The holiday travel season is upon us. Whether you’re planning on a trip over the holidays or you’ve got kids coming home from college, the last thing you want to encounter during the busy holiday season is a bed bug problem.
Bed bugs are hitchhiking pests, which travel to new places on humans and their belongings. Once thought of as a problem for hotels, bed bug infestations are now commonly discovered in other public areas such as libraries, government buildings, public transportation, movie theaters, retail stores, professional offices, and colleges and primary schools.
Adult bed bugs are visible to the human eye and approximately ¼-inch long by 1/8-inch wide – about the size of an apple seed. Adults are typically brown or reddish-brown in color; bed bug nymphs may be lighter or translucent.
As bed bugs increase, so do the chances of them making their way into your home. A bed bug infestation can be costly to eliminate and can even involve discarding furniture! Our expert, entomologist Judy Black, offers these tips for reducing the risk of bed bugs coming to your home for the holidays.
IN HOTELS
- Place your luggage on non-upholstered furniture away from the bed, such as a desk. If using a luggage rack, inspect it for bed bugs.
- Pull back the corners of bedding on the bed and check the mattress and box spring for bed bugs or signs of bed bugs. Pay special attention to seams, where bed bugs like to hide. If you notice black marks on the mattress, that could be an indication of a problem.
- Inspect the night stand for signs of bed bugs.
AFTER TRAVEL
- Immediately inspect your suitcase for signs of bed bugs when you return home. Place all your clothing from the baggage in the clothes dryer for 15 minutes on high heat, even if you didn’t wear them.This can kill any bed bugs that may have snuck into your luggage.
COLLEGE-AGE CHILDREN & GUESTS IN YOUR HOME
- College kids coming home? Tell them to inspect any belongings they are bringing home for signs of bed bugs first, especially if there has been a documented bed bug problem in their dormitory or apartment.
- Remember that any guests can inadvertently bring bed bugs into your home. It’s a good idea to perform an inspection of sleep areas after you’ve had visitors.
If you suspect you may have a bed bug issue, Western Exterminator is here to help. We’ve got years of experience resolving bed bug problems. Contact us today!
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