“These little ants fried are amazing with a little guacamole. “And the worms, there are many different recipes for those.

She appeared on the David Letterman show, admittedly a while back, and shared her love of bugs and provided recipe ideas (more pest menu ideas here) – an interesting diet choice. And not one that interests me, unintentional entomphagy aside!

“Labor Day was first celebrated in New York City. In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.”

I had thought, probably as many Americans do, that Labor Day means: the end of Summer, back to school for kids, time to kick back into full gear at work, and the end of the traditional vacation season… Many Americans also look at Labor Day Weekend as the last hoorah for vacation getaways. People are looking to take one last trip at the end of summer, and also looking for a great deal as well. A lot of hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts offer end of season discounts for this weekend.

But here is where I caution you!  Watch where you choose to spend this vacation weekend! Unless you have removed yourself from all news sources the past several months, you’ve seen nothing but bed bugs. Bed bugs are everywhere – hotels, motels, homes, shops, movie theatres, etc.   These places are great sources for bed bug infestations which can spread rapidly.

Bed bug bites may result in an itchy welt, which causes discomfort and could even lead to secondary infection of the bite wound due to scratching.  Also, bed bugs do not discriminate. Do you think they care if they stay at a luxury vs. an economy hotel?  They merely hide out and wait for their next meal… or shall I say victim.

Am I advising you not to venture out someone this last great summer weekend?  Never.  But please take appropriate measures to protect yourself and family when you arrive at your destination. Check your room for tell tale signs of bed bugs.

One final point: Summer is winding down, with that a lot of seasonal pests are too – ants, flies, mosquitos, etc.  But does that mean bed bug activity will be winding down? Of course not! Bed bugs do not have “down time.”  Looking at the wiki information above, can we even hope for bed bug strike? Doubt it!

Secretly though, I was a little worried that the presentations would be terribly technical,  way over my head, and just a little bit boring!  I needn’t have worried; many of the topics were around “greener” pest control, and how the industry has evolved over the years to accommodate the changing laws and standards surrounding the use of chemicals.  Technical detail there was, but not enough to baffle, and I found the subject matter varied and interesting.

One particularly informative presentation was given by Professor Gerhard Verdoorn, an expert on chemicals who runs the Griffon Poisoning Centre, an NGO which deals with animal and human poisonings.  His presentation centred on those chemicals our industry is currently using which should – in his opinion – be banned by Government due to their potentially harmful effects on humans, animal and / or the environment.

I was interested to note that one of the chemicals he mentioned was Chlorpyrifos, an insecticide which has been used for decades, but which has recently been banned by the South African Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery.  The Minister banned the chemical for home and garden use, but it is, however, still allowed to be used for pest control in the agricultural sector.

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate that was popular in many home and garden pest control products.  As a result, it will take between 6 – 12 months for products containing Chlorpyrifos to be phased off the shelves.  As an organophosphate, it has many potentially harmful side effects, especially if applied incorrectly by an unlicensed operator or a DIY user.  Dr. Verdoorn made the point that while Government has banned the use of this chemical for domestic use, the fact that it is still available on the shelves and to the agricultural sector means that it is open to abuse by unscrupulous operators, and the public – as a result – are at risk. Read more here. I am very pleased to learn that Rentokil phased out the use of Chlorpyrifos ten years ago after we realised the potential danger this organophosphate can pose to people.

Should you need to use pesticides at home, here are a few tips to consider when purchasing them:

• Ensure the pesticide is registered for use against the pest you wish to control.
• Read the label very carefully, noting dilution and application rates.
• Note the active ingredient, ensuring that it is not an organophosphate.
• And lastly, if you have any doubts, always contact a registered, professional pest control company.
• Remember: always educate yourself before purchasing pesticides.

Stinging insects likes bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets are in a whole different category. Many people make the mistake of thinking they can buy some bug spray at the hardware store, spray it into the nest and be done with the problem. Not only is this ineffective, it is also highly dangerous – particularly for individuals who are allergic to stings. Someone who is not trained to deal with these stinging pests runs a high likelihood of releasing a swarm of very aggravated bugs, all of whom are anxious for revenge.

In almost all cases, you should call in the professionals when dealing with bees, wasps, hornets and the like. But before you call, it’s important to know what kind of stinging insect you are dealing with:

• Yellow jacket nests are made of a paper-like material. They are usually constructed underground, but can sometimes be found on exterior walls or woodpiles.
• Honeybees and bumblebees are usually non-aggressive. Generally, they will sting only when provoked. Wild honeybees live in colonies or “honeycombs” in hollow trees or cavities of buildings. We will often find a beekeeper to remove the hive.
• Wasps’ nests are also made of a paper-like material shaped in a circular comb of cells that open downward. Nests are often located under eaves, behind shutters, or in shrubs or woodpiles.
• Hornets are usually larger with gray or brown nests that are football-shaped and made of a paper material similar to that of yellow jackets’ nests. The hornet usually builds nests high above ground in trees, shrubbery, along rooftops or in tree hollows.

For your own safety, don’t mess with these pests. Let the professionals do it.

It seems no matter where you go on your travels, bed bugs & bed bug bites are the same all over. Bed bugs in the UK cause as much concern as they do in America, and bed bug bites are just as nasty too, no matter where in the world you happen to be bitten.

Bed bugs appear to be flavour of the month, or should that be Public Enemy Number 1, in the USA, and more specifically in New York at the moment.

Having made my first ever trip across to America for work earlier this month, I am very glad (and relieved) that I carried out my routine bed bug checks in the hotel I was staying, as I was not too far from New York state!

Although, it appears that I was far too naïve in my assumptions that bed bugs are a big concern only in motels & hotels, hospitals, college dorms, basically anywhere you sleep in a bed. Bed bugs can be transported on clothes too, which is seemingly how they got into one of the world’s most famous landmarks, the Empire State Building in New York. Nowhere is safe!

In these times of panic, the best thing to do is to arm yourself with as much information as possible, and know how to spot basic bed bug signs. Remember, don’t let the bed bugs bite!