Nature

This video is mislabeled as an experiment in unequal pay.  It is just natural social response behavior in small groups.

NOTE:  If you stayin Saint Louis you may want to avoid the Saum Apartments.  That is where I developed this process.

The solution that finally gave relief is diagrammed below. This trap works on the principle that bed bugs can not climb on slippery surfaces such as the plastic sheeting utilized. After implementing it the bedbugs that I found in the morning looked more emaciated by the week. At first they regularly showed up every morning.  Within 3 weeks they were not showing up in the morning any more on any sort of regular basis.  After about 1 month they stopped showing up in the morning except for one at the 2 month mark.   This solution is a good one because replacing the mattress would have resulted in it being infested by the hold outs in the carpet. 

PLEASE NOTE:  Your sheets and blankets must stay on the top flat surface of the bed. Avoid draping over the edge of the bed or you will give your little friends a way to latch on and climb up to feast on you.

This video shows how vulnerable they are to slippery surfaces.  Once on his back he can not right himself.

Links – In use

• AllerEase BedBug Mattress Cover
• Plastic sheeting wrapped around the mattress to cover sides with slippery material.  Realized this was a good technique after seeing how bedbugs can not move well in diatomaceous earth.  Highly effective.  Cheapest solution to avoid bites. Plastic Sheeting from Home Depot
• BedBug and Flea Insecticide – very short term in effects
• Diatomaceous Earth  – Mighty slow in effect.  Main effect I can see is that they can not get their footing.  They do not do well on slippery surfaces. You can fill in cracks but still not sure that helps.  Try the other stuff first.

Discontinued Strategies

• CO2 Alka Seltzer Bed Bug Trap – results:  One minor bug trapped.  Useless. Discontinued.
• Pf Harris BBTRP Bed Bug Traps – 2-Pack  This will be my indicator as to if they have returned.  On order.  Arrived: Useless.  No apparent baiting. Just a sticky surface for if they manage to track through.

Heating Strategies

Mattress Heating Strategy #1:  Plastic sealing up 10x10x10 cube around mattress and box spring. 2 1500 watt heaters on.  Only made it up to 94 degrees on a 70 degree day.  Need better heaters!.  Plastic Sheeting from Home Depot used.

Mattress Heat treat strategy parts required

• SSR (solid state relay)
• metal pipe 3 feet long minimum
• slippery box spring stands to get the bed up off the floor
• Heat gun

Other Strategies 

• BedBug Resistant BeautyRest Memory Foam Topper – Treated with neem oil  
• As Seen On TV FabriClear for Bed Bugs
• Neem Oil
• Bed Bug Patches – Vitamin  B1  Many doubters on the net

Locations

• Fenton Missouri Walmart
• Kirkwood Missouri Walmart

We are occupying BedBugLandia.  Thus the correct attitude is continuing vigilance. I woke up bite free after initial application of above noted measures. I found 2 bedbug Billys at the base of the bed.  Vacuumed around the base of the bed and did an inter mattress inspection.  It's going to be a long occupation.

Notes

• Adult bed bugs live about 10 months, though some may live substantially longer.  3 months is cited as a more reasonable figure in moderate weather.
• Bed bugs can live a year without feeding
• BedBugs on wikipedia

  

The simple truth is life was better there before "div__sity". 

    The moving rocks, also known as sliding rocks or sailing stones, are a geological phenomenon found in Racetrack Playa, a seasonally dry lake (a playa) located in the Panamint Mountains in Death Valley NationalPark, California. The rocks move across the surface of the playa, leaving long tracks behind them Read more…

On my run today I noticed alot of yellow with black stripe caterpillars on the creosote bushes along the jeep trail at south mountain park.   

I found this photo on the web.  It is a bit more green but is the caterpillar I saw.  Common Caterpillars of SE Arizona   ( amazing photos of Arizona Caterpillars )

This is what he turns into later in life.  

I have always liked moths.  They aren't as showy was a butterfly but they get the job done.

White-lined Sphinx moth, Hiles lineata