Bug bugs. Just the sound of these two words is enough to make your skin crawl. Although these pests aren’t known to transmit diseases, they can leave behind itchy, bothersome bites that can be a menace to deal with.
If you travel frequently or are simply worried about bringing bed bugs home, you might wonder what causes these insects to infest a space. So, how do you get bed bugs, and how can you avoid an infestation? Don’t worry; we’ll review everything you need to know below.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small, wingless insects attracted to warm-blooded animals — and, of course, humans. Unfortunately, since these pests are so tiny, they can be difficult to spot and easy to miss when you’re traveling or staying at a hotel.
Bed bugs are also drawn to bed frames, mattresses, and box springs. As such, one of the most common signs of bed bugs is fecal spotting on bed sheets when an infestation is present. Ultimately, the best way to remove this problem from your home is to call pest control professionals for assistance.
Are you sitting there, asking, how do you get bed bugs? First, you’ll want to use this helpful guide to learn more about the insects in question:
What Causes Bed Bugs?
As we mentioned above, bed bugs can be an easy thing to miss. When these insects latch onto our clothing and personal belongings, they can take over our homes without us even realizing it. That is — until it’s too late.
Before discussing how to avoid bed bugs, it’s important to know where these pests come from. So, how do you get bed bugs in the first place? Unfortunately, they can be found lurking in many different places.
Traveling
The unfortunate truth is that bed bugs can be found almost anywhere. If you’re traveling, these insects could take up residence in your hotel room, waiting to hitch a ride. These pests love to hide in all kinds of small spaces, so they can also be found on public transportation.
Visiting Public Spaces
Hotel rooms and public transportation aren’t the only places where you’ll find bed bugs. These insects can also lurk in your favorite movie theater, restaurant, or café. Although bed bugs can’t fly, they certainly know how to move quickly, so it may only take a few moments for them to latch onto your clothing, handbag, or backpack. It’s important to remember that infested areas come in all shapes and sizes.
Living Near an Infestation
If you currently live in an apartment building or frequently stay at hotels when you go on vacation, you might be unhappy to learn that bed bugs can travel between rooms. So, if there happens to be a bed bug infestation in the apartment or room next to yours, there’s a chance that these insects could eventually make their way into your space.
Now that you know where these pests come from and how they can potentially end up in your home, you’re probably wondering how you can prevent them. Fortunately, we’re going to go over how to avoid bed bugs in detail.
How Do You Prevent Bed Bugs?
Although these insects can leave a great deal of chaos and discomfort in their wake, you might be happy to know that learning how to avoid bed bugs is fairly easy. There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure one of these pests doesn’t hitch a ride home on your next vacation or weekend excursion.
Be Mindful of Your Luggage
Let’s start with your luggage. If you tend to throw your luggage on your hotel room bed, you should consider using a luggage rack instead. When you place your luggage on your bed, you can give these insects easy access to your belongings and clothing. Although a luggage rack is a much better option, it’s important to mention that they aren’t invulnerable to bed bugs. Sometimes, these pests can latch onto the straps on the rack, so you should inspect any racks before using them.
Protect Your Clothes
Leaving your clothes on the floor or on the bed can cause bugs to hide among them. When traveling, you should consider placing your clothes in a sealed plastic bag. You might sometimes find these airtight plastic bags in your hotel closet among the hangers.
Use Caution When at Home
If you’re bringing new upholstered furniture into your home, always inspect the pieces for bed bugs beforehand. It’s also a good idea to clean your home and your clothes frequently. When washing your clothes, especially after traveling, consider running the load in hot water to kill any potential bed bugs. These insects aren’t known to survive high temperatures.
Have a Bed Bug Problem? Call the Pros!
So, how do you get bed bugs? As you can see, these pesky insects can travel far and wide, wreaking havoc in everything from hotel rooms to movie theaters. If you’re experiencing bed bug bites, have spotted droppings on your bed, or have encountered another sign of bed bugs in Fresno, don’t hesitate to call a pest management expert for help.
Although it can be helpful to know how to avoid bed bugs, an unexpected infestation can still occur. Fortunately, this is where Dustin Pest Control can help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a bed bug exterminator in Fresno!