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Showing posts from February, 2009

Unknown bug bites and dry skin

Reports of "mysterious bug bites" increase in winter Every winter the number of people contacting us through our 'Bugs website about mysterious bug bites seems to increase. The typical question is something like "I feel something biting me but I can't see anything ", or even " I've got bites all over my ______ but I can't catch whatever it is " . While there is a small number of insects and mites that actually do bite people most of these reports have a much simpler explanation. There are many causes for mysterious or unknown bug bites. Some are caused by real insects or mites (see the Causes of Mysterious Bug Bites article below for a list of possible culprits), but others are caused by non-arthropod agents such as allergy , drugs or even environmental chemicals . [Causes of Mysterious Bug Bites] Something as simple as winter-dry skin can even be mistaken for "bug bites". Everyone has probably felt the itchy, "crawl

Do flea "bombs" or foggers really work?

What are flea "bombs"? Flea bombs or foggers are pressurized cans of insecticide that totally release their contents once the trigger is pressed. In use, flea bombs are placed upright in the center of a room. When the trigger is pressed the entire contents of the can are sprayed upward as a fine aerosol spray or mist .   Flea foggers usually contain an insecticide to control adult, biting fleas plus an insect growth regulator such as methoprene , or the tradename Precor, that prevents larval fleas from developing into adults - thus " breaking the flea life cycle ". Do flea foggers really work?   Unfortunately foggers, and other total release insecticides, are not a good way to apply insecticides. This is because the foggers produce spray droplets that are too large to stay suspended in air long enough to disperse to "every nook and cranny" of the room as advertised. Essentially any surface that is shielded by furniture, is not treated . Plus, surface

Bug infested cars and Car Talk (tm)

Can you fumigate for cockroaches, and other "bugs" , in cars? Most of you probably know that Car Talk is a popular radio talk show on NPR where two brothers, Tom and Ray, talk about cars, car repair and the like. They take calls from car owners about everything imaginable having to do with their cars. Every once in while Tom and Ray get a call concerning insects, or other critters, that have invaded someone's car. A recent show included a caller whose car was infested with cockroaches but there have been other recent callers that had cars infested with wasps, honey bees, flies, mice, snakes, and so on. The most common insects that invade cars are of course cockroaches and ants but wasps can build nests and a number of so called "stored product" pests like carpet beetles are common as well. It is, however, very unlikely that bed bugs would infest cars unless someone is actually living and sleeping in the vehicle. The reason for this is that bed bugs