You’ve heard this phrase several times and probably never gave the idea of bed bugs a second thought. That is until you find them in your bed one day.

These nasty tiny insects can cause a lot of frustration and pain if they infest your home in Maryland. Leaving small, itchy bites on your skin and a sense of feeling “dirty,” you’ll want to get rid of them quickly.

In reality, bed bugs are more common than you may think. They don’t enter your home because you’re filthy. They are transferred quite easily and can be quite simple to get rid of with the help of professional pest control services.

In this article, we’re going to dive into everything you should know about bed bugs, how to identify an infestation, prevent an infestation, and effectively get rid of them if they do enter your home.

What Are Bed Bugs?

First things first, what are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that like to live on mattresses, box springs, and other furniture. They are flightless but tend to crawl extremely quickly. The size of an apple seed, a bed bug survives off of blood.

Identifying a Bed Bug Infestation

There are a few telltale signs that your home in Maryland has been invaded by these tiny terrors.

The first sign is that you wake up with little red, itchy bites on your skin. There are usually small areas with a number of bites where your skin may have been exposed.

A second sign that you have a bed bug infestation is that you have small blood stains on your sheets. This is caused by the bites you get while you sleep.

The third and most incriminating sign that you have bed bugs is if you actually see them. You can identify these little insects with a bright flashlight. Turn off the lights in the room, as they like the dark and come out at night, and examine the seams and edges of your mattress.

How are Bed Bugs Transferred?

Since bed bugs are such tiny creatures, you may be wondering how they transfer from place to place, causing awful infestations. The primary way they are transferred by attaching onto clothing or luggage that is moved from one infested area to a non-infested area.

They then lay eggs and multiply quickly in their new host’s area.

Main Causes of Bed Bug Infestations

Now that we’ve discussed how bed bugs transfer from place to place, there are three main causes of these infestations. Remember, just because you have a bed bug infestation does not mean that you are dirty. It simply means you came into contact with an already infected area.

Traveling

Traveling both domestically and internationally is the number one cause of bed bug infestations. Places with high turnover rates, such as hotels, motels, and Airbnb’s are prime spots for picking up bed bugs.

Not only could you bring home bed bugs from sleeping on the beds in these accommodations, but they can also find their way into your luggage if you put it on the bed or other furniture.

Buying Used Furniture

Why pay full price when you can get something like-new at a discount?

Buying used furniture or getting it from a friend or relative is another cause of a bed bug infestation. You could unknowingly purchase a piece of furniture that already has some bed bugs or eggs in it, just waiting to give you little bites.

Before purchasing used furniture, use a flashlight and look closely at the edges, seams, and any cracks there may be in the furniture for bed bugs.

Schools & Colleges

Another means that bed bugs use to make their rounds is via schools, colleges and even daycare centers. Since these insects transfer so easily through clothing and other cloth materials, your kids can unknowingly bring them home from school or when they come home on college break.

Once they’re home, your kids will lay on the couch or crawl in bed and guess what? Bed bugs just found their new place to rest, eat, and infest.

Preventing a Bed Bug Infestation

You can do some things to prevent a bed bug infestation from happening in the first place.

When at home, clean it often. Wash your sheets once a week and dry in a dryer on high heat. Vacuum regularly and keep areas clutter-free.

While traveling, check the bottom seams and folds of the bed with a flashlight before sitting or lying on it. You’ll be able to see these tiny insects with no problem. Also, don’t place your suitcase on the furniture or where the wall meets the floor.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

If you’ve identified bed bugs in your home in Maryland, there are a handful of ways that you can get rid of them. It can be time-consuming, and you must pay close attention to get each and every one. Just a couple left over can cause another infestation quickly.

Clean the Area

Vacuum and clean the infested area. Most likely, this area is your bedroom. Make sure to vacuum any carpets, cracks between the floor and the wall, and around your bed.

Pick up any clutter in your room that may provide them a place to crawl into and live. A clean and decluttered home leaves less room for unwanted guests.

Put Clothes, Sheets, and Blankets in the Dryer

As you clean the area, put the clothes you’ve worn, sheets, and blankets from your bed in the dryer at a very high temperature. Usually, any temperature over 122 degrees Fahrenheit will kill bed bugs.

Mattress & Box Spring Encasement

An encasement encloses your mattress and box spring and the zipper secures it so that bed bugs cannot penetrate it. The bed bugs that are already inside cannot get to their food source so they will eventually die off.

Once the encasement is installed, it should never be taken off. You may also want to invest in a mattress protector to put over the encasement. This will help to keep it secure and create some space between you and the bugs.

Call a Professional Exterminator

Bed bugs are no joke. They aren’t easy to get rid of on your own and require a lot of attention to detail and patience.

In most cases, it’s best to call a professional exterminator. As they are experienced and have the necessary tools and techniques to squash your bed bug infestation quickly, this should really be your first choice.

Bed Bug Infestation? Call Brody Brothers!

If you suspect you have a bed bug infestation in your Maryland home, call Brody Brothers Quality Pest Control.

Bed bugs fear the Brody Brothers!

Not only will our high-grade equipment and techniques get rid of bed bugs in your home quickly, but also safely and effectively.

Give us a call to schedule your extermination appointment today!  

The post 3 Common Causes of Bed Bug Infestations Plus Treatment & Prevention appeared first on Brody Brothers Pest Control in Baltimore.

So, why would you hire a professional?

It’s a fair question to ask. And the answer that comes to mind might be because you want to save money. You may also be relying on information you found online if the problem pertains to getting rid of the mouse in your house.

If you’re on the fence between DIY and professional pest control, these are the key considerations to keep in mind.

Pest Professionals Can Identify and Remove Many Types of Pests

There are many types of critters that can invade a home or yard. People often try to remove these unwanted guests on their own with varying levels of success. A few of the most common pests that homeowners encounter include:

• Ants: acrobat ants, thief cants, carpenter ants, pavement ants, odorous ants
• Rodents: house mouse, deer mice, field mice, Norway rats
• Snakes: garden snakes, rat snacks, timber rattlesnakes
• Stinging pests: hornets, wasps, yellow jackets, cicada killer wasps
• Spiders: black widow, wolf spider, house spider, cellda spiders
• Flies, gnats, and moths
• Mosquitos, bedbugs and fleas
• Cockroaches
• Beetles and weevils

Such a wide range of pests require different approaches for successful removal or extermination. Turning to the wrong technique can backfire and end up in an uphill battle, leaving you with never-ending infestations.

A professional pest control company has specific guidelines for handling different species. Not only are we able to remove infestations, we can keep them from returning.

Professionals Protect You from Wasting Time and Money

There are over-the-counter pest control products that offer a band aid approach. You’ll sprinkle some powder or spray liquid hoping to make an infestation go away. Then you cross your fingers and wait.

It doesn’t take long to learn if the product is effective. Some products promise nearly instant results. Others may take days to work.

One of the downfalls of DIY pest control is that it’s a waste of time if the product doesn’t work. Meanwhile, the infestation can grow larger.

The other downfall is wasting money on poorly-performing or ineffective products.

Not surprisingly, there are options for DIY pest control that are a waste of both time and money. One of those is the ultrasonic pest repellant, which is only effective for specific species. This product showed some results for crickets, but did not work on other insects such as cockroaches.

Reading through Consumer Affairs will show some of the best and worst DIY pest repellents for your home. Riddex Plus Pest Repellent is one of the worst-rated with consumers claiming problems such as serious medical issues.

When choosing professional pest control company, you can be assured the job is done right the first time around. Even if the cost of professional pest control is more than a bottle of repellent spray, you can’t put a price on your peace of mind.

Pest Professionals Understand Proper Usage of Repellents and Chemicals

The United States Environmental Protection Agency promotes safe usage for pest control. These are recommended do’s and don’ts to follow when attempting your own pest control method:

Understanding Proper Disposal of Chemicals

Once you are finished with your choice of repellant, there is a right and wrong way to approach disposal. It’s important to read the label for each item and learn the protocol for proper disposal.

Keeping unwanted pesticides around the house can yield serious consequences. This is especially true if you have kids or pets.

When in doubt, you can reach out to a local hazardous waste collection company for guidance.

Use as Intended

One example of incorrect usage is spraying outdoor chemicals inside the home. Chemicals intended for outdoors will linger longer inside your home. This increases the chance of omitting toxic fumes that are harmful to yourself, kids, and pets.

Another usage example is applying the correct amount of repellent. Using twice as much won’t necessarily yield better results. Not only is it a waste, but it can be harmful to your family.

It’s also a bad idea to transfer pesticides to other containers. It must be stored in the original container and only mix as much as you need for one application.

Furthermore, never try to use an original pesticide container for another purpose. No matter how well you try to wash it out, there can always be remnants of pesticide left behind.

So, is pest control really necessary? Many times, yes. This is especially true if you don’t want to remember all the small details about pest control safety and usage.

Using chemicals for pest extermination is always a risk. It’s best to leave this process in the hands of a pest removal company.

When is Pest Control Really Necessary?

There is a lot to know about pest control. As Baltimore’s best pest exterminator since 1984, there are many reasons why pest control is really necessary. Here are just a few to consider:

You Don’t Know the Cause or Source of the Infestation

Simply seeing an infestation doesn’t tell the entire story. It’s critical to know why the infestation is occurring in the first place, no matter if it’s inside or outside your home.

There are countless scenarios that can cause rodent or insect infestation. The source can be unsuspected such as a leaky toilet serving as a pool of water for rats. Professional pest control companies can help you identify and remove the source.

You Want it Done Right the First Time

There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to get rid of pests and have them quickly return again. If you don’t want to deal with pests more than once, professionals help you get rid of the problem for good.

You Have Health and Safety Concerns

Infestations can cause serious health consequences ranging from salmonella to yellow fever and lyme disease. It doesn’t take many pests at all to bring disease into your home.

You’ve Exhausted Your Options

Maybe you already tried the DIY approach without results. Some infestations can be notoriously difficult to get rid of, such as fleas. This is because you have to exterminate every stage of the flea life cycle or the infestation will begin again.

Contact Brody Brothers Pest Control

Is pest control really necessary?

We find that homeowners have better extermination success rates with our services than handling it alone. It also eliminates the clean-up process and saves you the trouble of trying to guess what kind of pest is causing you stress, worry and the whole nine yards.

In the long run, it can also help you save time and money.

For peace of mind and professional assistance, contact Brody Brothers Pest Control in Baltimore and request a FREE estimate.

The post Is Professional Pest Control Really Necessary? appeared first on Brody Brothers Pest Control in Baltimore.

Crawling into bed at night shouldn’t involve creepy-crawly creatures like bed bugs. Unfortunately, bed bugs have been around since Egyptian times and even found inside tombs. Today, homeowners search for a reliable bed bug treatment to get rid of these critters.

If you are looking for a bed bug treatment in Baltimore, there are some DIY remedies to get a bug-free bed so you can sleep in peace.

First, let’s learn a little more about bed bugs, where they come from, and what they do.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs look like small and reddish-brown insects. An adult bed bug is about the size of an apple seed. They have flat oval-shaped bodies but expand into a balloon shape when they eat.

Beware that bed bugs also produce a musty-sweetish odor. You might notice this if you are dealing with a bed bug infestation.

Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?

First, understand that bed bugs are not a result of having a dirty home. These bugs are not attracted to filth and grime, but they are attracted to the following:

• Carbon dioxide
• Blood
• Darkness

They often enter the home by way of a pet or sometimes even a person. Bed bugs can also enter your home by way of cracks and crevices in the wall.

What’s Bad About Bed Bugs?

It’s bad enough to think about bugs sleeping in your bed with you. This is what prompts most homeowners to seek bed bug treatment in Baltimore.

However, bed bugs also feast on your skin as you sleep. These are parasitic insects that bite you as well as your pets.

Their bites look like red bumps that appear on your face, neck, hands, shoulders, arms, and legs. They bite anywhere that skin is exposed.

Beyond this, a bed bug problem can turn into a complete infestation.

What Can You Do for DIY Bed Bug Treatment in Baltimore?

First, know that it’s difficult to entirely get rid of bed bugs on your own. Just like fleas, you’ll have to get rid of bed bugs from every part of the cycle—including adults and eggs.

However, there are some preventative actions and treatments you can try to take on your own.

5 DIY Preventative Measures for Bed Bugs

1. Keep Your Bedding Clean

Since bed bugs are attracted to blood, it’s important to keep your bedding frequently laundered. This includes your sheets, comforter, and additional blankets used for warmth. It’s easy to scratch yourself and draw a bit of blood without realizing it.

2. Keep Clothes off the Floor

Make sure all clothing goes into a hamper. Dirty clothes on the floor provide bed bugs with extra spots to hide.

3. Clear out Clutter

While a dirty home doesn’t attract bed bugs, clutter can help them thrive. Maintaining an organized home that is not filled with clutter can keep bed bugs at bay.

4. Be Mindful of Travel

Bed bugs are hitchhikers and can find their way home with you by grabbing into clothing or luggage. You can pick them up from hotels, which are known to be hot spots for bed bug infestations.

When you arrive home from traveling, be sure to wash all clothing and sterilize your luggage.

5. Inspect Second-Hand Furniture

Everyone loves a bargain for new furniture, except when it comes included with bed bugs. Closely examine used furniture that you bring home, checking for signs such as dark or rusty spots of bed bug excrement, eggshells, shed skin, or a musty odor.

DIY Bed Bug Treatment Ideas

These ideas might help with preventing bed bugs, but what if you already have them?

If you are facing a bed bug infestation, don’t panic. These are some DIY bed bug treatments you can try before seeking professional help.

1. Vacuum Your Mattress

While this likely won’t get rid of all bed bugs, it will at least help suck up any dead bugs and possibly eggs. Bed bugs will hide inside cracks and crevices of your mattress, so take your vacuum attachment and vacuum thoroughly. This includes around the piping trim and in between tufting.

2. Steam Them Out

Bed bugs can’t tolerate high heat. A steam cleaner—not a carpet cleaner—can be a chemical-free way to get rid of bed bugs of all stages, including eggs. Be forewarned that steam cleaners can be expensive to the tune of $800 to $1200 for purchase.

When steaming, make sure the surface temperature is between 160 to 180 degrees F. It’s very important to keep the temperature between this range for two reasons:

• Temperatures lower than 160 degrees F may not kill the bed bugs.
• Temperatures higher than 180 degrees F can damage your mattress.

3. Chemical Treatment

Another option is to use chemical treatment intended for bed bug infestations. Spraying a residual insecticide can kill any bed bugs that come in contact with the powder. You’ll want to spray this in places where you think the bugs are hiding.

Sprays can certainly kill bed bugs, but the problem is that the bugs must come in contact with the spray to work. While you can see some adults and spray them, it might be harder to do this with eggs.

4. Bag Your Mattress

A mattress bag is another potentially effective way to ward off bed bugs. This works by encasing the entire mattress in an airtight bag. The bugs are still alive but unable to bite you as they are shielded by the bag.

Eventually, the bugs will starve because they can’t reach you for food.

The catch is that you’ll have to keep this mattress encasement on your bed for 10 months to 1 year. This is because a recently-fed bed bug can live up to 400 days without food.

5. Discard Your Mattress and Buy New

One of the last DIY options is to get rid of your mattress and buy a new one. This can turn into a considerable financial obligation, and doesn’t necessarily mean that the bed bugs are gone from your home.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs for Good

While these DIY bed bug treatment ideas can work, there is no guarantee. You might end up wasting several hundred dollars and still have an infestation on your hands.

The best route for bed bug treatment in Baltimore is hiring a professional. Brody Brothers Pest Control is the local expert for ridding of bed bugs entirely, keeping them out of your home and away from your family and pets.

If you are worried or unsure about how to effectively use bed bug treatments for your Baltimore home, we are here to help. Contact us now for a quote before the bed bugs bite again.

The post Do DIY Bed Bug Treatments Work? appeared first on Brody Brothers Pest Control in Baltimore.

There are approximately 91, 000 described bugs in the United States, many of which can easily find their way into your home. No matter where you live, you’re bound to come across an insect or two in your residence. Bugs of any kind are disturbing, however, some can be dangerous, destroy your food, and even damage your house. The good news is, there are many preventative measures you can take so it doesn’t get to the point of infestation.

Before the entire cast of A Bug’s Life makes themselves comfortable, take a look at our guide about common bugs that you may find in your home. With our help, you’ll know the signs of unwanted critters and how to ward them off.

Ants

Ants are perhaps the most common bug that you may find in your home. The reason for this: crumbs. Food morsels and a reliable water source are sure to attract ants. Luckily, more harmful ant species, such as the Red Imported Fire Ant, are not as prone to enter your home and take advantage of these resources. Nonetheless, those that do find their way into your house can create an unappealing mess if it gets out of hand. To keep ants out of your home, regularly vacuum so there aren’t crumbs on the floor and remember to clean up any spills as soon as they occur.

Spiders

The majority of spiders are harmless, but this still doesn’t make them a welcomed house guest. Typically, spiders prefer to be outdoors, but if your home has high moisture, they’ll likely try to find their way inside. There must also be plenty of other bugs in your home for the spiders to eat. In the fall, when insect populations are low and outside resources dry up, it’s common for hunter types, like the wolf spider, to enter your home. Spiders tend to enter the home via gaps around utilities in the foundation. Poor weather stripping on the doors and windows act as another access point for the web-making spiders. Once inside, spiders will slowly become a nuisance, as you’ll notice their webs around the house. However, one good thing about spiders and their Webs is that they can catch other bugs in your home that may have caused further issues.

Flies

There are several types of flies that can infiltrate and exploit your humble abode. Not only are they an annoyance, but flies spread diseases and can even cause food poisoning. Typically, old garbage, fruit, and any old food that people leave out attract flies. Therefore, a great way to combat flies is to take out the garbage when its full and to never leave any food out for long periods.

Stink Bugs

If you’ve never seen one, stink bugs are brown and shaped like a shield. And while they may look like any old insect, you cannot dispose of these bugs by smashing them. If you smash a stink bug, they will release a less than pleasant odor—hence the name, stink bug. Normally, stink bugs find their way into your home during the fall months to seek out warmth. Any easy way to remove stink bugs is to grab a paper towel and force them onto it.

Crickets

Many of us know crickets for the annoying sounds they make. Although they typically reside outdoors, sometimes you’ll hear their chirping from within your home. While they aren’t necessarily harmful, crickets’ sound can serve as a source of irritation. To ensure you aren’t attracting these singing insects, avoid leaving doors open and seal any gaps in your foundation. Furthermore, light attracts crickets, so try to not keep a lot of lights on—especially at night.

Bees and Wasps

Bees and wasps not only make annoying buzzing noises, but they can be quite harmful if they were to sting you. Bees and wasps love sugary drinks, yellow and white colors, and rotting fruit—all of which they may find in the typical home. However, bees and wasps live outdoors, which is where nests are located. To reduce stinging pests around your property, keep your yard clean of debris, keep your trash clean and covered with a lid, and clean up any food if you eat outside. If you notice a hive in your home, enlist the services of a professional who can safely remove it for you.

Mosquitoes

Mosquito bites are irritating and itchy, and they can even carry some serious diseases with them, such as Zika and West Nile. Plus, mosquitoes are not only a threat to you and your family—they will also bother your pets. Unfortunately, no matter if we’re inside or outside, humans entice mosquitoes. The carbon dioxide we breathe out draws them in, and they thrive on sucking our blood. Thankfully, there are several ways to prevent mosquito bites, from professional services like Brody Brothers Yard defense to some natural repellents.

Beetles

Rumor has it, beetles are the most common bugs in the world, which only increase the chances of them entering your home. As with so many other insects, lights and debris around the exterior of the home will draw them in. On top of this, it can be easy to confuse beetles with other kinds of bugs. If you’re unsure you’re dealing with beetles, you can distinguish them by their fat body shape and hardened wings.

Termites

Termites are incredibly destructive and are sure to cause issues within your home. Termites can damage the structure of a house—as mosquitoes like to feed on blood, termites like to feed on wood, the most common building material for homes. Termites can be tough to spot as well. Telltale signs that you have termites include destroyed timber, tunnels in wood, and track marks below the paint.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are easily identifiable by their antenna-like ears. If cockroaches get into your home, they’ll likely destroy fabrics and spread disease via food contamination. They also quickly reproduce in large numbers, easily starting an infestation. Like many of the other bugs on this list, cockroaches are on the hunt for food crumbs. They also like moisture—they typically dwell in the kitchen under the sink and crevices near food and water.

Although our list is vast, there are plenty of other bugs that can find their way into your home. Whether they enter through small cracks in your home’s structure or open doors and windows, in all likelihood, bugs will make their way into your house. Thus, try to keep opening windows and doors to a minimum, especially at night. You should also have screens installed at every entrance. Plus, based on the content above, you may have noticed that the majority of bugs like the same things. That is why it’s so important to keep your home clean. By doing so, you can eliminate half the bugs on this list.

In most situations, you can easily get rid of insects yourself. However, sometimes it can get out of hand and you’re left with an infestation. If this happens, contact a commercial exterminators like Brody Brothers Quality Pest Control—we’re a leading Baltimore County exterminator who can get rid of the problem properly.

The post 11 Common Bugs That You May Find in Your Home appeared first on Brody Brothers Pest Control in Baltimore.

The average American home is crawling with pests, even if invisible to the naked eye, our pest experts are on the hunt in Baltimore, MD and surrounding areas! If you, like many other homeowners, suffer from pests, you don’t need to worry! With the help of Brody Brothers Pest Control, you can eliminate and prevent pest populations in and around your home.

A Study of the Average American Home

A recent study from a team of entomologists sought to determine how many arthropods (spiders, centipedes, insects, etc.) were in the average home. In the study, the entomologists found an amazing amount of diversity across residences. Out of the homes studied, every home had at least 32 species present, with the most populated home having 128! 

The good news is that the households that suffer from pests are not dealing with harmful ones. Just the annoying ones! April showers bring May flowers, but the rain also brings out the bugs! The most common insects discovered included cobweb spiders, carpet beetles, and ants. Some of the more harmful insects like cockroaches, and fleas were found overall in 10% of less of homes in the study.

Unusual Infestations

While you may be able to keep calm when you see a few spider webs around your home, there are some critters and crawlers you never want to see anywhere in or around your home!  If you suffer from rodents like rats, you should take the problem seriously. Rodents invade approximately 21 million homes in the United States every winter. 24% of them dwell in the attic and garage, 50% spend time in the kitchen and 27% live in the basement. Even more concerningly for Maryland residents, 35% of homes in the Northeast experience rat control problems. Brody Brothers Pest Control helps our Baltimore City residents the most when it comes to rodent control in Maryland! 

Don’t Suffer From Pests Without Help

Brody Brothers Pest Control works with thousands of property owners every year to keep properties safe and free from harmful insects, rodents, and pests. If you’re looking for home pest control in Maryland or if you have questions about pest inspections for your home, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 653-2121 (Baltimore area) or (301) 637-0178 (Montgomery County).

The post How Many Homes in the United States Suffer from Pests? appeared first on Brody Brothers Pest Control in Baltimore.

Some people dream of a world without pest control, where bugs and pests are allowed to proliferate freely without human intervention. Other people just want the mosquitos and disease-carrying mice to stay away from their homes. While some people think that a world without pest control would be more environmentally-friendly, the past can show us that it wouldn’t be nearly as human-friendly.

Looking to the Past

Arthropods have been linked to disease and death throughout world history. Ancient Egypt had a high mortality rate not due to human causes like murder, but due to pests that transmitted cholera, typhus, yellow fever, and dysentery. Mosquitoes, lice, and flies swarmed civilizations and led to death. Years later, the Black Death plague swept through Asia, Africa, and Europe. This rat-transmitted disease killed over 25 million people in Europe alone, along with destroying entire cities and grinding trade routes to a halt.

New Diseases Are Still Emerging

While it’s clear that pest control has helped to cut down on the prevalence of diseases like the plague and cholera, there are contemporary diseases transmitted by the same bugs that are just as dangerous. Hantavirus, associated with deer mice, leads to flu-like symptoms that are hard to diagnose. Unfortunately, in many cases, this delayed diagnosis leads to death in about 60% of cases. The Zika virus is another recent example of the devastating consequences of unchecked mosquito populations. Other bugs, like bed bugs, are increasing in population and in need of aggressive treatment from pest control professionals. 15 years ago, only 25% of pest control professionals treated bed bugs. Last year, 99.6% of professionals treated for bed bugs at least once.

Pest Control Is Important

We are lucky to have effective pest control techniques today that are eco-friendly and pose little danger for humans and pets when used correctly. 97% of allergists believe that a pest-free home is vital to prevent allergy and asthma symptoms. Pest control is also part of why life expectancy has continued to rise over the past century. In 1900, life expectancy stood at only 49 years, while today it is 78.8 years. As pest control advances, we hope that the spread of scary and serious diseases will continue to decline.

Keep Your Family Happy and Healthy

Brody Brothers Pest Control works with hundreds of property owners every year to keep properties safe and free from harmful insects, animals, and pests. Brody Brothers Quality Pest Control can treat any problems and maintain your property to minimize risks. Contact us for a property inspection online or give us a call at (410) 653-2121 (Baltimore region) or (301) 637-0178 (Montgomery County).

The post What Would a World Without Pest Control Look Like? appeared first on Brody Brothers Pest Control in Baltimore.

These tiny, persistent pests have troubled people for millennia.

Until recently, though, bed bug infestations were a rare occurrence in the United States. Many people thought they had been all but eradicated. Then about ten years ago, it seemed that you couldn’t turn on the local news in any American city without hearing about a bed bug infestation. Exterminators who had never dealt with bed bugs suddenly got multiple calls per month to get rid of these tiny insects. 

Unlike a lot of the other types of pest infestation, bed bugs have nothing to do with how clean your home is.

Typically, homeowners bring bed bugs into their own homes when staying in hotels, dorms or someone else’s house.

Bed bugs are an American problem through and through, showing up in every state in the nation. If you ever stay away from your home or invite guests to stay with you, you could potentially get bed bugs. 

As their name suggests, most bed bugs live close to the bed where their host sleeps. These tiny vampires suck blood from their hosts, causing itchy bite marks in about 70% of the population (the other 30% has no reaction to the bites). They are nocturnal and can infiltrate any type of building from an apartment to a single-family home, to an office building. 

Avoid at All Costs 

You can dramatically reduce your risk of bringing bed bugs into your home with a few careful tips: 

• Check the mattress and box spring and sheets for any live bugs or speckling bed bug droppings that can look like mold or black pepper before you unpack or use the bed at a hotel. If you find tiny black dots, ask to be moved to a room on another floor (and inspect there too!), or consider finding another place to stay.
• When you get home, wash everything in your suitcase. Vacuum the interior of your suitcase, or put the whole thing in a sealed garbage bag.
• Never buy bedding or upholstered furniture used.
• Resist the urge to sleep in a different room if you think you have bed bugs, as this can actually cause the bugs to spread farther when looking for blood. 

Spot the Tiny Black Spots 

Most of our clients don’t realize they have a bed bug problem until they notice the bites.

They look like tiny black specks and may be mistaken for a bit of mildew at first. The females reproduce very quickly, so the more time passes without calling the professionals, the more bites you’re likely to get.

Cleaning or changing your mattress will not solve the problem; bed bugs can hide in the tiniest cracks and can survive for more than a year without feeding.

Bed bugs adults are ¼ oval and reddish in color and most of the time people find adults, or they find evidence of them because of their droppings that can look like mold. 

The small bright side is that contrary to some urban legends, people cannot catch diseases from bed bugs. They are itchy and uncomfortable to be sure, but they do not pose a serious threat. 

If you suspect you have bed bugs, there are a few things to check: 

• If you react to the bites, they will be inflamed and itchy, and often appear in a row. If you notice itchy “mosquito bites” each morning, you may actually be dealing with bed bugs.
• If you see tiny black dots in your mattress seams, don’t try to clean it yourself. Only professionals have the products and experience to get rid of bed bugs in the long term.
• If you’re not sure that you have bed bugs, and haven’t seen them yourself, Brody Brothers can employ dogs specially trained to hone in on bed bugs through a third party. In our experience, that’s the best way to minimize the damage of an infestation because it’s caught so quickly.

Put Bed Bugs to Bed 

We can’t say it enough: Leave getting rid of bed bugs to the professionals. Treating for bed bugs yourself will only reduce the population for a short period. 

If it does turn out that bed bugs have invaded your home, Brody Brothers have a tried and true treatment plan: 

1. First, we wash and dry all fabric washables on high heat. 

2. Second, we vacuum up as many visible bugs as possible. 

3. Next, we apply treatment products anywhere bed bugs may be hiding, including furniture 

4. Then, we encase your mattress and boxspring in a bed bug-proof liner. 

5. Finally, we repeat our treatment products and treat deep in the walls with long-lasting products, to make sure your bug problem is history. 

Now that bed bugs are back in a big way in the Baltimore area and across the United States, the Brody Brothers have time-tested methods for dealing with them.

If you think you have bed bugs that you need to get rid of, contact us for a permanent solution to these tiny, itchy pests. 

The post How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs & Keep Them Out appeared first on Brody Brothers Pest Control in Baltimore.

We just celebrated another great birthday for America. We shared barbecue, fireworks and apple pie, but one thing we don’t celebrate is the resurgence of bed bugs across the country.

These tiny, persistent pests have troubled people for millennia. Until recently, though, bed bug infestations were a rare occurrence in the United States. Many people thought they had been all but eradicated. Then about ten years ago, it seemed that you couldn’t turn on the local news in any American city without hearing about a bed bug infestation. Exterminators who had never dealt with bed bugs suddenly got multiple calls per month to get rid of these tiny insects.

Unlike a lot of the other types of pest infestation, bed bugs have nothing to do with how clean your home is. Typically, homeowners bring bed bugs into their own homes when staying in hotels, dorms or someone else’s house. Bed bugs are an American problem through and through, showing up in every state in the nation. If you ever stay away from your home, or invite guests to stay with you, you could potentially get bed bugs.

As their name suggests, most bed bugs live close to the bed where their host sleeps. These tiny vampires suck blood from their hosts, causing itchy bite marks in about 70% of the population (the other 30% has no reaction to the bites). They are nocturnal and can infiltrate any type of building from an apartment to a single-family home, to an office building.

Avoid at all costs

You can dramatically reduce your risk of bringing bed bugs into your home with a few careful tips:

• Check the mattress and box spring and sheets for any live bugs or speckling bed bug droppings that can look like mold or black pepper before you unpack or use the bed at a hotel. If you find tiny black dots, ask to be moved to a room on another floor (and inspect there too!), or consider finding another place to stay.
• When you get home, wash everything in your suitcase. Vacuum the interior of your suitcase, or put the whole thing in a sealed garbage bag.
• Never buy bedding or upholstered furniture used.
• Resist the urge to sleep in a different room if you think you have bed bugs, as this can actually cause the bugs to spread farther when looking for blood.

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People all over the world have been battling bed bugs for millennia, but for decades, it seems that they had been eradicated in the United States. Then about ten years ago, all of a sudden, they were everywhere. Neighborhoods across the United States, including Canton, started reporting infestations and unfortunately, bed bugs are one of the toughest pests to get rid of.

True to their name, bed bugs typically nest in sheets and mattresses. They can also find their way to living in baseboards and furniture. These blood-sucking, nocturnal pests can infest any type of building from apartments or the row houses so common around Canton, to a single-family home or office building.

Most people don’t know that they have a bed bug problem until they have at least 100 of them crawling around. Female bedbugs reproduce quickly and the longer you wait, the more bites you’ll get. Cleaning or changing your mattress will not solve the problem because bed bugs can hide in the tiniest cracks and they can survive for more than a year without feeding.

How to Tell if You’re Dealing with Bed Bugs

• Check for bites. Nearly one-third of the population has no reaction to bed bug bites, but the rest of us will get inflamed, itchy bites, often in a row, that appear overnight. If you are waking up every morning with mosquito-like bites, you may have bed bugs instead.
• Spot the bugs. Take the linen off your bed and check the mattress seams for tiny black dots. If you see them, contact the Brody Brothers immediately and don’t try to get rid of the bugs yourself.
• Have Brody Brothers use third-party canine testing to check your home for bedbugs. With dogs specially trained to hone in on bed bugs, we can detect them quickly and minimize damage before an infestation gets out of hand.

The Start of the Problem

Unlike a lot of the other types of pest infestations we deal with, where your home is being invaded from the outside, people tend to unknowingly bring bed bugs into their homes themselves.

Their presence has nothing to do with how clean your home is – bed bugs are found in every state in the country and they do not discriminate based on income or cleanliness. 
If you leave your home, or invite others into your home, there is a possibility that you could get bed bugs.

In Canton Row, bed bugs have even been known to travel in from the connecting walls of homes, between neighbors.

Because they are so tiny, fast moving and tend to only be active at night, people don’t notice them during the day when the bed bugs get into PJs or luggage after a hotel stay, or when you put your clothes on a chair in a store dressing room.

Bed bugs are also common in dorms, rental apartments, public transportation, movie theaters, hospitals, and in pre-owned furniture.

In positive news, contrary to popular belief, bed bugs do not pass on diseases to people, so they are more of an itchy, uncomfortable nuisance than a real danger.

Our 6-Step Process to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

There may be products on the market that promise to provide a DIY fix for bed bugs, but take our advice: treatment for bed bugs should only be done by pest professionals. Once we confirm that one of our customers has a bed bug infestation, we spring into action:

1. Prepare: We remove all clutter, launder and dry all washables on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
2. Vacuum: We identify the location of live bugs and vacuum up as many as possible
3. Treat: We treat all cracks and crevices, including the furniture
4. Seal: We place bed bug-proof mattress and box spring encasements
5. Repeat: We recommend two treatments to get bed bugs under control
6. Secure our efforts: We treat deep in the walls with long-lasting products

Just Say “No” to Bugs

Looking for tips to avoid bed bugs in the first place?

• When staying at a hotel, hostel, dorm or rental apartment, inspect the bedding, mattress seams, nightstands, drawers and edges of the carpet before you unpack or use the bed. If you find evidence of bed bugs, request to be relocated far away from your current room.
• Upon returning from a trip, wash all the clothing in your suitcase. Vacuum the inside of the suitcase or place it in a plastic bag.
• Don’t buy used bedding or upholstered items.
• Reduce clutter to be able to spot bed bugs sooner and reduce their hiding spaces.
• If you do find you have bed bugs, avoid sleeping in a different room; this can actually cause the pests to spread farther in search of a new food source.

If you have mysterious bites or you find tiny black dots in your bed, call in the Brody Brothers. Once we go through our prescribed treatment, you’ll sleep tight again in no time.

The post Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite in Canton appeared first on Brody Brothers Pest Control in Baltimore.

• clogged rain gutters
• depressions in the ground that collect water
• bird baths and fountains
• uncovered buckets and trash cans
• saucers for plant pots
• children’s toys
• dripping hoses

Also, take care to keep your bushes trimmed and neatly managed, as mosquitoes like to congregate in cool areas under leaves. Regarding all areas and objects at risk of becoming a source of mosquitoes, we will thoroughly advise you on the most effective methods to prevent them from turning into just that.

We acknowledge that it may be impossible to completely eliminate your sources of standing water, and we have special preventative treatment for these areas. If you have a bird bath or a similar water retainer that cannot be removed, we will treat it with Altosid, which is a product that targets mosquito larvae before they are even capable of biting. Altosid comes in the form of either small pieces like briquettes or as pellets, and they naturally degrade and will not harm humans, dogs, cats, fish, or waterfowl. Most permanent standing water sources in yards only demand the pellet form of the product, as the larger pieces are usually reserved for larger collected water supplies like ponds.

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