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DESPERATE FOR ANSWER: Safe to move?
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veryscared
newbite
Joined: May '11
Posts: 19offline
Posted 2 years ago
Tue May 17 2011 13:46:28
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We found BB in our apartment mid April--only found on the kitchen walls although we were bit when in the living room. The PCO didn't find anything in the bedroom or in/on any of our furniture anywhere. We isolated the beds and never sat on the couch again. We were never bitten again in the 10 days we remained in the apartment while we inspected/dried/packtited our neccessities and packed up the rest of our apartment. During these 10 days while packing we found a few bugs on walls (live) and two dead bugs--one on the bulletin board in the living room and one in a box of photos that had been stored under the bed. We had also put double sided tape on all the door jams to try to learn where they were coming from--no bugs ever got caught on the tape so we assume they were coming in via wall cracks, etc.
After 10 days, we moved in with my in-laws because we have a newborn and didn't want her around the chemicals and because I was a nervous wreck, couldn't eat or stop crying. We have not been bitten while here.
The PCO has sprayed our furniture and the apartment twice. There were some live bugs found in between the sprayings but the spray my PCO is using doesn't kill them but renders them infertile. It's a multi unit building and it seems the bugs are moving from apartment to apartment. I have no faith the landlord is effectively treating the building. In total we have found no more than 20 bugs.
FIRST QUESTIONS: How safe is it to take my furniture? Should I get it heat/vikane treated before moving?
SECOND QUESTIONS: When do you "know" you are BB free? After 60 days of no bites? After 18 months of no bites?
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cilecto
oldtimer
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 3,851offline
Posted 2 years ago
Tue May 17 2011 23:54:43
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If you have BB in your apartment, there's the risk that you will carry some in your stuff to your new place, which would then need to be treated if an infestation breaks out (or was there before you arrived). In major cities (like NYC, which, based on your other post is where you are) there are companies that will gas or bake your things in a truck or container in conjunction with a move.
That is, if you have BB. BB (if undisturbed) tend to gather where people sit or sleep. That you are finding bugs in your kitchen point to a really bad infestation, due to botched treatment (like foggers) or migration from neighbors. Or, they're not BB.
Insect growth regulators are somewhat controversial with regard to bed bugs. Some experts feel that they're not that great, in any case, they're generally used in conjuction with other pesticides or dusts. If this is all your PCO is using, then I'd be worried about their competence/honesty or about his ability to communicate accurate information.
With chemical treatments, it's important for someone to remain in the dwelling in the days and weeks after application. BB tend to go dormant and stay in hiding when there's no food around, so the poisons wear off before the bugs get the chance to cross them and be exposed.
Please read our site's FAQ. They will help you to be a more empowered bed bug fighter.
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veryscared
newbite
Joined: May '11
Posts: 19offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed May 18 2011 11:06:32
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Thank you for your reply. The BB--definately BBs!--came from the apartments that are next to and above our kitchen. Not sure if any of the neighbors self treated w/foggers but like I said nothing was found in the bedroom upon ours or the PCOs inspection.
We are acting as if everything has BBs in it and treating accordingly. I couldn't stay in the apartment due to anxiety (I'm in therapy now) and as our lease is up at the end of the month it didn't make sense to renew as we were planning on moving out this year anyway due to the new baby. It seems the landlord is only treating the apartments that report them and not everyone who has them reported them in a timely fashion. Each week another apartment has discovered them so I definately can't stay there.
Any recommendations for companies in NYC that treat a truck or container? I've only found one, associated with Bed Bugs and Beyond and they seem to have a bad rep on these pages...
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cilecto
oldtimer
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 3,851offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed May 18 2011 11:53:08
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As far as I know, there are at least three companies marketing fumigation services for BB in metro NYC; BB&B, Bed Bug Fumigation Services and Royal Fumigation. Theres also Moving Right Along, which IIRC, works with one of the fumigation companies. My understanding is that BBFS and BB&B were once one company that broke up. Other than one member who had a (bad but kind of unique and unsubstantiated) experience, I don't recall anything outstanding or awful being said about any of them. (I have no stake in this, just trying to help you find options.) There may also be mobile thermal services (called "Inferno") that may be helpful, but this technology is relatively new in the market.
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veryscared
newbite
Joined: May '11
Posts: 19offline
Posted 2 years ago
Thu May 19 2011 9:18:29
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thanks cilecto! What does IIRC mean? And what is your ID photo a picture of? BB? Baked goods?
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cilecto
oldtimer
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 3,851offline
Posted 2 years ago
Thu May 19 2011 10:04:47
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If I recall correctly.
They're pastries. Two years ago, when I had my BB experience (in concert with having to deal with two ill parents), I felt lost, overwhelmed and scared. I spotted these rugalahs and they reminded me the pics some entomologists have of BB harborages (an adjacent tray of lighter colored ones reminded me of nymphs.) I gasped then started to laugh. It was my "turning point".
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