Eco Bug Doctor!

Monday, Jun. 15, 2009 | 05:50 PM AT

I'm a pretty live and let live kinda girl, but I'll freely admit that bed bugs freak me out. If you've ever woken up with limbs that feel like they're on fire from within, you know what I'm talking about. Scary. What's even scarier is the lengths that people will go to to get rid of bugs (bed or otherwise). Although that might be the sleep deprivation talking...

Have an insect or rodent problem but don't like the idea of toxic chemicals?
Just call the Eco Bug Doctors! They're a family of entomologists who specialize in non-toxic pest control. The best part is that they're MORE likely to rid you of your problem permanently. That's because they get to the source of it instead of treating just the symptoms.

Meet the Maloneys
They're Paul (Dad), Laurel and Tim. They are committing to ridding you of your bug issues forever--without causing unecessary bloodshed. In fact, what's wonderful about their method is that they take into consideration the important part that each insect species plays in the overall picture and then try to find ways to work WITH nature instead of against it.

What's different about the Eco Bug Doctors?

They will give your building a once-over: Seriously, this is the most important step of all, and it's why they can offer you a permanent solution. They assess your building for structural damage. If carpenter ants are eating your beams, they'll show you how to get rid of the water damage or rotten wood at source. And if you have holes in your walls, they'll fix that too so rats and sqirrels can't squat in your attic.

They use "biological controls": No Agent Orange here. What this means is that if you're having a problem with one sort of bug, they'll introduce a safe (and indigenous) predator to keep it in check. So for example, if you have too many aphids in your garden, they'll get you some pretty ladybugs or lacewings.

They use diatomaceous earth: Despite the long and complex name, this is actually a perfectly natural product. DE is the fossilized remains of uni-celled algae. The reason it's safe is because it's non-toxic to humans and other mammals (though it's a lung irritant, so it's best to wear a mask while dusting it about). It works because it's lipophyllic. This means it loves fat. So it'll dry out your skin (just uncomfortable, not deadly), but it will eat into the waxy coating on a bug's exoskeleton. This causes them to dehydrate and die. And for some reason, they can't seem to develop a defense against it. Best of all, once it's blown into the nooks and crannies of your home, it's there forever! It stays effective for years and years, giving creepy crawlies nowhere to hide.

They don't harm mice and squirrels: Instead of using poison bait and horrible traps, they build one-way gates. This allows rodents to leave your home but not to get back in. No traps, no problem. And nobody gets hurt.

They have a canine squad! This is the part that totally got me! They have a pair of trained golden labs called Pan and Gaia who sniff out bedbugs! They're nothing short of amazing (and very, very cute).

So there you go. Would you still stick with your chemical exterminator? Or would you switch to greener methods? Leave me a comment or call (514) 597-5626

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