed the ways in which they were traveling to determine where they were coming from and where they were going. This allows me to determine their points of entry into the home and the inside attractant. Here, the ants were trailing along the vanity top and disappearing into an opening underneath the sink on the bottom side.   With their entry point determined, it was time to resolve the infestation. I applied a light liquid application to those areas where the ants were traveling. Ant behavior is quite predictable. Oftentimes, they stay on a pheromone trail that lets them know it’s safe and putting them in the right direction for food and water. Sometimes, thy will deviate off the path to seek out a food or water source, but they soon return to the path after finding what they are searching for. By treating the ant trail, we use their behavior against them. Ants are a collective that work for the benefit of the entire colony. We want to eliminate the queen and the entire colony, not just a few expendable foraging ants. With this product, the ants do not immediately die when they come into contact with it. Instead, they unknowingly carry it back to the nest where it is distributed throughout the colony through their feeding and grooming. Generally, it takes about two weeks for the colony to be eliminated and for the homeowner to have no more periodic ant sightings.  The resident was very happy and grateful that we could take care of her ant issue and that the infestation wasn’t her fault. Sometimes, residents delay reporting infestations to the property manager because of embarrassment and the misconception that all pest infestations are related to sanitation problems. I can emphatically say that they are not — infestations can happen in the cleanest of homes!      
Ants Found in Manchester Township Bathroom
A homeowner in Farmingdale, NJ, was hearing animal noises in the attic for a few days and decided he better get the infestation resolved, and contacted Cowleys. He told us that he was hearing noises at sunrise and then just before dark. Upon inspection, we saw a squirrel climbing the brick wall and accessing the home through a missing brick. There was also a hole in the wooden soffit. Th soffit and fascia area of the roofline are common entry points for wildlife that find their way onto the roof. As far as the noises heard by the homeowner, squirrels are diurnal, meaning that they are active during the day. So, the the timing of the noises made complete sense. The home-invading squirrels started to become active at first light, and they exited the attic to forage for food, and then returned as the sun started to set. To resolve this wildlife problem, I custom-bent a piece of flashing to cover the brick entry, and then installed a one-way door. These one-way devises are hinged so that they allow the animal to exit, bu prevent their return. For these squirrels, it is a one-way trip. I then secured three baited traps on roof to capture and relocate the squirrels to a more appropriate habitat. It didn't take long. Within two days, all of the squirrels had exited the home and were successfully removed from the structure. After the squirrels were captured and relocated, other members of the Cowley team arrive to complete the final seal up and remove the temporary flashing and remove the temporary flashing and one-way. The homeowner was quite pleased that the squirrels were out of the attic and that there were no more disturbing noises from all their activity.
Squirrel exclusion in Farmingdale, NJ
Now that temperatures are starting to warm up, we are starting to see quite a number of insects waking up from their long winter slumber (technically called “diapause,” a period of insect dormancy). And boy oh boy, these guys are hungry and start foraging for food and water right away. Here, homeowners in Oakhurst, NJ, already found themselves with a pavement any infestation. These small, blackish ants are commonly called pavement ants because they often build their shallow nests under rocks, and in and under pavement cracks in man-made sidewalks, driveways, building slabs. If thy nest around your home, these ants, which can enter through the tiniest cracks around the foundation, doors, and windows, often wind up inside to forage for food that they bring back to the colony. These ants eat pretty much anything including meats, grease, bread, and, of course, sweets.    Ant colonies expand rapidly, so it’s essential that the infestation be addressed as soon as they make an appearance. Even if you just see a few ants, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. There are several ways to eliminate an ant colony and technicians have different products at their disposal depending on the particular circumstances of the infestation. Sometimes we use ant baits, and other times, a liquid non-repellant product is highly effective. To resolve any ant infestation, you have to eliminate the entire colony. Otherwise, killing a few foraging ants you happen to see won’t make a difference.   At Cowleys, we like to keep the customer in the loop, explain the options, and what would best suit their specific situation.Here, for this homeowner, he agreed that we should go forward with a liquid application. With this product, we lightly treat the trails established by the foraging ants. They come into contact with the product and carry it back to the colony where it then spreads because of their natural behavior. Ants are constantly touching each other from grooming and other activities. Ants will even eat other dead ants. For them, food is food and nothing goes to waste. With this application, it doesn’t take long for an entire colony to be eliminated. Within two weeks, this pavement ant infestation should be gone completely.
Ant colony expands in Oakhurst, NJ
Mice are one of many overwintering pests — these pests that enter our homes when temperatures drop to escape the harsh outdoor elements. They use our homes to find warm places to nest and reproduce, and to forage for food and water. Rodents infest our homes for their very survival. Just like humans, they are not equipped to handle cold temperatures for extended periods of time and do not have the mechanisms of other animals and rodents to survive the winter outdoors. We don’t welcome them into our homes because they are bad houseguests. They contaminate food and food surfaces and their droppings can spread a variety of serious diseases. Often, homeowners will find evidence of a mouse infestation, especially droppings, long before an actual mouse sighting. Mice are nocturnal and do their foraging in the quiet of the night.  Should you discover mouse droppings in your home (often in cabinets and under appliances) or food that has mysteriously relocated., the best thing to do is contact a pest control professional to perform a thorough inspection. Mice reproduce quickly and DIY interventions tend to be ineffective. A technician has the experience to find the often hidden access points around the home’s perimeter such as around gas lines, water lines, connections to air conditioning units, and wires that are entering the home. Because of their size, mice can enter through the smaller of openings — even an opening the size of a dime is enough. With a trained eye, we can spot problem areas relatively quickly and formulate a plan to resolve the infestation. Mice are a bona fide health hazard for a household and time is critical.  In this Toms River, NJ home, there were several pipes that entered the home directly beneath the bathroom. The homeowner found droppings underneath the bathroom sink. In the basement, she saw that an old exhaust line was wide open to the outside, and she shoved an old t-shirt in the opening until we could come out to investigate. For the basement inspection, I turned off all the basement lights to scan the perimeter in the dark. I was looking for any spots where daylight was entering. As a general rule, if a gap is big enough to allow light in, it’s usually large enough to allow rodents in as well, and it should be considered a potential rodent entry point.   With chew-proof steel wool and expandable foam, I methodically plugged each of the openings. After sealing the openings, I placed two exterior rodent bait stations were the pipes were entering the home and placed several interior bait stations along the sill plates. Pacing these stations both inside and outside will resolve the current infestation by eliminating mice inside the home and prevent any future re-infestations by blocking exterior entry points. I recommend that every home has an annual interior and exterior perimeter inspection to locate and seal these openings. Over time, caulk and clay used to seal these openings breaks down from exposure to the elements. If the homeowner does not have the mobility, time, or interest to do a thorough inspection, it is worthwhile contacting a pest control service. Preventing a rodent infestation is far easier and less anxiety-causing than treating one. 
Mice evidence found in Toms River, NJ bathroom.
For my final stop of the day, I was dispatched to one of the commercial properties that we handle in Asbury Park, NJ for their pest control needs. This building, a senior housing facility, has had periodic bed bug problems in the past. The property manager contacted us because he was concerned that there may be an infestation in one of the units and wanted us to inspect that apartment as well as the surrounding ones. Bed bugs hitchhike on people and their belongings and jump from host to host. In high density housing, it can make all the difference in treating these infestations early before they have a chance to spread. This property manager did exactly what should be done once a bed bug infestation is suspected. Because of the ability of bed bugs to squeeze through small openings, just like roaches and other insects, if a unit has a suspected infestation, it’s always best to inspect the units directly above, below, and to the sides of the unit where the infestation is suspected in order to make sure that it hasn’t yet spread. I first went to the unit where their was the suspected problem to inspect. I was greeted by the tenant, a very nice woman who invited me in and was quite grateful I was there. She showed me some bite marks on her arm that looked very much like typical bed bug bites. As a bed bug specialist, I’ve gained quite a bit of familiarity with the appearance of bed bug bites. It’s important to stress, however, that bed bug bites are not uniform in appearance. People has different reactions to the bites based on skin type and their own sensitivities. Some develop itchy welts, while others don’t. However, waking up with mysterious insect bites is a problem no matter what insect is doing the biting!  I started my inspection in the bedroom because bed bugs do not like to venture far from their host between their blood meals. I began by inspecting the sheets as I removed them from the bed, looking for speckled blood and fecal stains. I then carefully stood up the mattress and box spring to inspect underneath. That’s when I made the unfortunate discovery that this tenant had a bed bug problem. While it’s bad news to hear you have a bed bug infestation, it is still better than allowing the infestation to get worse. This tenant had a minimal amount of furniture, which means a minimal number of harborage areas, which makes the area easier to treat.   I helped her prep the apartment for an immediate treatment rather than returning later. My goal here was to immediately knock down the live population, especially the bed bugs I observed on the bottom of the box spring. I performed a light liquid application where the bed bugs were nesting. The formulation we use works wonders and gives an immediate knock down —killing them within seconds of coming into contact with the application. It’s gratifying to see.  While the application was drying, I inspected the living room couches. Bed bugs often hide in upholstered furniture where people nap, sleep, or rest.  Some good news. There were no signs of bed bug activity and the infestation was limited to the bedroom. I returned to the bedroom and vacuumed up any bed bugs I could find, dead or alive. I put encasements on the mattress and box spring to keep any hidden bed bugs sealed inside as well as prevent  bed bugs hiding elsewhere to make their way to the bedding. This will go a long way in stopping the nighttime bed bug bites.  The tenant was thrilled that I took care of the bed bug infestation then and there. I assured her that I’d be back for a follow-up visit shortly to re-inspect and do any follow-up treatments that were needed. I’ve had few customers who were as appreciative as this one. She insisted on giving me a hug and a chocolate bar for my work! It’s easy to forgot the human element of pest infestations,. At the end of the day we are not treating pests, rather, we are helping people get with a difficult problem that’s affected their lives. For me, that’s the most satisfying part of my job.
Bed bugs bite in Asbury Park
A very frustrated and concerned homeowner in Farmingdale, NJ, contacted Cowleys because of a rat and mouse infestation inside her home. Rodent infestations increase during the cold temperature months since these animals are seeking warmth and protection against the harsh outdoor elements. The rodents had made a mess in the home and the entire situation posed a serious health hazard because of their toxic droppings. When dried and disturbed, rodent droppings can become airborne, creating a serious health risk. Needless to say, the homeowner was more than ready to have this infestation resolved once and for all. A two-person pest control technician team was immediately sent to the residence to get it done. To successfully resolve a rodent infestation, it is essential to conduct a thorough, systematic inspection of the structure to determine possible points of entry. They don’t require much of a crack or gap to squeeze their way inside. A mouse can fit through an opening about the size of a dime, and rats need a gap about the size of a quarter. They typically enter homes around the foundation, and common entry points are spaces that have formed around where pipes and wires enter the home. Over time, from exposure to the elements, the cement or silicone used for sealant around the pipe erodes and openings appear. Rodents have poor eyesight and travel along the edges of walls that they can touch with their fur. They feel for openings and then find their way in. If the holes are sealed, it gives them a message that there’s nothing interesting to here, and they’ll often just keep moving along. Here, during our exterior perimeter inspection, we found several openings around the gas meter, a/c unit, and water line. We stuffed the openings with a chew-proof copper mesh and held it firmly in place with an expandable foam. This will deter rodents from entering, as well as keeping out insects and water. Water entering homes causes a host of problems. It damages building materials, can trigger mold growth, and is an attractant for pests.   Next, we conducted an interior inspection looking for ways the rodents were entering areas of the home, especially their entry into the kitchen where they forage for food and water. Rodents typically travel through the wall voids and do their foraging at night, so they are rarely seen. Rodents like the warmth of the motor housing underneath refrigerators and we always look behind that appliance to see what activity is going on. Here, there was a large opening that provided easy access to the kitchen. We sealed that opening with copper mesh and foam. We also installed exterior bait stations around the home’s perimeter. By feeding them tainted bait outside the home, most will die before entering the home and minimize the number of rodent carcasses inside.  Finally, we scheduled a 7-day follow-up appointment to re-inspect, check and replenish the bait boxes as necessary, and see that our exclusion work is holding up. Rodents are resilient pests, but we will stay on the job until the problem is resolved. The homeowner was appreciative of our efforts, and my partner and I were happy to help her! We understand the emotional toll that a rodent infestation can cause homeowners.    
Mice exclusion in Farmingdale, NJ home
Recently, I was sent to a home in Red Bank, NJ after Cowleys had received a call from a new homeowner who had found both carpenter ant and mouse activity in his newly purchased home. He was planning on extensively renovating the home, but in the interim, he wanted the property completely serviced for pest activity. He wanted his new home to start out completely pest-free and who could blame him!  These infestations were a prime example of how neglected home maintenance can often lead to pest problems. While treating the exterior perimeter of the home, I found several window sills that were water-rotted from years of exposure to the outdoor elements that were never repaired. Carpenter ants seek out soft, moist, water-damaged wood because it is easy for them to build their galleries and lay their eggs. Also, the holes from the carpenter ants further weaken the wood by allowing in more seepage. And with carpenter ants, it just gets worse year after year. As their colonies grow, they expand their galleries, eating and regurgitating more wood. Although carpenter ants do not actually consume the wood like termites, their nesting activities can still cause plenty of property damage. The homeowner was well aware of the carpenter any activity from the inspection report and was planning on replacing the sills as part of the renovation, but still wanted the ant activity resolved before starting.  While examining the windowsills, I actually saw a peanut stuck in a crevice along the sill! Apparently, either a mouse or squirrel lodged the peanut in their for safekeeping. Finding a hidden stash of food or food “magically” relocated to an area of the home is a good indicator of rodent or wildlife activity. Here, all of the basement windows were in poor condition and their were plenty of openings that would give mice or even rats easy access into the home. It was a good thing all of this was going to be fixed. I advised the homeowner that I would be setting up rodent bait stations along the home’s exterior perimeter. These stations attract the mice with their bait and eliminate them before gaining access to the home. Once the bait is eaten, it doesn’t take long for the mice to meet their demise.   The new homeowner was extremely grateful that this ant and rodent activity was resolved. He was anxious to begin the process of renovating this property into his dream home and did not want any ants or mice hampering the project. We were happy to help him start his renovations with a “blank slate” as far as pests are concerned. Also, this homeowner will be using Cowleys for preventative servicing through a homeowner protection plan to keep his home pest-free for years to come.         
Delayed home maintenance in Red Bank, NJ leads to pests.
Recently, a two-person bed bug treatment crew was sent to a senior apartment complex in Highland Park, NJ. Although bed bug infestations are common in any high density housing, they are especially frequent in senior housing. Unfortunately, tenants in these buildings are often unaware of these infestations in their early stages for many reasons from poor visual acuity and not noticing the bugs or signs of an infestation like bed bug fecal stains to taking various medications that happen to suppress the itch of bed bug bites. As a result, often, we are not notified until the infestation is severe.  With this bed bug treatment, as we usually do, we start by inspecting for activity in the bedroom, focusing on the mattress, box spring, and surrounding areas. Bed bugs do not venture far from the hosts between blood meals and they usually hide in cracks and crevices nearby. Also, they want the host to be stationary while feeding. That’s why those with bed bug infestations usually wake up in the morning with a new set of bites. Here, to our surprise, we did not find any activity in the bedroom.  With bed bug inspections, it is essential to be as thorough as possible and never assume that bed bugs can’t be hiding somewhere because often they are! We not only inspect and flip mattresses and box springs to insect very square inch, but we also inspect all upholstered furniture like sofas and chairs, and we even inspect the drapes and take pictures off the wall. If there is a potential bed bug hiding spot, we’ll check it out. Here, since we came up empty in the bedroom, we moved to the living room. Sure enough, it did not take us long to find where the bed bugs were hiding. Apparently, this resident napped and frequently slept on the living room couch, and the bed bugs patiently waited for her to come. Here, we found a “treasure trove” of bed bug activity — live bed bugs, nymphs, eggs, and fecal/blood stains in almost every seam and fold of the couch.   We vacuumed every nook and cranny of the couch and then applied a residual product to those same areas. We are confident that, with the infestation localized to the couch, this will resolve the problem. However, bed bugs are resilient insects, and we always return for a two-week follow-up to re-inspect for activity and apply additional treatments as necessary. We won’t stop treating until the bed bugs are gone and the residents are free of bites.   
Bed bugs found in senior center in Highland Park, NJ
Some very worried homeowners residing in Perth Amboy, NJ contacted Cowleys to request a bed bug inspection and to schedule a treatment if necessary. The couple became quite concerned when they both started waking up in the morning with a substantial number of bites that weren’t there previously. Often, unexplained bites (sometimes accompanied by itchy welts) are the earliest sign of possible bed bug activity. Their initial thought was bed bugs, and they did the right thing by having it checked out even if they weren’t sure. It’s far better to have a couple of bed bug specialists conduct an inspection and find out what’s going on than to wait until you actually see the bugs or determine what’s causing the bites. Bed bugs stay out of sight, and in an early infestation finding a live bed bug or other signs of an infestation can be challenging for the untrained eye.  During the inspection, I asked the homeowners if they had been anywhere recently since bed bugs hitchhike their way inside, usually in the personal belongings of their new hosts. These bugs don’t arrive on their own. Sure enough, they had just returned from a vacation only to find out that the hotel they were staying at had bed bugs. They were not alerted to the problem until after they had already left. As the saying goes, a day late and a dollar short. Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common. With hotels and motels (even five-star ones), you don’t know who was staying in the room before you, and more importantly, what unwanted surprises they may be bringing with them. Over the course of a year, hotel and motel mattresses are used by many occupants. You may not be sleeping with them, but you may well be sleeping with bugs they have brought with them!  As I began inspecting the top of the mattress, I did not detect any signs of bed bug activity. From my experience with these infestations, and I’ve handled many of them, bed bugs do not stay in plain view on the top of the mattress. Instead, they seek out-of-the-way locations like the underside of the mattress or the box spring below. Sure enough, as I stood the king-sized mattress up on its side, I found a pocket of bed bugs. Needless to say, the homeowners were horrified! All this time there were biting bugs hiding nearby waiting for their next blood meal.  They wanted the infestation handled immediately and I explained to them the treatment process. They gave me the go-ahead to start then and there. I plugged in my HEPA vacuum and went to work removing all live bed bug activity and any lingering casings (skins) and eggs. Vacuuming is a very effective tool for starting treatment once bed bugs are identified. Once the mattress and box spring were methodically vacuumed, I encased them in highly durable rip-resistant encasement that seals any hiding bed bugs inside and prevents other bed bugs from accessing the bedding. I then began a liquid application to all of the cracks and crevices in the bedroom. I scheduled a two-week follow-up to re-inspect and apply additional treatment as needed. I informed the homeowners that they should still be prepared for residual bed bug activity. Knocking their population down to zero is not immediate. Any live activity needs to come into contact with the application, and there is a winding down time. The homeowners understood and were thankful that the problem was identified and that we could treat the infestation so quickly.   
These bed bugs easy to find in Perth Amboy, NJ bedroom.
Recently, a visibly relieved homeowner in  South Toms River, NJ, greeted me and by bed bug specialist partner. Because of the detailed nature of bed bug inspections, Cowleys generally send out a two-person bed bug team. When we arrived for treatment at her home, the homeowner was physically and mentally exhausted. She said that she had been up for 48 hours straight, afraid to sleep in her bed and suffer through another round of bits. There is a psychological component of a bed bug infestation that is often not addressed. Unlike other pests, bed bugs can get into your psyche and cause extreme anxiety. It’s bad enough having a pest infestation, but having one in which the insects feed off your blood takes it to a whole new level. I reassured her that after we were done with our treatment she would be getting a good night’s sleep.  We began be inspecting the bedroom. Between their blood meals, bed bugs prefer to hide in areas nearby their hosts, so it is common to find them in and around bedding. A standard bed bug inspection always involves checking every square inch of the mattress and box spring as well as nite stands and any bedside furnishings. We carefully turn over items so as to not dislodge the bugs and then begin vacuuming all of the cracks and crevices where bed bugs can potentially hide — and they can be hiding anywhere, even in the stitching holes of a mattress. Our HEPA vacuums are one of the most valuable tools during a bed bug treatment, sucking up the nymphs and adults, the sticky bed bug eggs, and their skins (casings) that are left behind during their growth stages.  During this treatment, we found a healthy bed bug on the bottom of the box spring. It was a big and “juicy” one, engorged with blood from the previous few nights of feeding. After vacuuming up the bug, we installed a box spring and mattress encasements to ensure that no other bed bugs can get into the bedding, and none can leave. WE then vacuumed all of the surrounding areas of the bedroom and treated the area with a light liquid application to ensure that we had a good residual barrier. Especially with bed bug treatments, I feel it is important to explain in detail what was done so the homeowner is assured that the problem is resolved and can finally take a deep breathe, relax, and get some much needed sleep. She was relived that we located the offending pest, protected her bedding, and treated her bedroom. We will return for a follow-up but since this infestation was localized and treated in its early stages, I’m confident that the problem has been resolved.    
Bed bug found on box spring in South Toms River, NJ bed.