Bed bugs seem to be taking over homes and hotels across the country. Their ever growing presence is making people everywhere squirm. Your attention has been brought to the risk of bed bugs in many vacation rentals and hotels, but did you ever think you needed to be concerned while camping? Yep that’s right, they are even a problem for campers. A-Tex Pest Management is here to help you avoid a bed bug infestation on your next camping trip.
Bed Bug Facts
• Bed bugs are nocturnal, and for this reason can be hard to spot during the day even though they can be seen by the naked eye.
• Bed bugs are often associated with filth, however, bed bugs can just as easily infest a clean space. As long as humans are present, which is their food source, they can be present as well.
• Bed bugs are small, about ¼ inch long. They have a reddish brown color, but after they feed on human blood, they are a dark brown color and swell up.
• Bed bugs do not jump or fly. To transfer from host to host, they usually do so by crawling.
How to Avoid Bed Bugs While Camping
Following are some tips to avoid bringing bed bugs home from your next camping trip.
1. Know how to identify them. By knowing what they look like, you can better avoid them.
2. Check your sleeping bag for any bed bugs before crawling in to go to sleep.
3. Keep your shoes in a bed bug proof, laundry bag when you aren’t using them.
4. Pack rubbing alcohol. If you find any eggs, they can be killed with the use of rubbing alcohol.
5. Make sure your tent has been waterproofed. If it is at all possible, you should keep your tent sealed and closed.
What Should I Do if I Found Bed Bugs?
It is crucial that you inspect all camping gear thoroughly when you arrive at home. This is best done outdoors without bringing anything into your house. If you find evidence of bed bugs, washing clothes and other equipment, safe to put in your washing machine, in water hotter than 120 degrees Fahrenheit is a very effective way to get rid of them. Clothes or other equipment that you can’t wash but can put in your dryer, should be dried on the highest setting for at least 20 minutes. For items that you are unable to put in your washer or dryer, wrap in plastic and place in an enclosed vehicle if you are dealing with a hot summer day. You want the inside of the car to reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit to kill bed bugs. It is important to monitor your progress with a thermometer if you are taking this route. If you don’t hit that target temperature the bed bugs will still be alive.
Bed Bug Pest Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park Texas
When bed bugs make their way into your home, they can prove very difficult to get rid of. It is almost impossible to eradicate the problem on your own. A-Tex Pest Management has knowledgeable technicians with the proper training and tools to get rid of any bed bug infestations you may have. Call us today!
