Bed Bug Awareness Week is approaching quickly and some people might be curious as to what it’s all about and why it’s an important week for everyone, especially for homeowners. The entire purpose of Bed Bug Awareness Week is to highlight how common bed bugs are and how easy it is to spread them without meaning to. Unfortunately, not enough people are aware of bed bugs and what the signs of an infestation are. For a long time, we didn’t have to worry about bed bugs the way we do now. In fact, they were nearly eradicated in the U.S. However, due to stricter regulations on chemicals used in insecticides and an increase in international travel, they have come back and in a big way. This is why we take a week to spread the word and hopefully stop the spread of these pests.
Since Bed Bug Awareness Week is all about prevention, why not talk about the best way to prevent bed bugs from infesting your home? It’s commonly thought that bed bugs only exist in places that are dirty. This is untrue. Because bed bugs feed on human blood, they survive anywhere that one or more humans are. Hotels, schools, hospitals, shopping malls, etc. are all examples of places bed bugs infest—even if they are squeaky clean. The best way that you avoid bed bugs is simple: know what to look for. Bed bugs themselves are reddish-brown and are about the size of an apple seed. Their nymphs look like smaller versions of the adults. Their eggs are white and are difficult to see with the naked eye. Besides seeing the bugs themselves, other signs include small spots of blood on your pillow or sheets, cast bed bug skins, and small insect bites on your body. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers, so when traveling or even just shopping at your local mall, don’t place any clothing or bags on the ground and avoid physical contact with others whom you do not know. While traveling, carefully inspect your room first for signs, and when you return home, check your luggage and immediately wash all of your clothing on the hottest settings.
This year, Bed Bug Awareness Week will take place the week of June 3 to June 9. This is the perfect time of year to finally take action against bed bugs in your home. These pests, in particular, are not a do-it-yourself fix. They are very difficult to eradicate completely without the help of a professional. Big Blue Bug Solutions is here to help residents of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine. Whether you have a bed bug problem you want to eliminate or you just learned about bed bugs and want to do everything you can to prevent them, we have options for you. Don’t stay in the dark when it comes to bed bugs—become aware and take action. Contact Big Blue Bug Solutions today!