Summertime is a wonderful time of year, but there are some things you need to know as summer winds down and you are headed out to that last summer vacation or your return back to school or college. The question is, do you know what bed bugs look like? This is pertinent information so that you can avoid bringing them back from vacation or bringing them with you to school, you will want to get the facts.
Here is how to identify bed bugs and bed bug infestations:
- Adults are small, they are about 1/4” long, brownish in color, flat and oval
- Nymphs are even smaller in size, they are pinhead size up to 1/4”, light brown, translucent if newly hatched they are flat and oval
- Eggs are very small, about 1 mm, they are whitish in color and hard to see on surfaces
- Immature bed bugs after a blood meal are bright red
- They leave bite marks on your skin that swell and fecal blood stains on bedding and walls
- They shed their exoskeletons and leave their dead bed bug carcasses behind
It will also be important know how to check for bed bugs in any overnight accommodations. Be thorough by using a flashlight, look in the bed frame, under the frame, under and around the headboard. Look behind pictures and wall clocks. That’s not the only place to look, you will also need to check for bed bugs when using any type of public transportation, public libraries and movie theaters. Keep all of your personal items and clothing in your luggage and check for bed bugs on your clothing and shoes before returning home. Be vigilant about checking luggage and washing clothing immediately after returning home after vacation and when headed back to school.
Bed bugs are becoming a growing problem worldwide and getting rid of them is definitely not an easy task. Enlisting the help of an experienced bed bug control professional is the most effective solution to any bed bug problem. Here at American Pest Solutions, in Connecticut and Massachusetts, you can count on us for all of your pest control needs. Give us a call today to learn about our residential and commercial pest control services.