Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite during Summer Travel

Summer travel means a higher chance of coming into contact with bed bugs who love the warmth and are great at hitchhiking. It’s important to check your room and belongings for these blood-sucking insects when traveling and once returning home. To promote public awareness and to help avoid infestations, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has declared June 3-9, 2018 as Bed Bug Awareness Week. Thrasher Termite & Pest Control is joining NPMA in this public education effort by sharing key bed bug hiding spots to look out for.

Despite their name, bed bugs can be found on chairs, couches, airports, movie seats, lounges, restaurant booths, and virtually anywhere people tend to gather. Be sure to properly check your accommodations when traveling and check your belongings for bed bugs when you get home. If a bed bug infestation is suspected, call us right away to assess the situation.

Thrasher Termite & Pest Control recommends that you check the following hiding spots for bed bugs in a room:

1. Thoroughly inspect the entire room for bed bugs before unpacking, including behind the headboard, under lights, inside dressers and drawers, sofas, and chairs.
2. Pull back the sheets and inspect the mattress seams and box springs, particularly at the corners, for pepper-like stains, spots, or shed bed-bug skins.
3. Place suitcases in a plastic trash bag during the duration of the trip to ensure that bed bugs cannot take up residence there prior to departure.
4. Bed bugs can easily hitchhike via housekeeping carts, luggage and even through wall sockets. If an infestation is spreading, it typically does so in the rooms closest to its origin.
5. These pests like to hide in small cracks and crevices close to a human environment. They can be found behind baseboards, wallpaper, upholstery, and furniture crevices.

A small flashlight is a great thing to have with you when traveling to help with your bed bug inspection, as bed bugs are very tiny and can often be hard to spot right away.

For more bed bug tips, check out the content at PestWorld.org.