Raleigh bug/pest control by Bulwark Exterminating

Raleigh Come In At 15TH For Top US Bedbug Cities

Bed Bug(Photo credit: TomSpinker)

They’re creepy. They’re crawly. They feed on your blood; and Raleigh, NC is full of them! They are bedbugs, and Raleigh was ranked as the 15th most infested bedbug city for 2013. This is up four spots from last year’s ranking.

The dubious ranking is determined from the list of cities with the most frequent bedbug reports between January and December of 2012; and took into account the Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville, NC areas. Charlotte, by the way, happens to be way down the bedbug list at number 43.

It’s not a claim that any city wants to have, but the truth is bedbugs continue to be a big problem in the United States. Pest control professionals have reported a 32 percent increase in bedbug activity compared to the 2011 infestation numbers. Scary!

Read more about the growing bedbug epidemic here.

The Top 10 Bedbug Infested Cities

1. Chicago
2. Detroit
3. Los Angeles
4. Denver
5. Cincinnati
6. Columbus, Ohio
7. Washington, D.C.
8. Cleveland/Akron/Canton
9. Dallas/Ft. Worth
10. New York City

Bed Bugs

bedbug (Cimex sp.) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bedbugs continue to be on the rise in the United States, and they are one of the most challenging pests to control. They are most commonly found in beds or bedding, but can also hide in your furniture, baseboards, carpet, and even on your walls and ceiling.

Bedbugs are a reddish-brown in color, and can grow to 3/8 inch in length. These pests are nocturnal feeders, which feed on the blood of human hosts. During they day, bedbugs will look to hide along the seams of your mattress, or any other out-of-site crakes, crevices, or holes.

Bedbug Control

Raleigh, NC exterminators are up to date on the most recent methods and pesticides used to control bedbugs. Quality pest control companies will first inspect your home or apartment for bedbugs. Some may even employ the help of a bedbug dog that can sniff out an infestation.

Avoid using foggers, aerial pesticides, and bug bombs to eliminate these bloodsuckers. They do not work and can even endanger your health. The Federal Trade Commission is even taking action against unproven bedbug treatments. Read more here.

Pest Control Raleigh, NC

Bedbug Control Raleigh, NC

Related articles

• U.S. cities with the worst bedbug problem
• Shaffer: Raleigh crawls to top of bedbug rankings
• U.S. cities with the worst bedbug problem

Published by Bulwark

Tragedy During a Roach Eating Contest

Edward “Eddie” Archbold is seen in the above video grabbing handfuls of roaches, and tossing them in his mouth like peanuts. The 32 year old resident of South Florida passed away earlier this month after eating several dozen of those roaches. The man was competing in a roach-eating contest with the hopes of winning an ivory ball python from a local reptile store.

After almost inhaling a bucket of 2-3 inch long roaches, Eddie threw his hands up in the air and was declared the winner. Shortly after winning the contest, Eddie started to feel sick and began vomiting. He eventually passed out and was rushed to an area hospital where he was declared dead. The medical examiner’s office is carrying out some tests to figure out the exact cause of Eddie’s death. Many are speculating his death was due to an allergic reaction caused by eating the roaches.

A fellow roach eating contestant of Eddies, Mathew Karwacki, made a Facebook comment about the roaches they were eating:

“Yes the contest was crazy, but all the bugs were captive bred and raised on a commercial diet and veggies. These insects are raised for the pet industry as fodder. So there was nothing that those bugs contained that would hurt a human (unless yes there was some sort of allergic reaction, but that is usually instant…he died awhile AFTER the contest)”

Eating Insects

Many of us North Carolina residents, along with most of the Western world, find eating roaches revolting. The truth is Entomophagy, or the act of eating insects, is a way of life for millions of people worldwide who rely on insects for protein and other nutrients needed to live. Eating insects is ingrained in many different cultures.

Thailand just might be the insect eating capital of the world. Vendors will sell crispy insects from carts at outdoor markets, and fried crickets are served liked peanuts in bars.

In Latin America ants, fire-roasted tarantulas, and cicadas are common customary dishes. One of the most famous culinary insects in Mexico, the agave worm, is eaten on tortillas and placed in bottles of tequila. Chocolate-covered locusts and candy-covered worms make getting your daily dose of protein oh-so sweet.

In Ghana during the spring rains, winged termites are collected and fried, roasted, or even made into bread. The termites are high in proteins, fats and oils, all of which are needed for a healthy, well-balanced diet.

And in Florida, contestants eat roaches in the hopes of winning a pet snake.

Roach Control

Residents in the Raleigh, North Carolina area find cockroaches to be disgusting pests, not intended for eating… With good reason. They carry over 40 different types of bacteria, and cause numerous diseases. Other unpleasant side effects roaches can cause are food poisoning, dysentery, diarrhea, parasitic worms, and urinary track infections. In addition, they have also been shown to cause allergic reactions in humans, which was likely the cause of Eddie’s death.

If you are a Raleigh resident, you do not want these disease carrying pests anywhere near your property, let alone in your home. If you are having a cockroach problem, contact a local exterminator immediately, and let’s leave the roach eating to the competitive eaters.

Bulwark Pest Control
19 West Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 828-8825
bulwarkpestcontrol.com

Carolina Wildlife Removal
2316 Sapphire Valley Drive
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 896-4278
carolinawildliferemoval.com

Terminix
6020 Oak Forest Drive
Raleigh, NC 27616
(919) 790-0995
terminix.com

Related articles

• Search and Rescue Cockroaches
• A Few Facts About Cockroaches
• Can eating roaches really kill you?

The Good News About Roaches

 
Researchers at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC hope cockroaches can be put to good use, saving lives in disasters like earthquakes, fires and chemical attacks. These pests are being outfitted with tiny microchips that act as sensors, and are guided around by using low frequency electrical pulses that the insects can pick up with their antenna. A video released by the University shows the roaches being guided along curved lines drawn by the researchers. The roaches are self powered, kind of like riding a horse. As long as you feed the roach the electrical impulses, it will keep going.

Researchers anticipate that these tiny but strong roaches will be able to maneuver their way around ruble and fallen debris, after the act of a natural disaster, and find trapped victims. They hope to outfit the roaches with tiny microphones and video cameras as well, in order to better locate potential victims. Researchers at the University think that their work could make a huge difference after disasters in densely populated urban areas.

The research team is using the Madagascar hissing cockroach, one of the world’s largest species of roach. They can grow to be up to three inches long, but they are still small enough to maneuver between the fallen debris.

Now The Bad News About Roaches

 
It’s intriguing to see all the amazing things the insect world can do for us. For every account of them benefitting our society, there are thousands of more detrimental accounts. Roaches pose a serious health risk. They leave behind feces and saliva that have the capability of spreading 33 different types of bacteria. Cockroaches also have allergen proteins that have can cause severe allergic and asthmatic reactions. In addition, cockroaches are hosts of six parasitic worms and several human pathogens. Sadly, children and elderly can even die from the allergens that cockroaches carry.

If you are living in the Raleigh-Durham area, and have been seeing cockroaches inside your home, contract a pest control professional today. Don’t put your health at risk–Let’s let the researchers at NC State University find better uses for them.

Bulwark Pest Control
19 West Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 828-8825
bulwarkpestcontrol.com

Carolina Wildlife Removal
2316 Sapphire Valley Drive
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 896-4278
carolinawildliferemoval.com

Trapper Dan’s Wildlife and Pest, LLC
4909 Waters Edge Drive #203
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 306-7254
trapperdans.com

Terminix
6020 Oak Forest Drive
Raleigh, NC 27616
(919) 790-0995
terminix.com

Related articles

• BugMaster Most Wanted List: American Cockroaches
• La cucaracha war
• Researchers Turn Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches Into Remote Control Cockroach Cyborgs

The DNC Convention—Charlotte September 4th

The state of North Carolina is all abuzz this week over the excitement of the Democratic National Convention being in Charlotte. What many Democratic delegates and conference-goers are not excited about is the possibility of sleeping with bedbugs.

According to websites like BedBugRegistry.com and BedBugReports.com, nine out of ten hotels that are hosting Democratic delegates report bedbug activity in the last year. Visitors report finding bites days after their stays, and at least two have said they ended up bringing bedbugs home with them. The most complaints have been directed at the Charlotte Marriott City Center, but the Double Tree by Hilton, Drury Inn & Suites Northlake, and the Charlotte-Center City Holiday Inn are also having issues.

Bedbug infestations are on the rise at exponential rates—some reports say as much as 75% from the same time last year. The Bedbug Crisis Hotline has increased ten fold in the last 6 months. Many major east coast cities like New York, Washington D.C., and Boston have made national headlines with their bedbug infestations, but Charlotte has a long way to go before they’ll catch up to their infestation levels. Charlotte is currently ranked 33rd.

Bedbug Prevention Tips When Traveling

• Check the beds, mattresses, headboards, sheets, and chairs for any evidence of bedbugs. They look like a flat seed that is reddish-brown in color.
• If you suspect bedbugs, change hotel rooms to a room as far away from the infestation as possible. You may also think about changing hotels as well.
• Keep luggage on luggage racks, or in the middle of the bathroom floor.
• Use suitcases with hard protecting casings and wrap them in plastic.
• Keep small bags and purses on your lap when in taxis, planes, or trains
• Wash luggage upon your arrival home with a garment steam cleaner.
• Wash and dry your vacation clothing immediately when you get home.
• If you do happen to bring bedbugs home with you while on vacation, contact a pest control professional immediately!

For General Pest Control:

Bulwark Pest Control
19 West Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 828-8825
bulwarkpestcontrol.com

Carolina Wildlife Removal
2316 Sapphire Valley Drive
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 896-4278
carolinawildliferemoval.com

For Bedbug Control:

Logos K9 Bedbug Scent Detection
2335 Derby Drive
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 607-3969
logosk9.com

Chapel Hill Bed Bugs
198 Justice Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 408-7610
chapelhillbedbugs.com

Related articles

• DNC hotels infested with bedbugs
• Bedbug
• The Battle of the Bedbugs

Buy a New, Used Car, Truck or SUV, Get Prices and Kelley Blue Book Values at www.WITNCars.com, WITN, Washington, Greenville, New Bern, NC:

Much of North Carolina, including Raleigh, is under attack from mosquitoes. All of the recent rain has led to perfect mosquito breeding conditions. Mosquitoes will lay their eggs in any stagnant water they can find—Bird baths, tire swings, kiddie pools, even long-standing puddles are ideal.

This attack is worrisome to most Raleigh residents because of this summer’s high levels of West Nile virus cases. CNN reports, this year’s West Nile Virus outbreak is the largest the United States has ever seen since the disease was first discovered in 1999. So far this year there have been 42 deaths and over 1,100 reported cases Nationwide.

What You Need To Know

• Only 1 in 500 mosquitoes carry the West Nile virus.
• Around 80 percent of people bitten by an infected mosquito will show no signs of illness.
• The young, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems are most likely to become severely ill or die form the virus.
• If you suffer abnormally severe headaches, confusion, or fever like symptoms after a bite seek medical attention at once.

The Four D’s For Mosquito Prevention

• Use insect repellent with DEET
• Avoid the outdoors between Dusk and Dawn
• Dress long sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors
• Drain any stagnant water around your property

Durham has no programs to control mosquitoes on private property. To keep mosquitoes off your property, contact a pest control professional today!

For General Pest Control:

Bulwark Pest Control
19 West Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 828-8825
bulwarkpestcontrol.com

Carolina Wildlife Removal
2316 Sapphire Valley Drive
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 896-4278
carolinawildliferemoval.com

For Mosquito Control:

Mosquito Squad of Raleigh-Durham
1108 Nowell Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 851-5135
mosquitosquad.com

The Mosquito Authority
Harvey Street
Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 710-5596
themosquitoauthority.com

Mist-A-Pest Mosquito Control
8311 Chimneycap Drive
Raleigh, NC 27613
(877) 754-8366
mistapest.com

Related articles

• Another West Nile Death in Texas
• Survive West Nile Virus: How to Identify, Avoid, and Treat It
• West Nile virus: Rain halts aerial sprays in deadly Texas outbreak – Los Angeles Times
• Dallas mayor declares emergency as West Nile virus spreads – CNN (blog)

News spread over the internet Friday morning of the passing of World Wrestling Federation superstar and legend “Macho Man” Randy Savage.  Known for his distinct “Oh Yeah!” catchphrase, Savage was one of the most storied and glorified icons in the history of professional wrestling.  From his historic bouts with Ted Dibiase and Hulk Hogan to his ringside marriage to Miss Elizabeth in the Match Made In Heaven, Savage is well to be considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.

Reports indicated that Savage was driving his jeep early Friday morning in Tampa, FL when he apparently suffered a heart attack and veered off the road and directly into a tree.  He was pronounced dead a short time later at Largo Medical Center.

While this news is saddening and tragic, the residents of the Raleigh, NC, area will be affected in a peculiar way beyond Savage’s death.

This same Friday also marks the last day ConAgra Foods will be producing their famous Slim Jim products from their plant in Garner, NC. ConAgra Foods will be moving their manufacturing operations from Jones Sausage Rd. to Troy, OH after more than 40 years of residing in Garner.  While there is supposedly a line of buyers for the soon-to-be vacant lot, about 200 employees will be temporarily out of a job.

The connection?

If you don’t remember watching Randy Savage coming in off the top ropes in the ring, then you might recognize him in millions of gas stations around the country, endorsing ConAgra’s Slim Jim.

As Savage’s career ended, his “Oh yeah!” soon turned into “SNAP INTO A SLIM JIM!!!”.

In the mid-90s, Savage became the face of Slim Jim products with his wild and boisterous commercials.  He promised that your boring and dull life would be instantly brought to life with the big, juicy flavors of a Slim Jim.

No one can explain the occurrence of these two events happening on the same day as nothing more than pure coincidence. The world may have lost a wresting legend, but our neighbors in Garner have also lost a piece of the city. And as wrestlers who lose but live to fight another day, so too will Garner continue to fight the good fight.