You might have only found one or two small bites, but before you know it, these hitchhiking bloodsuckers will have multiplied into an itch-causing unstoppable force.
Bed bug problems in the home always start innocuously enough. Homeowners may notice a few itchy bites on their arms or legs, or some unexplained red or brown splotches on mattresses and linens. Maybe they have spotted a tiny, apple seed-sized insect crawling on a mattress or box spring. If these warning signs are not addressed immediately upon discovery, Manchester homeowners leave themselves open to the threat of a severe bed bug infestation.
Not only are bed bugs visible to the naked eye, but they are easy to identify. Flat, shield-shaped bodies are often brown or tan in color. About ¼ inches long, the pests are nocturnal and are particularly difficult to spot during the day. However, there are other ways to locate an underlying bed bug presence, including the whiff of musky odors or the discovery of exoskeleton piles.
Bed bugs are referred to by many as the vacationers' or travelers' pest due to their propensity to hitchhike from host to host. By lying in wait within a high-traffic location, bed bugs have the best chance of scoring a midnight snack. Crawling onto suitcases, pant legs, and other materials, bed bugs are both frightful and dangerous household pests to ‘entertain’ for any length of time.
Bed Bug Hot spots, And Other Sneaky Tactics
The best way to avoid bed bug transmission is to have a better understanding of where they tend to hide and gather. Keep these pointers in mind when scheduling trips, outings, or vacations to particular destinations. Remember that bed bug exposure does not necessarily equate to bed bug transmission.
Common bed bug “hot spot” areas generally include:
- Public transportation spaces, especially bus stations, airports, train terminals, and even some subways.
- Hotels, motels, and other short-term housing locales.
- Used goods, especially furniture or appliances.
Once they've found their target, bed bugs will latch themselves to luggage, purses, and even people to begin the transmission process. Thankfully, there are a few ways to keep them from coming home with you:
- When buying secondhand materials, look for signs of blood spotting from bed bug feeding, or small black excrement spots that the insects may have left behind. It is never recommended that you purchase mattresses or sheets from secondary sources, due to the ability for bed bugs to conceal themselves within the fibers.
- Take precautions for any venue you plan to stay in overnight. Keep on the lookout for odd scents, blood spots, or excrement patches on mattresses or pillows. Don’t allow luggage to touch the floor, instead store your bags on a high shelf or platform.
- Public transportation spaces are unavoidable, especially for those who are career travelers. Returning from a trip, wash all clothes on the highest, hottest setting, and be sure to clean yourself as well. High temperatures are very effective at killing hitchhiking bed bugs.
Concerned that bed bugs may have already settled down in your home? Stop worrying and take immediate action by scheduling a thorough home bed bug inspection through American Pest Solutions today.
Take Back Your Home With American Pest Solutions
Bed bugs are some of the most most hated pests in North America. Although there are many ways to prevent these bugs from getting into your home, no approach is entirely foolproof.
If bed bugs do make it into your home, contact the professionals at American Pest Solutions right away. The sooner we inspect and treat, the sooner bed bugs admit defeat.