Hello :
From time to time someone tells me they're unable to view colors and graphics in the Newsletter but rather receive weird looking symbols, blue question marks, and other strange characters in the content. Here's the deal.
Viewing The Newsletter's Colors and Graphics: If your email program is set to receive all communication in "Text" this basically blocks colors, images, and formatting. The simple cure is to set your email client to receive in HTML. Here's how to do it using Outlook and Outlook Express which are the most popular email programs running on PCs.
- Outlook: In the menu bar at the top select "Tools" - click on "options" - click on "mail format" - select HTML
- Outlook Express: In the menu bar at the top select "View" then select "message in HTML".
If you're using a different email program contact their CS department and ask how to receive emails in HTML.
Bed Bugs: I thought you would be interested in some pertinent information about bed bugs since they are quite a popular topic of discussion, annoyance and confusion these days.
The Low-Down On Bed Bugs: Yup, these nasty fellas are baaaaaack, big time. All joking aside, bed bugs have recently resurged particularly throughout parts of North America, Europe, and Australia. They are most abundant in rooms where people sleep, easily hiding in bed frames, mattress, box springs and furniture close to the bed, in cracks, crevices, walls, and floors.
Sleep Tight...Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite: Most people have heard the cute phrase but don't actually realize that this statement is absolutely true without knowing what bed bugs are. Some characteristics of a bed bug are as follows:
- Wingless
- Six legs
- Large antennae
- A Squat head
- Large mandibles - mouth-parts
- A Complex life-cycle involving many stages of development
- Able to survive without feeding for months at a time
- Cannot survive temperature extremes
The most common bed bug is the Cimex Lectularius pictured here. It feeds on blood from warm-blooded mammals and humans and is most active during night when its host sleeps. Primary targets are shoulders and arms, but they're not particular.
Is a Bed Bug's Bite Poisonous? As the bed bug bites it painlessly sips a few droplets of blood and injects a small amount of saliva into the host's skin. Bites are not known to transmit infectious agents, but can cause irritation, itching, and burning sensations, as well as lead to bed bug allergy.
Identifying A Bed Bug Bite: The skin lesions left by a bed bug bite resemble those caused by many other blood feeding insects such as mosquitoes and fleas. This makes identifying the offending insect solely from its bite difficult. The following are characteristic of a bed bug bite:
- Large welts that reduce to a red mark and then gradually fade over a few days Itchiness
- Reddening of the skin
- Localized swelling
- Blisters around the bites
- Small loss of skin tissue in some cases
A physician should be consulted to rule out other causes for the lesions and to offer treatment as needed.
How Bed Bugs Invade a Residence or Facility: Bed bugs seek out places with high occupancy rates, e.g., hotels, hostels, motels, and apartments. They travel place to place and may stowaway in luggage, furniture, clothing, pillows, boxes, etc., when these are moved between locations. Wires, plumbing and gutters also make easy entry and transport points. Bed bugs can easily survive for many months without feeding and may already be present in places that appear clean to the naked eye.
Signs Of Infestation: Bed bugs should be suspected if residents complain of bites that occurred while sleeping. In such case the bedroom and other sleeping areas should be carefully examined for them and signs of their activity. Particular attention should be paid to the following areas where bed bugs and their eggs may likely be present:
- Folds and creases in bed linens
- Seams and tufts of mattresses and box springs
- Inside of curtain pleats
- Under loose areas of wallpaper near the bed
- In corners of desks and dressers
- Within spaces of wicker furniture
- Behind cove molding
- In laundry or other items on the floor or around the room
Other telling signs include:
- A peculiar sweet coriander-like odor typically associated with heavily infested residences
- Small bloodstains on the bedding
- Rusty or dark colored spots of bug excrement on mattresses and bedding
Take Action: If you suspect that bed bugs have invaded your residence an accurate identification of the species involved is essential to an effective control strategy. Many control failures result from an incorrect identification. If you are concerned contact me and let us make this critical identification on site, and if necessary, implement an effective control strategy.
Have a great Thanksgiving and be safe.
Your business is appreciated and will never be taken for granted.
Sincerely,
