Bed bugs have favorite colors?

We’re not pulling your leg, although it may sound like it! Recently, there was a pest control-related story making the news rounds about a study reported in the Journal of Medical Entomology that suggested bed bugs are drawn to some colors while being repulsed by others. Sound crazy? Read on to learn more, and you may be considering some new luggage and sheets for your West Palm Beach home!

As you may recall, the summer of 2010 brought a resurgence in bed bug infestations in major US cities. These obnoxious little pests invaded hotels, libraries, theatres and even department stores. Since their comeback, researchers have renewed attention on bed bugs and their behaviors, and potential ways to discourage them from moving into places we frequent.

An article found on livescience.com states that that for bed bugs, “the preference toward red and black was prevalent.  ‘We originally thought the bedbugs might prefer red because blood is red and that's what they feed on,’ Corraine McNeill, assistant professor of biology at Union College in Lincoln NE said. ‘However, after doing the study, the main reason we think they preferred red colors is because bedbugs themselves appear red, so they go to these harborages because they want to be with other bedbugs, as they are known to exist in aggregations.’

 For the study, the researched placed bed bugs in Petri dishes that had small, bug-sized tents made of papers of different colors. Considering that bed bugs spend the majority of their time hiding in cracks and crevices, it was no surprise that they immediately headed for the little paper shelters. The surprise was in their choice of the tents – they overwhelmingly chose the red and black papers over white, yellow and green shelters.

It is thought that their preference had to do their dark red colors, and they were seeking out a aggregation of other bed bugs. They tend to gather in groups, and they choose to go to colors where it appears where other bugs may already be.

While it may not be a 100% foolproof method of avoiding bed bugs in your home or suitcases, it may be worth trying lighter colored sheets and a bright yellow suitcase. Bonus: you’ll never have any trouble spotting your luggage on the baggage carousel again!

If you suspect you already have a problem with bed bugs in your home, don’t delay! Ambassador delivers state of the art methods in bed bugs treatment as well as preventative services to stop bed bugs before they start. Call us at 866-632-0088 for your Free On-Site Pest Inspection and Service Estimate.  100% Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed! We care about our pest control customers, and have been serving the West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Stuart, Palm City and Wellington areas for over 25 years.

If there's one type of pest that strikes fear into the hearts of Florida homeowners, it's got to be termites. There's good reason for concern, too. Each year, over five and a half billion dollars is spent by Americans attempting to repair the damage created by these insidious pests. Scariest of all? Check your homeowner's insurance policy - you'll find that termite damage isn't covered. You'll end up having to pay for it out-of-pocket.

And be prepared for sticker shock because those costs will take a big bite out of your wallet. The average amount the typical homeowner will end up having to shell out is estimated to be between $3000 and $8000! Considering these figures and the old adage that there are two types of homes in Florida; those that have termites and those that will get termites, it can be very discouraging.

Just how big of a problem are termites? Here are some shocking statistics about the termite population in Florida:

• Approximately 13-14 termite colonies can be found per acre
• There can be as many as 2.6 million termites per colony
• The queens are capable of laying more than 5,000 eggs per day
• Over 30% of all termite damage occurs in our state
• Each year, termite damage exceeds the damage of all natural disasters combined
• At least 2 million homes  will require termite treatment this year

The amount of damage a colony can inflict depends on which type of termites you have, the size of their colony, what the type and condition if of the wood, if there are any other food sources are available, not to mention the weather and temperature. On average, termite colonies take over five years to grow to a size that can cause damage.

A Formosan termite colony can be a bigger problem as they're generally larger than other subterranean colonies and thus can destroy more wood faster. It's been estimated that under ideal climate conditions, a Formosan colony requires less than six months to cause severe damage to a home. If this sort of infestation goes undetected and therefore untreated in warm, damp surroundings, a house can sustain significant damage in only two years.

What can I do about termites in my home? A termite infestation is definitely not a DIY project, and homeowners shouldn't try to go it alone. Specialized equipment and training is required to fully treat a termite problem, and time and money spent on trying to tackle this problem yourself will likely end up costing you much more in the long run. 

Ambassador Pest Management has over 25 years of experience in treating termites and other pests in the West Palm Beach, Stuart and Jensen Beach, Florida area. Call today for a free, no-obligation inspection and one of our certified technicians will come out to assess the extent of your problem and discus treatment options. Your satisfaction is guaranteed.  866-632-0088