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BedroomCommon Pests: Bed bugs, dust mites

Bed bugs can live anywhere in any home. Theytend to concentrate in mattresses, box springs andbed frames, but they can also be in curtains, insidefurniture drawers, and in cracks in the wallpaper.They can even hitch a ride on clothing or in a back -pack and be carried to and from school.

Bed bugs can live for a year or more withoutfeeding, and can withstand temperatures that rangefrom nearly freezing to almost 113°F. Managing abed bug infestation is difficult and requires profes -sional help, which can include close inspection andmonitoring, and possibly removal of all infestedmaterials.

Tips:

n Check mattresses, headboards and box springs forsigns of beg bug droppings, eggs or live nymphs.

n Regularly inspect backpacks for signs of bed bugs.

n If you suspect a bed bug infestation, contact alicensed pest management professional for animmediate inspection.

Dust mites thrive in warm, humid conditions. Theyare found in mattresses, furniture, toys, curtains,carpets and rugs. They can trigger asthma, causedermatitis, and transmit disease.

Tips:

n Cover mattresses and pillows with dust-proof,zippered covers tested and rated for dust mites.

n Frequently change bed linens. Wash bedding andstuffed animals once a week.

n Vacuum areas frequently.

n Ask a pest management professional for helptreating for dust mites.

What you need to

know to keep pests

out of your home

Pests at SchoolCommon pests: Bed bugs, cock -roaches, spiders and yellow jackets

Tips:n Clean out your child’s backpack

and other bags every day to avoidtransporting pests to and fromschool.

n Encourage your kids to learn toidentify potentially harmful pestslike stinging insects so they knowwhen to tell an adult and how toavoid being stung.

n Talk to your school about monitor -ing for pests like cockroaches,which are known allergens and can trigger asthma attacks.

n Keep an eye out for pests like fliesor mice that can spread diseases orcontaminate food in the cafeteria.

School can be a playground for pests.The Environmental Protection Agencyrecommends that schools use integratedpest management (IPM) to deal withpest problems. School IPM programsuse common sense strategies thatreduce sources of food, water andshelter for pests. They also use pesti -cides judiciously and carefully whennecessary to eliminate and managepotentially harmful pest infestations.

Learn more about IPM atwww.debugthemyths.com.

FAMILY FEATURES

Nobody likes a pest,especially the creepy, crawly kind. But they exist, and, unfortunately, too many of us make it easy for pests to take up

residence right alongside the family.To help you remember the most effective way to deal

with pests, use this acronym — INSPECT. It stands for:

Investigate. Take a serious, strategic approach to discovering potential pest problemsin and around your home.

Study. After identifying potential problems, study the potential cause or consequenceof these problems.

Prepare. Plan how to most effectively solve your problem. Changing habits to includecovering your dryer vent, and only eating in the kitchen can help prevent pests fromtaking up residence.

Eliminate. Eliminate pest entryways into your home by caulking cracks and trimmingtrees and shrubs.

Clean. Maintaining your home and lawn are essential for discouraging pests fromcalling your home theirs. Eliminate opportunities for pests to find food, water, andnesting and hiding places.

Treat. To protect your home and family, properly treat pest problems with the appro -priate pesticide product to effectively manage the problem.

Room by RoomWhile pests can be in any part of your home, here are some of the more common roomsyou’ll find them in, and what you can do to keep them out.

BathroomCommon Pests: Spiders, silverfish

Spiders like to lurk in corners, cabinetsand drawers, as well as clothing andbehind curtains. If you have a persistentspider problem, it’s most likely that youalso have other pests that are serving asa steady food source for spiders.

Tips:

n Remove webs with a broom orvacuum. Destroy any egg sacs youfind. Check around windows, incorners or other out of the way spots.

n Check for leaking water lines underthe sink and in the shower/tub area.

n Clean faucets and shower heads.

n Supplement cleaning with properinsecticide treatment. Treat aroundbaseboards, in cracks and crevices and other likely hiding places.

Silverfish like to chew on anything with starch or polysaccrides — paper,photos, hair, wallpaper, carpet, clothingand even dandruff.

Tips:

n Eliminate sources of water. Fix leakyfaucets, and don’t let water stand inthe tub or sink.

n Replace or repair moldy or wet woodin the bathroom.

n Reduce humidity in the bathroom byrunning a fan or opening a windowwhile you shower.

KitchenCommon pests: Ants, roaches, rodents

Insects and rodents look for foodanywhere they can find it — cabinets,pantries, floorboards, areas where petfood is stored. These pests contaminatefood and carry disease.

Tips:

n Maintain clean, clutter-free spaces.

n Wipe up spills and pick up crumbsimmediately.

n Keep stove vents and drip pans clean.

n Store food in air-tight and pest-proofcontainers, or in the refrigerator orfreezer.

n Don’t leave your pet’s food and waterdishes out overnight.

n Check for water leaks under the sinkand refrigerator.

n Keep trash and recycling areas clean, and rinse out food containersand beverage cans before disposing of them.

n Baits, sprays and traps are effectiveways to manage kitchen pests.

To learn more about preventing pest problems in your home, visitwww.debugthemyths.com.