TRAVEL TIPS TO AVOID BRINGING HOME BED BUGS
Summer travel is almost at its peak, which means that more people are out and about, taking trips across the country and abroad. This is significant in the pest control industry because it means that bed bug problems also peak, as these pests are unknowingly carried out of homes and into our communities. Bed bug problems tend to spike in the summer with the increase in travel, which means that you need to be on the lookout for these pests now more than ever.
There are several important things you should know about these bugs before you head off on your summer trip this year. You should first know what bed bugs look like. Once you arm yourself with knowledge of the biology of these pests, you should also know about their habits. Bed bugs are not a sign of uncleanliness; they don’t discriminate between clean and dirty environments and can be found anywhere that people are. Bed bugs are also shy; they like to hide away during the day time and typically only come out at night to feed on the blood of humans. They are sneaky too; you can find bed bugs in the strangest of places! They don’t just stick around beds, although you can find many of them in seams of mattresses, box springs and under bed linens. The strange places bed bugs have been found include behind picture frames on the wall, behind electrical outlets, in the seams of curtains or drapes, inside bedside alarm clocks and bedside tables as well as inside book bindings.
Knowledge about what bed bugs look like and their favorite places to hide can help you identify these pests in your summer travels. But you should also be aware of what signs of a bed bug infestation are. Below are some signs the local bed bug control experts at Viking Pest Control advise could mean you have a bed bug infestation.
- Dark reddish-brown spots on bed linens, mattresses or even upholstered furniture. These are bed bug fecal spots, which are basically just drops of blood.
- As bed bugs grow, they outgrow their skins, so you may see cast bed bug skins where these pests have been.
- Unidentifiable red bites on your body upon waking.
- In severe infestations, a musty odor reminiscent of over-ripe raspberries has been noted.
Recognizing any of these signs of bed bugs can mean that there is an infestation nearby and you will want to steer clear of the area as best you can. Before you return home, contact a pest control company like the friendly folks at Viking Pest Control to discuss what can be done to avoid bringing bed bugs back to your New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware or the Eastern Shore of Maryland home with you after your journey.
If you’re reading this blog because you think you have already brought bed bugs home; don’t stress! Let our pest control specialists deal with the problem! Our bed bug control services are effective and thorough, getting rid of all stages of bed bug life. Contact us today for more information on our bed bug control and what we can do to help you with bed bug problems inside your NJ, PA, MD or DE home.
Call Viking at 800-618-2847 to learn more about bed bug control and extermination services, or get a fast, free quote online today!
