![]() are several people affected or just a few? Where are incidents being reported? Is there an association between the onset of symptoms and certain maintenance activities, such as the installation of new carpet, or work on the heating and cooling system? Have there been birds, bats, rodents, or other animals that could possibly be harboring parasites? Such questions can yield important clues worthy of further investigation. It’s also important to consider the pattern of bites within the building – e.g. With a few notable exceptions (e.g., bed bugs, certain types of mites), most pests that bite humans are likely to be seen as the irritation is felt. One of the most important questions to ask is if anyone has actually seen or captured any bugs as the irritation is occurring. A questionnaire (see the bottom of this page for the questionnaire, or view this downloadable PDF version) can be helpful for gathering facts that may solve the mystery. In commercial settings such as an office building, this may involve talking with management as well as affected employees. To conduct a careful investigation, it is useful to interview the client before inspecting the premises. Additional (unnecessary) treatments may be requested thereafter whenever someone complains of an itch. Treating without a known target pest can mislead the client into thinking that spraying will fix the problem, which it seldom does. ![]() A thorough investigation is more likely to yield a solution. A good rule of thumb in such cases is that no pesticide should be applied unless biting pests or clear evidence of them are discovered or strongly suspected. Investigations should be thoughtful and systematic, ruling out likely possibilities through the process of elimination. The cause of perceived ‘bug-bites’ is often far from obvious. The following information is intended to help those who believe they have a biting pest problem where the source of irritation has not been identified. If no pests are found, the customer may need to see a dermatologist or other allied professional. Pest management professionals can usually provide relief if insects or mites are the culprit. ![]() It is important to realize that there are many causes of bite-like reactions - some of which are related to pests, and others that are not. Unless the underlying cause is discovered, the discomfort will likely continue. Unfortunately, pesticides might not be the answer. Even when no bugs are apparent, the annoyance can be enough to trigger a call to an exterminator. The irritation might be accompanied by welts, rash, itching, or perhaps the feeling that something is crawling over the skin. Nearly everyone experiences what seem like bug bites from time to time. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture ENTFACT-649 - MYSTERY BITES: Insect and Non-Insect Causes | Download PDF by Michael F.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |