Insecticide foggers, also known as total release foggers or “bug bombs” (Figure 1), are popular products widely available in many retail nurseries and garden centers as well as drug stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores. These easy-to-use products may seem to provide an easy way to kill a lot of bugs fast and may be viewed as more convenient and cheaper than hiring a pest management professional. But do they work?

Are Foggers Effective?

Foggers can be used effectively to kill pests that are flying around or resting on surfaces, like flies, but there are better long-term and more effective...

Human lice (singular “louse”) are parasitic insects found on people. Adult lice are small (about 1/8 inch (3 mm) long or less) wingless insects that move by crawling. There are three species of lice that exclusively feed on humans: the head louse, the body louse, and the crab or pubic louse.

The head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) and the body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus) are members of the same species, but the crab (pubic) louse (Pthirus pubis) is from a different insect family. All are pests of public health importance. Treatment is usually prescribed by medical professionals and should be focused on the infested person and their belongings. Use the following descriptions to...

Most pest management professionals have served clients who swore they were being bitten by unseen pests. Perhaps the usual suspects (bed bugs, fleas, and mosquitoes) were ruled out by thorough inspection and monitoring devices. But what about mites? There are several species of mites known to bite humans within homes and other structures, many times causing significant physical symptoms and psychological distress. Clients can easily fall prey to misinformation online when learning about these tiny pests, however, so be prepared to educate them and help them solve their problem.

In all cases, biting mites found indoors are blood-sucking nest parasites of other animals living...