It’s time to make plans to get away this summer! And whether you are just going a few hours down the road or flying to a faraway place, our Wisconsin pest control team at Wil-Kil Pest Control wanted to remind you of the importance in learning how to inspect for bed bugs before you leave.
Once you have arrived at your hotel or other travel destination, it is important to keep all of your luggage outside of the room until you have completed your inspection. Bed bug eggs are sticky so if there is an infestation in the room and you wheel your luggage in, you could already be setting yourself up to bring bed bugs home.
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Use a flashlight to thoroughly inspect the nooks and crannies of the room. Many people assume that just checking the beds is enough but did you know that bed bugs don’t just occupy mattresses and box springs? They also hide in dark, hidden areas around the room including nightstands, upholstered furniture and behind wall hangings and only come out at night when they sense humans breathing out carbon dioxide.
In addition to the hiding places mentioned above, common places where bed bugs tend to hide include:
- Headboards
- Under carpets
- Along baseboards
- Behind mirrors or hanging artwork
- In electrical outlets
Of course, it is always a good idea to inspect the bed but don’t forget all these other target areas!
So, what exactly are you looking for? Since bed bugs are most likely hiding, we rely on the evidence that bed bugs leave behind in order to detect their presence. Here are the common signs of a bed bug infestation:
- Dark spots on bedding – After feeding on human blood, bed bugs may leave tiny spots of blood or fecal matter on the sheets and mattress. This is a good indicator that there are bed bugs in the room.
- Light brown colored exoskeletons – As bed bugs grow through their different life stages, they shed their skins. So another sign of bed bugs in the room is if you find these tiny, light brown colored skins on or near the mattress.
- Live bed bugs themselves – In the case of a severe infestation when bed bugs don’t have a good place to hide they may end up living right on the mattress or more in the open where you can actually see the live bugs themselves.
- Waking to itchy red welts on the skin – If you went to bed bite free and woke to welts on the skin, this could mean bed bugs have found you. Keep in mind though, not everyone has a reaction to bed bug bites so you cannot rely on bites alone.
Now that you know what to look for and exactly where to look, you should be well prepared for your next summer getaway. There is no reason why bed bugs should be a part of your vacation so make sure that you do your part in inspecting for them and you can rest easy knowing that bed bugs are not going to bite.
If you do come home and happen to notice any of the above signs of bed bugs, please contact us right away at Wil-Kil Pest Control. We offer both bed bug canine inspections and bed bug heat treatments so that you can get rid of bed bugs fast and effectively.
Contact us today to learn more about bed bug control in Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Eau Claire and throughout our Upper Midwest service area.