Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are now in the news all the time.
I was going to write a blog to filter the Bed bug hype from facts, but find this unnecessary.
In this case I will just send you to this Bed bug link that I have read and find to be accurate and informative.
http://www.medicinenet.com/bed_bugs/article.htm#tocb
There is a lot of Bed bug information on this site so I will just give you a quick few of important snippets here.
1: Bed bugs at this time are not known to spread any human diseases.
2: The best way to deal with the Bed bug problem is not to invite them into your home.
So when you visit somewhere (such as a hotel) that may have Bed bugs keep your clothes, purses, luggage or whatever, off the bed or any other area that may host Bed bugs. A closet, or draw are good places to keep your items. You may want to travel with some large garbage bags and keep your things in them during your stay. Wash; or put all cloths that may have been exposed to Bed bugs in these bags, shower and put on clean unexposed clothing before returning home.
Visitors to your home that may be from infested areas should be made aware that they are to wear and bring only cleanly laundered cloths. Also you may want to keep anything they bring in an area other then a bed room.
3: The quality and cleanliness of a room do not have any influence on the chances of it harboring Bed bugs.
4: Bed bugs can only travel to your home if something gives them a lift.
5: There are no repellents or chemical preventatives at this time for this pest so don't fall for any sales pitches of these.
6: Once you have Bed bugs in your home they are difficult to get rid of. I usually try to recommend stuff you can do yourself, but sorry in this case I have to say it would be best to use a professional.
7: One good thing about Bed bugs is that they are the perfect excuse to refuse visits from that crazy relative.
PS (crazy relatives don't be offended, I am one.)

Disclaimer: If and when I send you to a site I am only saying that to the best of my knowledge I find the information accurate and valuable. I am not vouching for the site, nor specifically any of the advertisements on said site.

Howling at the moon while wearing a tutu and other miracle cures.
Before I go on, know that I am fully in favor of natural ways to control diseases and insects or to keep plants healthy and I always like to find ways to substitute such methods for conventional chemicals. That said it also annoys me to see the amount of snake oil sold to the uninformed.  That said it also annoys me to see the amount of snake oil sold to the uninformed.

So how do I determine if a new miracle product is worth a try?
First through my experience and education I look for a reasonable explanation of why it might work.
Second I look for independent scientific studies and if I can find more than one or two I look for a consensus.
Third I look to other trusted people who have tried the method or product.
And fourth because I am in business I look at cost benefit analysis to other methods. This may not be important to someone else, and indeed in my own yard is not a big factor.

Lets take three scenarios and see how this works for me.
1. A few people have told me that applying Wilt Pruf periodically before rain will help control Black Spot on roses.
My experience and education tell me that there is a reason why this could work. Black Spot is a water transmitted disease, thus if a waxy coating is on the leaf when the spore hits it the hyphae might not be able to grow through it.
I checked for scientific studies and can find none for or against this claim.
I talked to some people I trust and found that they do believe it is a benefit.
Wilt Pruf is expensive, but for reasons not relevant to this writing it was worth a try.
I have tried it and believe it does what I have been told. When I tell others of this claim I tell them that I believe it works but that my experience is not by any means scientific.
By the way applying any product not for the use intended is against the law so apply Wilt Pruf to deter wilting, as I did, and if it happens to control Black spot then all is good.

2. I hear that Corn gluten is a good pre-emergence weed killer.
My experience and education tell me that there is no good reason this will work, but also I know nothing of the theory so have no solid reason why it will not.
I checked for research and can find one study from the University of Iowa that claims it works. (Hmm interesting, what do they grow in Iowa?) The majority of studies give no credence to this research. The consensus is that though it has some limited control on some weeds it is a poor pre-emergence weed killer.
I checked with people who have actually tried it and I gathered from what I heard that the only way this product might work is if they left the unopened bag on the ground, no weeds would grow underneath it.
Corn gluten is expensive and I like my wallet full more than I dislike weeds.
I have no intention of trying this product unless I hear compelling scientific evidence that I am wrong.

3. I read on the Internet that howling at the moon while wearing a tutu will stop Borers infesting my Pumpkins.
Through my education and experience I see no reasonable reason why this would work and can think of many reasons why it won’t.

I checked for scientific studies and surprisingly enough could find none.
I asked people I trusted and they are now inquiring about having me committed.
I don’t think that tutus are very expensive so cost is not a factor.
Once again there is no reason to try this method except that it might annoy my neighbor who is a perpetual pain in the but.

So in conclusion do your research before spending your hard earned cash on the newest miracle product.