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Must PCO to be bed bug expert if homeowner wants to fumigate with Vikane
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takecareofit
newbite
Joined: May '12
Posts: 27offline
Posted 1 year ago
Sun May 20 2012 23:43:33
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For about 2 weeks I have been having red welts appear. We live in So Calif.
Today we got lucky and found a bed bug on the underside of the mattress. We put it in a jar.I have since been reading all I can on this site as well as the posts by Theresa Braine a journalist who survived 2 infestations.
Tomorrow I will start calling PCOs.
I am inclined to fumigate the whole house as I know we have termites as well.
Therefore, I am wondering if it is necessary for the PCO to be an expert in bedbugs, as it seems Vikane fumigation kills bed bugs.
We have no idea how we came to house a bed bug. None of us has traveled to a hotel or another country for 5 months. 2 family members ride public transportation if that could be a source. We do battle fruit tree rats as we live near the hills. We haven't brought in any used furniture. So it is really a mystery but I want to get rid of them fast and thoroughly.
Could any please advise if the PCO must be bed-bug saavy if we plan to fumigate with Vikane?
Thank you
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,744offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon May 21 2012 0:07:26
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Vikane is a deadly, toxic gas. So you would need someone licensed and experienced with this technology. Since Vikane is also used against termites, it may be there are Vikane providers who have more or less experience with bed bugs. I have heard that it takes something like 3x the dose of Vikane to kill bed bugs vs. termites, so it's important the PCO knows why you're treating., and knows about treating bed bugs.
Whatever methods you use, try to choose a licensed and experienced firm. Ask questions about their experience with this pest, and about their methods.
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takecareofit
newbite
Joined: May '12
Posts: 27offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon May 21 2012 9:50:21
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Thank you for your reply.
Yes, I would use a licensed PCO and I will tell them why I am treating. I forgot to mention in my first post that we used pictures on this site to ID the bug and removal of this bug left the "stain" on the mattress that we had been reading about. That was the only stain we were able to see after examining the mattress and boxspring.
I had also read one post on this site about needing 3x the amount of Vikane.
Is anyone able to confirm this?
Of course I wonder if this is to take advantage of people trying to eradicate bedbugs from their home as more Vikane would naturally increase the cost.Does anyone know how common bed bugs have become in the Los Angeles area?
Are there any referrals to reputable PCO in the LA area with bed bug experience that anyone could share?
Will an experienced PCO be able to tell me if the bug we have caught is male or female?
Can anyone confirm the amount of Vikane necessary ?Thank you so much!
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oldtimer
Joined: May '07
Posts: 1,969offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon May 21 2012 9:57:41
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Nobugs is correct...Bed bugs require a 3x treatment... which is the dosage that is used for drywood termites... It is always best to utilize someone that has experience with bed bugs... but tenting the house and injecting the gas is the same procedure that is used for drywood termites... This is the dose specified on the label... If a fumagation company is looking to cheat a customer they would use less than that amount.
Be sure that you do not re-introduce any infested items back into the house after the fumigation.
3x refers to 3 times the dosage that is required for subterranean termites... a 10x dosage is utilized for powder post beetles, for example... The exact dosage is calculated and varies depending on a number of factors such as temperature. cubic footage, type of foundation, presence of a basement, ect.
It is not necessary to use only Vikane gas for bed bugs... You have several options... but the efficiency of eradicating termites from the structure at the same time may justify the price.... 3x Vikane is usually 100% effective.
Heat is another option and chemical treatments are also available.
Post a clear magnified macro photo on a photo sharing site with public access settings and post the link here... we can help you determine the ID & sex of the specimen that you have captured.
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takecareofit
newbite
Joined: May '12
Posts: 27offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon May 21 2012 12:47:07
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http://s1261.photobucket.com/albums/ii581/takecareofit/
I hope this link works. We took some pictures on macro setting. Holding a magnifer over the bug and then taking a picture didn't work.
I wish I knew how bed bugs got in here. There has been no recent travel (5 months ago is the last), overnight guests. We don't know of our workplaces being infested. 2 members do use public transportation, we do go to movies and other public places. We live in a single family home in the suburbs of Los Angeles. We do have outdoor dogs and like a mentioned earlier, fruit tree rats as we live near the hills. We regularly battle these.
What are the best ways to stop a re-introduction when you don't know what started it in the first place. -
oldtimer
Joined: May '07
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Posted 1 year ago
Mon May 21 2012 13:07:53
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Male bed bug... Highly unlikely that your dogs or the rats play any role at all... Most likely a hitchhiker that came in on clothing or possessions... Any used or rental furniture?... Library visits or materials?... Movie theaters, public transportation or people that you visit are potential sources too... Any location that is frequented by people is a possibility.
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takecareofit
newbite
Joined: May '12
Posts: 27offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon May 21 2012 13:20:52
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Thank you for your reply
Would it be foolish to wait to see if I get more bites before proceeding with fumigation since
biting has only been for 2 weeks
this bug was male
there wern't any other stains on the mattress
no bed bugs were found upon dismantling the bed frame
I just called Bed Bugs and Beyond and am waiting for an agent to call me back. I do know we have termites and we had local treatment a couple months ago. If I didn't have to spend the $to fumigate I would be glad, but at the same time bed bugs are tenacious and I don't want them to multiply further if there are females somewhere.
Thank you
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oldtimer
Joined: May '07
Posts: 1,969offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon May 21 2012 14:11:25
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You can go onto the Dow website and generate a list of providers by entering your zip code into the referral page search engine... An unlicensed middle man tends to add to the overall cost of treatment.
You could install monitors... and observe if you want to be extremely optimistic and bet that you have captured the only specimen.
You have a number of options for eradicating bed bugs.
The main advantage of Vikane gas would be to eliminate the termites and bed bugs in one treatment that requires minimal prep and 48 hours to produce near 100% reliability
Heat provides similar results with more prep... Chemicals can be utilized too, but usually involve a lot more prep work and several weeks of treatment to be effective.
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