As many students are well into their way in a new semester at college, they may also encounter some unexpected and unwanted guests. Bed bugs infest literally thousands of hotels a year and are extremely difficult to control in multi-unit housing such as those found in dormitories and apartments in or near college campuses. Bed bugs multiply at an alarming rate with females laying as many as 500 eggs during their lifespan. Bed bugs are supreme hitchhikers who will literally hitch a ride on luggage, clothing, bedding, boxes of books and furniture. Once on site, they can easily spread between student housing, catching a ride on clothing, books and other belongings. Even more alarming, bed bugs can also spread through air ducts, and the buildings electrical and plumbing systems. Cleanliness is not a factor, so even those students living in a room doused with Lysol are not immune. If you have bed bugs in your dorm room, chances are the rooms adjacent, above and below will have them as well!
Can You Get Diseases from Bed Bugs?
Bedbugs may not transmit disease but they can psychologically traumatize their victims. Bed bugs are approximately the size of an apple seed and are a light red to reddish-brown in color. They are nocturnal in natural and will feed on human blood between three and ten minutes at a time. While most people don’t have any physical reactions the bite of a bed bug may result in itchy, red welts. For others the experience of bed bugs having once fed on their blood leaves them feeling as though something is constantly crawling on their skin especially at night.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs at School
The good news is that you can take a proactive stance to help protect yourself from the risk of bedbugs.
• Check your room the day you move into your dorm. Check the mattress and furniture for signs of bed bugs including discarded shells, small blood stains the size of a pin head and a musty odor which smells sweet.
• Scan your textbooks – It is not unheard of for bed bugs to be transported from one place to another via used text books or books loaned from the library.
• Wash used clothing – if you have purchased clothing from consignment stores or thrift stores, wash them immediately in warm soapy water before wearing them or packing them for transport back-to-college
• Don’t leave clothing or backpacks on the floor -hang as many items as you can in your dorm room to lower the chance of picking up bed bugs and other pests
• Don’t allow your backpack to come into contact with other people’s backpacks or purses during class, on the transit system, coffee shop, library or any other public places.
Bed Bug Pest Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park Texas
If you suspect a bed bug infestation in your college dorm room or apartment, contact your campus director or landlord immediately. Bed bugs are extremely difficult to eradicate and will require the help of your professional A-Tex Pest Management technician. If you have experienced bed bugs in your college dorm or apartment in Austin, Texas, contact the knowledgeable experts at A-Tex Pest Management today for immediate assistance.
