Do Bed Bugs Get Inside From The Outdoors?
There are many pests in the area that usually live outdoors but will occasionally come inside to search for their prey or to find shelter. But, bed bugs aren’t one of these pests. Their infestations are picked up in other ways, and the way they move around allows them to invade homes, businesses, apartments, condos, and much more.
How Do Bed Bug Infestations Begin?
The main way a bed bug problem starts is when these pests are accidentally picked up during travel. They can be thought of as stowaways that attach shelves to bags and other items we carry with us. However, they don’t attach to humans as hosts.
Bed bugs can be found in other people’s homes, laundromats, hotels, public transportation, schools, and almost anywhere else that people often frequent. They are only about the size of an apple seed, so it can be difficult to spot them until they’ve hitched a ride with you and started to spread throughout your home.
There is also a second way that bed bug infestations begin. This is when items that are already infested with bed bugs are purchased. Many second-hand items can have bed bugs living in and on them, and it’s not just mattresses. Sheets, pillows, curtains, other furniture, and even appliances can have bed bugs.
How To Prevent Bed Bugs
When addressing bed bug prevention, you first have to start with bed bug hotspots. It can be a challenge to completely avoid picking bed bugs up, but there are a few things you can do. These steps include avoiding setting down bags as much as possible while traveling, carrying laundry to shared facilities in plastic bags, and checking hotel rooms for signs of bed bugs.
You should know what the signs of bed bugs are so that you can check any hotel rooms or any second-hand items you purchase for these pests. Here are signs of bed bug activity:
- Brown smear marks and stains from bed bug excrement
- Bloodstains from the bites bed bugs leave
- Discarded egg casings that can be anywhere from white to dark brown depending on when they hatched
- Bed bugs themselves or their shed skins
Call In The Pros For Assistance
Instead of trying to deal with bed bugs on your own, give the pest experts at EnviroGuard a call at the first sign of an infestation. Preventing bed bugs is downright difficult. If you do end up with these pests, don’t feel like you did anything wrong.
They are also extremely hard to eradicate using DIY methods. But, with the help of EnviroGuard, bed bugs will be a problem of the past in no time. Give us a call today to learn more about bed bug control options or to schedule an appointment.