Kids coming back home from college dorms this summer? Planning a family vacation? You’re going to want to know these things before any moving or travelling happens.
Rose is happy to raise awareness for bed bugs this week. We’re firm believers that education is the first line of defense against pests. Here are some valuable bed bug facts and tips to ensure you won’t become the next victim…
Bed Bug Facts
• Bed bugs primarily feed on humans but can also feed on warm-blooded animals including birds, mice, and family pets.
• Bed bugs are found worldwide and are thought to have come to the US from Europe in the 17th century.
• Adults are just under a 1/4” long and are relatively flat, nearly as wide as long, and oval in shape compared to most other insects.
• The color is brown to reddish brown. The body may have short golden hairs and will exude a “sickening sweet” smell from glands on its body. There are many types of bed bugs and related insects.
• A female bed bug can lay more than 500 eggs over its lifetime and each bed bug will molt or shed its shell five times as it grows.
• A blood meal is required for a bed bug to molt. If blood meals become scarce, bed bugs can slow their life process until a blood meal source is found, often surviving several months without a meal.
• The saliva of the bed bug may cause a swelling on many people when they are bitten but they do not leave a wound. Swelling may include redness in some sensitive people.
Everyday Prevention Tips
It is important to be aware of ways to prevent bed bugs in your everyday life. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
• Vacuum suitcases after returning from a vacation.
• Check home and/or hotel sheets for tell-tale blood spots.
• Consider bringing a large plastic trashbag to keep your suitcase in during hotel stays.
• Carry a small flashlight to assist you with quick visual inspections.
• Never bring second-hand furniture, especially mattresses and box springs, into a home without thoroughly examining for signs of a bed bug infestation. You might consider having a pest control professional inspect the furniture as it is difficult to detect an infestation without training.
• Regularly inspect areas where pets sleep for signs of bed bugs.
• Bed bugs are elusive creatures, so it is imperative to seek professional pest control assistance to address an infestation.
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