During the summer most people travel more often since their kids are out of school. The more you travel, the more likely you are to come across bed bugs. When someone mentions bed bugs it likely makes your skin crawl. The thought of bugs sleeping in your bed with you is simply disgusting. Today A-Tex Pest Management is going to talk to you all about bed bugs so that you will know what to do the next time that you encounter one.
How Can You Tell if it’s a Bed Bug?
Bed bugs are small, brown, oval shaped insects. They live on the blood of animals and humans. Young bed bugs, called nymphs, shed their skin five times before they reach full maturity. Before they shed their skin they require a meal of blood. Adult bed bugs have flat bodies that are similar in size to an apple seed. Their bodies swell and change from brown to a reddish color after they have fed on some blood. Female bed bugs lay hundreds of eggs during their lifetime.
Where is the Best Place to Look for Bed Bugs?
Being aware of what bed bugs look like will help you identify bed bugs in your home or a place that you are staying on vacation. We recommend that when you get to any hotel that you check for bed bugs. Check the furniture, beds, and couches for signs of a bed bug infestation. You will want to carefully inspect the seams of chairs and couches, between the cushions, in the folds of curtains, and on the mattress.
How to Check for Bed Bugs
If there are bed bugs you will notice rusty or reddish stains on the sheets or mattress. Very small dark spots on fabric are also an indicator of a bed bug infestation. You may notice the skin that the young bed bugs have shed on the beds or furniture. The skins are very tiny and yellow in color. You may also see live bed bugs moving around when you are inspecting the room. If you see any of these signs you will want to ask for a room change if you are at a hotel.
How Do You Inspect for Bed Bugs?
Sometimes even the best inspection does not uncover bed bugs. If the bed bugs have not infested the room you may not notice any signs because the bed bugs are excellent at hiding. If you accidentally bring bed bugs home from your trip you may eventually see signs of bed bugs in your home after you return from your trip. We recommend vacuuming your suitcases when you arrive home from your vacation to make sure that bed bugs do not enter your home.
Can Second Hand Furniture have Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs frequently find their way into your home when you purchase secondhand furniture. You may not have been looking for signs of bed bugs or noticed that they were on the furniture, but if they are on the piece of furniture you purchase they will start to infest your home. Check all secondhand furniture every carefully before bringing it into your home.
Bed Bug Pest Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park Texas
If you follow these tips hopefully you will not end up with bed bugs in your home. If you do end up with bed bugs in your home A-Tex Pest Management can help you get rid of them. Give us a call right away and we can come out and help you take care of them.
