The old-time expression “don’t let the bed bugs bite” has taken on a new meaning recently as these unwanted guests can hitchhike their way into your home from hotel rooms, rented houses & condos, families’ houses, and college dorms.
What Are Bed Bugs And What Do They Look Like?
Bed bugs, a classic travel pest, are small parasitic insects that feed on human blood. Bed bugs are tiny, oval, brown and wingless insects approximately 1/4” to 3/8” long (5-9 mm). As their name implies, these bloodsuckers make their homes in beds, but also in couches, clothing and seats of airplanes and trains. They crawl out of crevices to feed on blood and these painless attacks generally go undetected until a reaction to the bites appears or evidence of bed bugs is found in the bedding.
What Can I Do To Protect Myself?
When checking into a hotel room, apartment or house, you can perform a simple bed bug inspection of the space.
- Pull pillows and sheets down about 1/3 of the way from the top of the bed and look for reddish-brown or black spots on the sheets near the bed’s headboard. You may not see the actual bugs themselves but they do leave a trail of spots.
![bed bugs]()
- Look for spots on mattresses, pillows, headboards and walls behind headboards.
- Check the inside of dresser drawers for insects and black spots.
- Contact a pest services company immediately if you’ve found any signs of bed bugs during your inspection.
If I Suspect Bed Bugs In A Room, What Should I Do?
- Isolate the items that have been infested from other items in your living space.
![bed bugs]()
- Put clothing and other heat tolerant items in a clothes dryer for a minimum of 40 minutes – the heat will eliminate bed bugs.
- After thoroughly heating the items, wash as normal.
- Contact Massey Services for a free bed bug inspection of your home.
The post The Facts on Bed Bugs appeared first on Massey Services, Inc..