What You Need to Know Before Spraying for Mosquitoes

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Published By: DAVID MIZEJEWSKI, DAVID WEBER   |   SEPTEMBER 2, 2020
Hiring a company to spray your yard for mosquitoes will also kill other insects, including bees and butterflies.

When the weather is nice, there’s nothing better than getting out of the house to enjoy nature right outside your door. Whether it’s grilling out with family, doing some gardening, or even just taking a nap in the fresh air, spending time in your yard or on your deck or patio is a great way to connect with nature. Good friends and family and backyard birds and butterflies are always welcome, but there’s one guest nobody wants visiting while enjoying time outside: mosquitoes.

These pesky insects can turn a pleasant outdoor gathering into an itchy nightmare. No one likes mosquito bites, so it’s understandable that you may be considering hiring a mosquito-control company to treat your yard by spraying it with insecticide. Maybe you already have.

Unfortunately, despite marketing claims, these sprays don’t just harm mosquitoes. The most widely used residential mosquito sprays are also highly toxic to native pollinators such as bees and butterflies, fish, and other aquatic organisms, and they can even pose a risk to pets and people. Here’s what you need to know before spraying.

What’s in Mosquito Sprays?

Most residential mosquito control companies use insecticides known as pyrethrins, which are chemicals derived from chrysanthemum flowers that are toxic to insects; or more frequently, pyrethroids, which are synthetic chemicals that mimic pyrethrins. Whether natural or synthetic, these are broad-spectrum insecticides that are highly toxic to a wide variety of insects, not just mosquitoes.

Tiger swallowtail on a purple coneflower.

Companies such as Mosquito Joe, Mosquito Squad, Mosquito Authority and a host of others use pyrethrins and pyrethroids in their standard treatment options. Marketing efforts and corporate talking points correctly state that these pesticides are regulated and approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but that doesn’t mean they are without any negative environmental consequences.

We know the specific pyrethroids that these companies use such as bifenthrin, deltamethrin, and permethrin are all highly toxic to bees, killing them on contact and for one or more days after treatment, a fact the EPA itself acknowledges.

There is no way for companies to spray these broad-spectrum insecticides in your yard without also killing other insects they come in contact with, including bees, butterflies, caterpillars, ladybugs, dragonflies and other beneficial insects, along with the mosquitoes.

 

How Sprays Hurt Bees and Other Wildlife

 

The focus of much of the toxicity testing by regulatory agencies has been on domesticated honey bees because their pollination services are critically important for our agriculture system and food production. Researchers have documented widespread contamination of honey bee hives with toxic pyrethroids, finding residues of these chemicals in the pollen that bees bring back to the hive, in beeswax, and on bees themselves, at levels that can be lethal to bees or cause harmful effects.

Honey bee enjoying nectar.

Even extremely small, residual doses of the chemicals used in mosquito sprays can disorient honey bees and prevent them from

returning to the hive. One study found that after topical application of only 0.009 micrograms of permethrin per bee, none of the observed bees returned to the hive at days end because of disorientation due to the treatment. A separate study with different authors found similar effects for deltamethrin, which disoriented 91% of return bee flights to the hive after a dose of only .0025 micrograms per bee. With declining bee populations worldwide threatening global food security and nutrition, we can’t afford to continue killing or harming bees.

Much less is known about the impacts of these sprays on wild insects and other native wildlife, but mosquito-control insecticides have been linked with declines of native pollinators. It’s clear that wild native bees and other pollinators are also at risk from mosquito pesticides. Wild bee susceptibility to insecticides directly correlates with the surface area to volume ratio of the bee, meaning smaller bees like alfalfa-pollinating alkali bees native to the west and southwestern U.S. are at even greater risk from mosquito sprays than honey bees.

Recently, thousands of monarch butterflies

 were found dead in the Fargo-Moorhead area of North Dakota and Minnesota after aerial spraying of a 100-square mile area with permethrin to control mosquitoes. Monarch populations have plummeted at an alarming rate in recent decades. The total ecological impact of a spraying event like this is untold, but surely devastating to an unimaginable number of wild insects due to permethrin’s broad-spectrum toxicity.

Many insects are beneficial to humans, serving as pollinators and pest predators. Many are beautiful and iconic, like the monarch butterfly. Insects are also part of the base of the food web, without which other wildlife cannot survive.

For example, 96 percent of our backyard birds rely on insects as the exclusive food source for their babies. When you spray your yard for mosquitoes, you also kill off that food source and make it more difficult for birds to successfully reproduce. Almost 30 percent of the North American bird population has disappeared in just the last 50 years. Insect populations themselves are rapidly plummeting as well. Pesticides are a factor in all of these wildlife declines.

Mosquitoes themselves play an ecological role, serving as pollinators and as a food source for other wildlife.

Other Impacts of Mosquito Sprays

Mosquito sprays aren’t just toxic to insects, either. Runoff can wash these chemicals from our yards into surface waters, where they can poison aquatic organisms such as fish and crustaceans, which are highly sensitive to pyrethroids. Pets exposed to pyrethroids can experience vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and other symptoms.

While the risk to humans from pyrethroids is relatively low when applied properly, these products are far from harmless to human health. People exposed to large amounts of pyrethroids can experience effects like stinging skin, dizziness, headache, or nausea that might last for several hours. Pyrethroids can enter your body if you breathe air containing the chemicals, eat food that has been contaminated by the spray, or if your skin comes into contact with the spray. Children and infants are the most vulnerable risk group to pyrethroids.

Alternatives to Spraying

Luckily, it’s possible to keep mosquitoes at bay and reduce your chances of being bitten even without pesticide sprays. We encourage you to avoid broad-spectrum insecticide sprays because of their deadly impacts on non-target insects and other wildlife and instead consider more effective and less harmful mosquito control strategies.

Many companies offer “organic” spray options marketed as less dangerous. Such sprays are typically made up of various plant-based essential oils, but that doesn’t mean they are effective or without negative impacts. These oils can still be harmful to bees and other beneficial insects upon direct contact, so they shouldn’t be used on flowering plants or during the day when bees are active. More research is needed to fully understand the impacts of these alternative sprays on native insects and other organisms.

Overall, the most effective and safest ways to control mosquitoes in your yard are through source reduction and early intervention. Mosquito larvae need stagnant water to develop, so try to regularly remove or drain sources of standing water which can pool up in gutters, corrugated PVC drainage pipes, kids’ playsets or any debris left outside. For sources of water, you can’t drain, use mosquito dunks or other products containing the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis or “Bt,” which targets mosquito larvae and other biting flies but is essentially harmless to other wildlife and people. Other wildlife like turtles, copepods, frogs, dragonflies, and birds are voracious predators of mosquitoes, so enlist their help by gardening for wildlife and doing your part to maintain healthy populations of these wild allies.

If mosquitoes are still a problem for you, you can protect yourself from bites by wearing long sleeves when mosquitoes are present or using repellents containing DEET or oil of lemon eucalyptus, a botanical spray that has been shown to be as effective as synthetic repellents. Even a simple electric fan can help significantly by blowing away your scent and making it harder for mosquitoes to find you.

Mosquitoes are annoying, but we don’t need to sacrifice native wildlife and put our own health at risk to keep them away. As you head outdoors, ditch the toxic mosquito spray services, and take advantage of the more natural and effective ways to reduce mosquito bites. You’ll get to enjoy a painless outdoor celebration, and the bees will thank you.

Published By: National Wildlife Federation

 

If a Professional Prefers it, You can Trust it! Check out the Latest Professional Testimonial on our EcoRaiderPRO Line!

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Attack Back’s Rene Gonzalez Uses EcoRaider’s ER-3 to Deliver Green Pest Control of Mosquitoes in Fresno

FRESNO, California (Friday July 31, 2020) – At the center of the San Joaquin Valley, Fresno is home to tough mosquitoes and is regulated by even stronger state regulations on how pest control professionals are allowed to control them.

Attack Back Pest Control Owner Rene Gonzalez has customers of all types – residential, commercial, and agricultural. All of his clients have been seeking stronger mosquito control. But in California, the laws for pest control applicators are very strict so many typical pesticide-based products cannot be used in sensitive or even normal applications.

Therefore, it has been challenging for many PMP’s because for long it has always been one-or-the-other choice between green and performance, so has Gonzalez.

Like many other PMPs in California, Gonzalez has also tried many green products, but had not found find anything satisfying, until he tired EcoRaider’s triple action mosquito formula ER-3: “EcoRaider is great because you can tell your customers that it’s going to be safe for them and their kids if we spray their yard with it,” he said. “Being able to tell them that we are spraying green – and that it works – is a huge selling point.”

Performance is of utmost important, and ER-3 delivers a quick kill with a strong residual. That’s why Gonzalez and his customers trust it. But the fact that the product is green and is safe for humans and pets is a major factor for using it in California, as well.

“There are a lot of customers seeking green products that work and EcoRaider is the one that really does the job,” Gonzalez said. “They have said they are thankful we are doing our part to help the environment. That makes it easier for me and obviously easier for them to rely on us.

“During the wet months it’s really looked down upon using pyrethroids so if you go with EcoRaider you’re not hurting anything,” he added. “You’re not hurting the water table buy using EcoRaider and that’s a big thing.”

EcoRaider is every pest control practitioner’s must-have product for successful and minimum risk pest management jobs. In addition to ER-3, a triple-action formula for mosquito and general pest control, EcoRaider offers ER-22 and RTU, which provide effective control on bed bugs, roaches, ants, and for other perimeter treatment needs.

If you would like your pest professionals to use EcoRaider, request it! EcoRaider is available at various distributors, including Veseris (Univar), Target, Agri-Turf, BWI, Oldham and others. To learn more about EcoRaiderPRO, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Take back your backyard! 

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EcoRaider Mosquito & Flying Insect Killer Can Help

In many parts of the country we have a limited amount of months to enjoy our outdoor space. Are mosquitoes getting in the way of you spending time outdoors? We can help you to take back your backyard with some tips and tricks and the right mosquito control product.

Consider these 3 essential ways you must control mosquitoes in order to get complete protection:

  1. Kill Mosquito Larvae – To properly control mosquitoes it is essential that you are controllingstanding water around your property. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. In fact, the common house mosquito, most commonly known to carry West Nile Virus, requires just an inch of standing water to lay its eggs. It is very easy to overlook areas of standing water that could be a mosquito breeding area. When inspecting your lawn consider these often overlooked areas: eaves and drains, bird baths, kids toys, plates under plants, old tires, water fountains, clogged gutters and more.
  2. Kill Adult Mosquitoes -For full control it is obvious that you must kill adult mosquitoes thatalready exist on your property. Areas that should be treated include: the perimeter of the residence, under bushes and around heavy brush, in areas known to collect water that may remain damp, under outdoor appliances, plumbing, gutter drains and more.
  3. Repel Mosquitoes – While you may be doing everything right on your property neighboring properties may be breeding mosquitoes in droves. And, unfortunately, those mosquitoes may enter your property. That is, unless you are using a product that repels mosquitoes. In order to repel mosquitoes the perimeter of your property should be treated along with window and door screens, seating areas and areas of high traffic.

The good news is you do not have to buy three different products to control larvae, adults and offer repellency in order take back your backyard. EcoRaider Mosquito & Flying Insect Killer offers 3-In-1 Complete Mosquito Defense.

Start protecting your family and your outdoor space today. For a limited time save 10% off on all mosquito products with coupon code ERSUMMER.

EcoRaider Natural Mosquito & Flying Insect Killer is all you need to protect your family against different species of mosquitoes. Proven by leading university vector science center, EcoRaider not only effectively repels, but also kills 100% adult mosquitoes by contact instantly. When applied in stagnant water, it not only effectively kills 100% of existing larvae, but also keep two weeks effectiveness in killing new larvae. EcoRaider is a plant based non-toxic aqueous bio-insecticide. Its unique mode of action is lethal to target insects but does not affect humans, animals, birds and fish. It is a minimum risk pest control product that is safe to use around children and pets for indoors or outdoors.

The Ins and Outs of Mosquitoes

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What’s all the irritation about? Well, if you live or are visiting a humid and wet environment, truth be told, anywhere except in areas that are permanently frozen, mosquitoes have the potential for infringing upon your daily activities.

 

But, do not surrender yourself over to these blood-sucking pests so quickly. It might surprise you, but knowing a thing or two about their life-cycle can help. According to the EPA, having a basic familiarity of the different stages of the mosquito’s life will help you prevent mosquitoes around your home and help you figure out prevention methods and how and what insecticides to use.

 

The egg hatches when exposed to water. This is why areas around standing water, ponds, bird baths, kiddy pools, are just incubators for the troublesome insect. Flood water due to heavy rains also offers perfect breeding grounds for these treacherous terrors of the skin. Larvae are the next stage and they live in water. They molt several times; most species surface to breathe air. 

 

The Pupa does not feed; the stage just before emerging as adults. And finally, the adult – the final stage in the life cycle that emerges out of the water and feeds on the blood of humans and other animals.

 

Only the female bites and once she has ingested her bloody meal it’s time to lay eggs. She will lay her eggs directly on or near water, soil and at the base of some plants in places that may fill with water. The eggs can survive dry conditions for a few months.

 

It’s all in the diet. Sugars are a thing to avoid eating. Both adult male and female mosquitoes feed on sugars from plants and other insects.  The female feeds on blood meals for egg development. If you ever been in a situation when you are standing side by side with another person but you are the lucky one getting bombarded with bites; most likely your blood is just that much sweeter. Maybe save the deserts for inside enjoyment.

 

Mosquitoes are not only frustrating but they are deadly as well. And many foreign species of mosquitoes are here by international flight traffic. One does not need to be an alarmist, just stay aware of your surroundings and if you venture into the great outdoors, dress appropriately to limit your skin exposure.  

 

We hope you are furnished with more information on mosquito breeding habits, their environment, and how to use the most effective ways to get rid of these pests. Please note, eliminating standing and stagnant water will lead you on the best path towards achieving a mosquito-free environment. 

Bed bug Scars Leads to Million-Dollar Settlement

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A California family is awarded 1.6 million dollars in a victory over an Inglewood apartment complex that failed to adhere to proper procedures in eradicating a several months-long bed bug infestation.

 

The family had two young children, the infant daughter who slept in the crib, and a toddler. Both children were victims of excessive bug bites. The 3-year old was in such a state of discomfort that he scratched himself constantly causing scars that still exist today; 6 years after the bed bug ordeal.

 

What happened next? The family alerted the management of the apartment complex once the bite diagnosis was confirmed as bed bugs. Once alerted, the management team at Kahala Islander Apartments instructed Mrs. Martinez to immediately throw her furniture away. The next step the apartment complex took was to treat the infestation with chemicals. Use of toxic chemicals unfortunately, is often the default method used when treating for bed bugs.

 

With no furniture and no other place to stay, the family was forced to sleep on the chemical-treated floors of the apartment once it was safe to re-enter the home.

 

It did not take long for the insects to return and biting to begin again. Like in most cases, treating a bed bug infestation is challenging and often requires repeated applications or routine maintenance to make sure that the entire population is wiped out.

 

If only the family or the hired pest control company was are aware of EcoRaider. To integrate natural product like EcoRaider, eliminates the need for evacuation of any kind. Leaving your home is a hassle but with young babes to care for, this creates more of a situation.

EcoRaider’s customer service team accurately points out what the EPA regulation allows. For example, it is not necessary to discard salvageable furniture because it can be treated. Laid out in EcoRaider’s step-by-step instruction plan are explicit details on how to go about applying the spray to furniture, i.e. beds, clothing, and linens.

 

Think about the sleeplessness, the anxiety, humiliation, shame that followed in the weeks and months ahead that would permit this small family of four the largest monetary sum in such a case. Now, six years after the ordeal, the court wisely granted this family some piece of mind.

Though this is extraordinary outcome, such human interest stories are important to illuminate because the content is so relatable. Insect and vermin infestations are common problems among millions of Americans households. It is important to know why certain treatments are not always effective.

 

Resistance to certain insecticides is the main cause behind persistent infestations. Rotation of chemicals and substituting insecticides routinely will combat resistance problems. Also, it is important to read and follow the label instructions carefully to verify that the ingredients differ from recent treatments.

 

EcoRaider can be used as a standalone treatment or as part of a rotation program to control resistant bedbug strains while avoiding further resistance programs.

 

It is a botanical based insecticide that attacks receptors that do not exist in vertebrates. It does not contain any synthetic compounds that bedbugs have demonstrated resistance to.

 

Virag, the family’s attorney and who specializes in bedbug litigation through his firm, says he hopes the verdict sends a wake-up call to other management companies when it comes to being proactive—rather than reactive—when responding to bedbug complaints from tenants.

 

Incorporating EcoRaider into the bug treatment rotation will cut the need to follow the foolish advice of discarding household items. Doing this can cause others problems like financial distress and agitate physical discomfort in the home.

 

EcoRaider is also a safe, non-toxic alternative used by pest control companies that allow families access to the home while spraying is taking place and there is no need to relocate.

 

We can only hope the mismanagement shown on part by the owners of Kahala Islander complex, along with thousands of other low-income apartment dwellings will learn from this punishment, and incorporate tested and safer methods for eliminating parasitic insect infestations.

 

Source: People.com California Family Gets $1.6 Million after 3-Year-Old Is Scarred by Bedbug Bites

It Works on Contact

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Ants in your pants, find yourself swatting away pests in the middle of your kitchen, or do you feel little nips on your exposed skin in the middle of the night and don’t know who the culprit is? EcoRaider kills on contact, with up 100% accuracy quickly and chemical-free.

The Journal of Economic Entomology can attest that among all 12 tested pesticides, only EcoRaider caused 100% mortality of bed bugs. However, what happens outside the laboratory is what really matters. Through dialogue with the public, I have compiled some insight into what is working for our customers.

That is what the science tells us but let’s takes a look and see, what customers are saying about EcoRaider fast acting effects. According to one verified customer, “This stuff is definite killing machine bed bugs did not like this at all. Definite started killing process on contact maybe up to 10 seconds for full death. Our headboard had a lot of crevices and this soaked into a lot of those having them crawl out and die,” received by S. Reedon. We urge all treatments to focus on spraying inside cracks and crevices.

Patricia says the Bed Bug Killer Spray I was skeptical at first, since I’ve tried so many products to rid my place of these stupid bugs.

I have to say, this is an excellent product!!! It went to work immediately!! The scent was a little strong at first but when I sprayed the “affected” areas, it changed to a sawdust smell, indicating that it was killing on contact.

Feedback is helpful in spreading the word about the positive outcome EcoRaider provides and it is also crucial to have when customers run into problems applying treatment.

S. Reedon runs into some trouble and we at EcoRaider want to illuminate the correct methods to use to get all benefits from the bed bug spray. He states, “It’s not bait nor stays active long. So don’t expect a set it and forget it with this. But it will actively kill what it finds. There is a strong cedar type smell to it, but I got used to it pretty fast.”

The Bed Bug Killer solution does have a cedar wood scent comes from natural ingredients extracted from plants; it is non-toxic and dissipates fast. Based on our survey, 90% of users find the scent is acceptable, 5% tell us they like the scent and about 5% of users are not in favor of the scent. In cases where the cedar wood is too overwhelming, we recommend that you can try our All Purpose Insect Killer that attacks and kills bed bugs with a citrus aroma.

We can discern from the S. Reedon’s remarks that they happy with the death on-contact results, but seems to suggest that they are unsure of EcoRaider’s potency long-term.

EcoRaider’s strength is really where it’s emboldened. It is highly effective during this period of time, 97.5% of exposed bed bugs die within 2 weeks after exposure at all life stages.

As spring closes in and temperatures lift and signs of life are on display everywhere. The warm winds blow in the slimy things, the crawly things, and the flying-pesky things with the fresh dampen conditions of the season. Eradicating all mosquitoes, ants, and other undesirables would be ideal, but that is neither realistic nor beneficial to the overall ecosystem.

What we can settle on eliminating these households’ terrorists from invading our personal halcyon by arming ourselves with EcoRaider’s Ant Killer & Crawling Insect Killer and the Mosquito 3-In-One Spray.

An Amazon customer uses Ant Killer Spray, “This product actually works! I have used other all natural ant killers and had no luck. The very first time I used this product, it worked, it killed the ants right away and it keeps them away.”

“I used it against the small black ants here, swarming over a potato chip that one of my roommates dropped and didn’t bother cleaned up. It managed to kill them like right away,” exclaims, Brandon another satisfied customer.

The boasts don’t end there, The Mosquito 3-in-One is just what you’re looking for when tackling garden work; Works great! According to another verified Amazon customer. Anonymous continues,”I was searching for a safe mosquito killer since my husband is allergy to lots of chemicals. He actually has no reactions to this bottle when I tried to spread a bit out. And it kills the small flying insects as well. Those bugs bother me all the time in summer. This product was made to kill insects safely.”

However, success is not always the case, as Shelia briefly exclaims “It doesn’t work.” To her and others, we urge you to follow the simple steps that could improve the results drastically. My advice is to check all areas that might be infested by mosquitoes that could have gone unchecked or neglected during the first go-round.

It is imperative to spray clothing when wearing for personal use, spray screens, windows and perimeters of the residence – also spray under bushes, around houses, in damp areas, and under appliances and around pipes.

A major culprit is standing water; this is where larvae and mosquitoes tend to breed. Spray into these stagnant bodies of water. These include fountains, bird feeders, catch basins, trench drains and other similar areas. Treating these areas guarantees that the mosquito population will dissipate.

We encourage more letters and comments from costumers and want to know how EcoRaider is working for you. We would love to post your story. Please visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/myecoraider/ and/or sign up for our newsletter for special offerings https://ecovenger.com/my-account/.

Help Mother-Nature go Green for Spring!

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Making simples changes in our daily lives will help make improvements to our communities and our planet.  Conversing with EcoRaider customers, I know firsthand that maintaining a green lifestyle is their top priority.  I have compiled a few tips on how green living can help improve one’s daily life and how to make that transition.

 

For millions of Americans spring means congestion. Spring means sneezing, coughing, and hacking their way through the pollen, and all the fresh new plant life. One way people avoid the hey-fever blues is to stay inside. Staying inside is not always the best strategy because the house itself could also be a breeding ground for irritants.

 

Do-it-yourself cleaners are a perfect alternative to the typical household chemical cleaners that contain phosphates. Typical items such as baking soda, vinegar, and soap, mixed with water is just as effective as the store-bought counterparts.

 

Use old tee-shirts and rags, washable items instead of disposable paper towels when mopping up messes. Minimize use of bleaches. Non-chlorine bleaches are gentler to clothes and the environment.

 

I can’t emphasize reusable enough! Of course, if you grew up in a household anything like mine, using recyclables bags was the standard practice by now. We never used paper or plastic bags for our groceries or anything else for that matter. Brown paper bags, although they are sturdy, that reason alone just doesn’t prove the chopping down a forest; oxygen is kind of necessity. As for the plastic bags, it doesn’t break down.

 

Plastic bags, along with all other discarded plastic material that escapes the land-fills and ends up washed-up on beaches half way around the world, are death sentences for countless species. The rings of the 6-pack cases are death traps to the poor unsuspecting sea creatures or birds, when they mistakenly swoop in for the shiny object and suffocate themselves on the decoy food. A modest investment in several tout bags would help save lives, trees, animals, and our planet.

 

Fixing odds and ends around the house is another essential on our green to do list. Perhaps there is a leaky faucet in your basement that you’ve been putting off for a while. This is not good. Leaky pipes are a calling card to crawly unwanted visitors. Environmentally compatible products such as EcoRaider, with its all natural ingredients extracted from plants, are efficient in combating bug infestations head-on. Also, old pipes can leach lead into your water. If lead is found, apply a filter to avoid poisoning.

 

Using products like EcoRaider avoids typical pesticides and in turn helps keeps municipal water clean. Getting the word out and using more eco-friendly products will do likewise.

 

There are so many things that you can today to enhance a sustainable future, above are just a sample of the plethora of adjustments one can make in your daily life to make a real environmental impact.  Examine your environmental footprint, what other changes can you make doing some of your favorite things; maybe it’s gardening, shopping, cooking, or exploring the great outdoors, and remember making green adjustments can be fun and enlightening.  I invite to return next month when I describe my first time experience delving into the realm of eco-tourism and its challenges.

 

 

Questions to EcoRaider…And Helpful Answers

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Dealing with a bed bug infestation is a challenge. The EcoRaider team recognizes that infestation cases vary, and the methods used to attack a pest problem might be more effective for one particular household over another. Customer feedback helps us access what problems people are having with the EcoRaider treatment and how we can best help them find solutions. Recently, a customer sent in a few questions about the fertility cycle of bed bugs and how to eradicate future generations of bugs. 

1.      Does exposure to Ecoraider decrease bed bug fertility?

 It is unlikely one will be able to spray all the existing adults and eggs during one treatment. The adults that survive will continue laying eggs and eggs will hatch.

2.      As in, if they are exposed to the product while climbing onto my bed to bite me will females still be able to lay eggs after getting that blood meal? (Bed bug eggs hatch every 10-14 days).

According to a study done at Washington State University, exposure to EcoRaider does inhibit bed bugs fertility and appetite, suggesting that they will bite less and lay fewer eggs.

3.      If the answer is no to my previous question; how am I supposed to fully eradicate them? (Seeing as Ecoraider has a lower mortality rate at first before ramping up to high mortality rate within 10 days, the bed bugs are exposed to the product, may still have time to lay eggs after biting me. Because those offspring can interbreed, the cycle perpetuates). 

The mortality on the test report is the cumulative data. Both direct spraying and residual treatment show different mortality speed. The results show that there is an 80-90% mortality rate within the first hour when EcoRaider is directly sprayed and the residual effect is slower. Essentially, the most successful kill method is directly spraying a bed bug or egg. Another successful treatment would be for the bugs to come into contact with the liquid while it’s still wet

4.      Is there anything you guys recommend to stop this? Or is my only choice to continue spraying and hope for the best? I love your product, but repeatedly purchasing it is getting expensive, and I’m a medical student living off federal loans.

Certainly, for the best performance, spray once a week. The peak activity for bed bugs is at night. Spraying as close as possible towards your bedtime is an optimal for getting largest amount of bugs in their tracks. Take a flashlight at night, try and find where they are coming in from, if you find the nest, remove it, spray and clean this area thoroughly, and this can ultimately reduce the pests once and for all.

The New Year, the Bugs, the Cities, & the Solution

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It’s a new year; and in the bug business comes some new facts. Orkin has compiled a list of the top 50 U.S. cities with the most reported bed bug home infestations. And Baltimore, Maryland has the unfortunate honor of topping the list in 2018, for the second year in a row.

The second highest ranking city projected is Washington, D.C., followed by Chicago, Los Angeles jumps up 2 places from last year to #4, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Detroit are ranked #5 through #7, and New York went down 4 places to #8 from last year’s ranking, and San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, and Dallas-Fort Worth round out the top 10.

What does all this mean? Even if your city doesn’t make the list it is important to know the habits of bed bugs and how to avoid when traveling. We are a very transient society and bed bugs aren’t nicknamed hitch-hikers for nothing.
The 2018 projections add a few new-comers to the top 50 list including New Orleans, Louisiana and Flint, Michigan. Flint.

Flint, a city ravaged by economic decline debuted at #38. It has suffered recently from lead in its municipal-water supply; a parasitic invasion like bed bugs will only ignite an already troublesome situation for much of Flint’s lower-come residents.

If I can be candid, lower-wage earners tend to have less than ideal living conditions. In poor or congested neighborhoods people live in tight quarters with not a lot of living space to spare. This can cause clutter which attracts bugs and vermin.

Bed bugs feed on human blood and other warm-blooded animals to survive. They aren’t necessarily attracted to filth per-say, but when a living area is messy it is easy for them hide and harder for you to find their nest, which eliminates a very important target when treating the infestation.

New Orleans debuts on the Orkin list at #47. The Mardi Gras parade every year attracts close to a million visitors from around the globe to enjoy the lavish masquerade. Year-round locals and tourists can enjoy things like soufflés of decadence desserts, or spicy concoctions of Cajun and crawfish entrées, any domestic or international traveler can enjoy 24-hours of soulful sounds of sultry Jazz or the Bayou blues all within walking distance to the charming, French-quarter hotels.

However, the high hotel traffic, packing and unpacking luggage, and all the moving parts are opportunities for bed bugs to hitch rides with unsuspecting guests. Cities such as New Orleans, will continue to suffer from growing pest infestations.

The tourist industry is responsible for the recent influx of bed bugs but, just like in Flint; it is the lower-income neighborhoods that bear the brunt of the problem. People living on fixed incomes, mostly in neighborhoods outside the main tourist spots, just can’t afford $1,000 price tag for a one-time pest control visit.

EcoRaider offers a practical solution to all the folks that can identify with the people living in these cities mentioned on Orkin’s list. We all know well bed bugs infestations are not confined to only New Orleans, Flint, Los Angeles, Chicago, or all the major cities mentioned above. Bed bugs are ubiquitous. EcoRaider understands the growing epidemic and will ship our products anywhere.

EcoRaider is a healthy, do-it-yourself option that comes with an extended residual period. It is also a more affordable option for those on a budget.

Phew! So, you don’t have to cancel your trip to The Big Easy!

A few tips for hotel stays: inspect your room for small black or brown spots. These signs can be dead bed bug casings, live insects, or droppings. A flashlight or even your mobile phone’s screen is helpful to spotting bed bug activity on furniture, linens, and most importantly, your mattress.

EcoRaider Travel Bed Bug Killer Spray 2-oz Travel comes in a 6-pack to make it super convenient to just grab a bottle and stick in your carry-on bag and spray before you pack and after you unpack.

The EcoRaider team recommends that after a thorough inspection of the hotel room, hang up all your clothes. Make sure to place your empty luggage high up, if no shelf is available, place on a table. Bed bugs are not the best climbers and although they do get everywhere, they tend to stay low.

There are 2 important facts to ensure a Bed Bug free-2018; Bed Bugs don’t just hide in your bed, and don’t leave home without EcoRaider!

Treat Bed Bugs Infestations with Safe Home Remedies

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The holidays are quickly approaching, and for many it is a busy time of year.  It is easy to get caught up in the hustle of shopping and visiting with loved ones. An infestation of bed bugs has thrown a wrench into your plans of entertaining at home. To ensure a safe and comfortable environment, take basic precautions to safely fumigate and enjoy the holiday festivities.

Safety is the priority when using dangerous chemicals, equipment, and products in your home to treat bug infestations. Some products are harmful if not properly monitored or applied. Bed bugs are a burden and the irritation can heighten emotions, causing some people act erratically and choose unsafe solutions to rid their homes of pests.

In recent news, a 13-year old boy set his family’s home ablaze attempting to kill a bed bug last week, while burning down a substantial amount of a Cincinnati apartment building. Responders on the scene claim that the boys’ intentions were not maligned; he merely wanted to kill the bed bug with alcohol and matches. 

The fire caused $300,000 in damages, spreading out of control; it destroyed the boy’s family unit and wreaked havoc on two neighboring dwellings. One sure way to avoid such catastrophes is to attack the bed bug infestation by treating it properly. EcoRaider Bed Bug spray is a non-chemical pesticide that is tried and tested to work efficiently and safely.

EcoRaider is self-applicable and easy to use. It is friendly towards sensitive skin and furniture. EcoRaider’s ingredients comply with FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) standard. The Cincinnati teen is far from the only person engaging in unsafe behavior. Whether it’s legal or illegal, news stories have reported about all aged people carrying out some risky do-it-yourself bed bug home treatments.

In 2013, CBS news reported that four firefighters were injured by a fire in Woodbury, New Jersey. The homeowner was attempting to kill a bed bug infestation by using a space heater, a hairdryer, and a home heater. In these situations, space heaters and fireplaces are often the culprits of house fires.

Locating and employing a professional who is specialized in bed bug treatment is a way to ensure safety. However, if you are working on a limited budget, you can use a green product like EcoRaider or recommend EcoRaider to your pest control contractor.

EcoRaider Bed Bug treatment has a proven track record for safety and success. The spray comes from all-natural ingredients extracted from plants, it is non-toxic and dissipates fast and allows the entire family to stay in the home during treatment without comprising their health. The Journal of Economic Entomology, 2015, states that EcoRaider is the only natural product that kills bed bugs on contact with 100% efficacy. Journal

There is a debate about the effectiveness of foggers for bed bug treatment. They can’t reach the cracks and crevices, the common places bed bugs hide, to kill them. Also, they are primarily contact killers, so any residual effect is minimal or nonexistent. Be cautious when using foggers, they can easily cause an accident if left unsupervised or improperly implemented.

According to nyt.com, a tenant caused an explosion in his New York City apartment in 2013. The man applied some over-the-counter aerosol foggers but failed to follow the instructions. He did not turn off all open flames in the kitchen before setting the bug bomb off, fires and explosions are uncommon but do happen.  A good way to avoid these hazards is to not use any unregistered gases like carbon dioxide, helium, propane, rubbing alcohol, to fumigate bed bugs.

Being safe is simple. Remember to read all pertinent information about the pesticide or device located on the label. Follow directions carefully, instructions will show where and how to treat. If you are unsure about the compatibility of chemical agents with your home, reach out to a professional to answer any questions.  

The key to safety in any bug treatment is that you refrain from acting out of haste or urgency. It is vital to keep a level head and be thorough in your approach. Home remedies can sometimes be cheaper, but you pay a higher price out of pocket and more importantly, should an accident happen, with your livelihood. It is wise to refrain from using any unhealthy shortcuts. EcoRaider is the safe solution.