It happens every year, so it is only logical to assume that it will happen again this year. Bed bug infestations always increase in the summer. Here are some of the ways summer will increase your chances of getting bed bugs.
- Did you have college-age kids come home for the summer? If you did, you may want to do an inspection of their room. Bed bugs love dormitories. The more people living in the same place, the better. This is a bug that thrives in dirty environments.
- Have you returned from camp recently? If you have, you could have brought bed bugs or their eggs home with you. Baby bed bugs are quite small and can easily be missed if they crawl into a seam of your luggage. Bed bug eggs are even sneakier. If a momma bed bug laid eggs in your sweater, she doesn't need to go with that sweater for the eggs to hatch in your home. That is why it is always important to wash and dry your clothes and bedding in the hottest temperatures when you return from a trip.
- Did you recently take a trip to a 5-star hotel or resort? You could have brought bed bugs home. These bugs are like filth, but they can be found infesting even the nicest luxury hotels and resorts. With world travel, these bugs can literally hop from one side of the globe to the other in a single night.
- Did you take a trip on public transit? Bed bugs can live inside the seats of trains, planes, buses, and taxi cabs. If you used public transport, you could have picked a bed bug up on your trip.
- Did you visit a friend or family member? Your friends and family can have bed bugs and not even know it. If they do, you can pick them up and bring them home with you when you spend the night--or stop by for a visit.
- Did you have a friend or family member spend the night? They could have brought bed bugs over with them. It doesn't matter how clean your family and friends are, they can still have and transport these bugs.
- Have you checked for bed bugs recently? If you don't do routine bed bug inspections, you are at more risk of having these bugs. These inspections can be done at home and when you travel. Inspect bed creases and corners for black sticky residue. Inspect the seams and stitching of upholstered furniture for the same black residue. This could be bed bug feces. Check your sheets and pillowcases for dried, brown blood stains. And, of course, always keep an eye out for tiny, rust-colored bugs.
If you find bed bugs or want to know whether or not your home has been infested, call the bed bug experts at Big Blue Bug Solutions. We have 75 years of experience protecting homes from invasive pests and the expertise to deal with those bed bugs in your New England home.