Bed Bugs Don’t Invade In The Same Way As Other Pests
When a spider wants to get into your home it looks for gaps, cracks, and openings to crawl through. The same is true for ants, centipedes, beetles, cockroaches, and many other pests. Bed bugs, on the other hand, do not get into homes in this way. Instead, they rely on the strength of humans and cover random items such as baskets of clothing, electronics, and used furniture provides them. In short, bed bugs hitchhike rides from unwilling travelers like you and hideaway on everyday items to sneak their way into homes.
Hot Spots For Bed Bug Activity
Because bed bugs use people and the items they carry to get around, it is only natural for more of these pests to exist in areas of heavy foot traffic. Hospitals, hotels, schools, libraries, theaters, public transportation, and daycares are just a few hotspots where bed bugs are more likely to be.
Identifying Bed Bugs
To effectively stop bed bugs from getting into your home, you have to first know how to identify these pests. Of course, this starts with knowing what bed bugs look like. Identify one of these sleep-wrecking insects by its reddish-brown, oval-shaped, apple seed-sized body. Another way to identify bed bugs is by the signs they leave behind which include blood stains on bed coverings, reddish-black fecal droppings around living areas, and cream-colored, almost seethrough eggs inside cracks and crevices.
How To Avoid Bringing Home Bed Bugs
Now that you know how bed bugs get around and how to identify them, let’s talk about some practical ways to avoid bringing these pests home with you. To start, let’s discuss travel. When taking trips away from home, thoroughly check the rooms you will be staying in for bed bugs and the signs they leave behind. If you find anything suspicious, request to change rooms. Before packing up to come home, bundle up your used clothing and store it inside a sealable plastic bag.
Once you get home, remove it directly into the wash and run it on high heat. This will kill any bed bugs that might be hiding inside of it. As a general rule, check items you plan on buying, such as used furniture, clothing, and electronics for signs of bed bugs before buying and bringing them home. Finally, teach your family and friends about bed bugs. The more they know, the less likely they will be to bring these pests into your Chicago home.
What To Do About A Bed Bug Infestation
If you keep waking up with bites on your skin, bloodstains in your bed, and are noticing other signs of bed bug activity around your home, it is time to give the professionals a call. At Aerex Pest Control, we offer comprehensive services to eliminate bed bugs and would be happy to put our experience to use around your Chicago home.
Reach out to our team today to schedule your home for a detailed pest inspection.