Hotels are our go-to places when we are far away from home on vacation or a work trip. We want to stay at a place that is clean, safe, and secure. Like our homes, we want our hotel rooms to give us the feeling of leisure and not worry about anything else. Unfortunately, some of these places have bed bugs. These bugs will indeed cause us annoyance and itchiness all over our bodies. This is something that we want to avoid and not find in the places we stay in. Hotel and motel rooms are ideal for these pests to gather and multiply! These reddish-brown insects are a huge red flag for choosing a place to stay when traveling. Unfortunately, bed bugs can infest any area, including public transportation like taxis, busses, and planes- their next stop may be your hotel! Here are some tips and reminders on checking your hotel room for these nasty bed bugs the next time you travel!
Bed Bugs & Travel: How to Check Your Hotel Room?
What Are Bed Bugs?
The bed bug (Cimex spp.) is a small, flat, oval-shaped bug that can be smaller than an apple seed. They are known to have six legs and two antennae on their heads, and they are reddish-brown and have flat-oval bodies. After the bugs feed, they take on a balloon-like shape. Young bed bugs are generally smaller, translucent, and hard to see with the naked eye.
The bed bug life cycle consists of the egg stage and 1st stage nymph, through 5th stage nymph. A bedbug feeds on human blood from humans and animals.
A bed bug can lay around 200 to 500 eggs over two months. They are laid in bulks of 10 and are approximately 1mm long. Unlike adult bed bugs, they are white and often hard to see with the naked eye.
Bed bugs can come from other infested areas or old used furniture. They usually hold onto items that are placed on these soft or upholstered surfaces, such as luggage racks, purses, and backpacks.
We can see these things being moved all around when going into hotels, making it easy for these insects to travel between rooms in multi-unit buildings. That is why it became a substantial problem for tourists, homeowners, and business owners alike. These bugs are a significant worldwide problem and have become bigger over the years.
More recently, it has been drastically increasing around the globe. According to a report in 2016, bed bug infestation was observed to increase by 80% compared to the report held in 2015.
Checking For Bed Bugs
Beds
- Check the mattress and box spring: cracks and crevices in the mattress seams, box springs, and bed frames. These are the most common places where bed bugs hide. Bed bugs like to live near food sources where dust is present. Therefore, beds are always an ideal hotspot for bed bugs.
- Inspect the headboards and check in between the sides and underneath the mattress.
- Check the bed frame: corners, joints, and any small cracks or holes in the bed frame.
- Inspect the bedding: You should always check the inside and outside of the pillow covers and fitted sheets.
Bedside cabinets
Furniture such as nightstands and bedside cabinets are also ideal spots for bed bugs.
- Try observing inside the drawers along the sides and near the handles.
- Take a look behind and underneath the bedside cabinet.
- Check lamps and picture frames.
Wardrobe and Skirting boards
Aside from the bed, these insects can also be located near certain bedroom areas like wardrobes, skirting boards, etc.
- Inspect the cabinets properly, such as the drawers, underneath and behind them.
- Check between joints, handles, cracks, and dents.
- Look at the gaps between the skirting boards and walls
Sofas and Chairs
Bed bugs are known to be attracted to the carbon dioxide we produce. You can often find these bed bugs hidden in areas with high levels of human interaction. This includes upholstered furniture such as chairs, sofas, and placemats.
- Try removing the foam cushion of the seats and checking above and below it. Try to look in between joints and crevices.
- Remove the covers and check the seams, corners, and zippers for bed bugs.
Luggage and bags
Since hotels are always filled with luggage, this is the leading agitator for bed bug infestations. The best way to do this is to remember where you put your luggage in the room before settling in. Bed bugs are attracted to warmth, carbon dioxide, and blood. They can move from your clothes to your luggage and into your home.
Identify Bed Bugs Signs
Bloodstains and Bug bites
They are 5-6mm in size when a bedbug evolves into an adult. Bed bugs bite. They are bloodsuckers and usually feed in the middle of the night while people or warm-blooded animals sleep. You may find bedbug bites on exposed body areas when people are sleeping. They feed on exposed skin on:
- The face
- Neck
- Shoulders
- Back
- Arms and Legs
Additional Tips To Avoid Bringing Bed Bugs Home From Vacation
- Avoid luggage racks and store your luggage in the bathroom
- Consider a hard-shelled suitcase
- Keep luggage off of the bed
- Check for signs before settling in
- Treat your luggage to kill bed bugs before you leave
Have you spotted bed bugs in your home? Contact ABC Termite & Pest Control to learn more about bed bug control in Omaha, NE.
Pesticide Regulations for Bed Bugs – United States Environmental Protection Agency
Hire a Professional Company ABC Termite & Pest Control – Bed Bug Control Omaha, NE & Lincoln, NE
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