Summer is a very active season for bed bugs. When these insects infest a structure that is not temperature controlled, the warm summer temperatures and high humidity give these bugs what they need to work at peak efficiency. Not only will they produce more offspring, but they'll also explore more often. When they do, they can get into transportable items and spread from one location to another. The secret to preventing an infestation of bed bugs is understanding what items these bugs get into and what signs you need to look for.
Look for Bed Bugs In
- Sleeping bags. These are a prime spot to find evidence of bed bugs after a sleepover.
- The creases and pockets of luggage and other bags used during travel.
- Furniture picked up on the side of the road, at a yard sale, or even at a thrift store.
- When you go to work, the movies, a clothing store, a daycare, or any of the many places bed bug infestations have been found, you can easily pick up bed bugs when you set your purse or jacket down, so make sure to check these items for bed bugs before returning home.
- Bed bugs can hide in clothing. In fact, they prefer to! Bed bugs are drawn to garments that have already been worn. But, rather than search for evidence of bed bugs in your piles of dirty clothes, it is best to just wash and dry the clothing on the hottest temperature setting as doing so will kill bed bugs in all stages of development.
- Any objects that have a gap, crease, pocket, seam, cavity, or hiding spot can harbor a bed bug or bed bug eggs, so it is a good idea to check these items.
Look For These Bed Bug Signs
- Bed bugs shed their skins as they develop; these skins may be pale white, tan, or brown.
- Bed bugs can leave dark spots or streaks of excrement on your mattress, your bedding, or other items in your home.
- Bed bugs can deposit their eggs just about anywhere but prefer to leave them in pockets and creases. Bed bug eggs are about 1 mm in size and are a pale white color.
- Bed bugs can leave blood stains that vary in color from tan to red or brown, depending on the age of the stain.
- You should also look for the presence of bed bugs. These pests have six legs, two antennae, and three body parts and may be white, tan, or a reddish-brown color, depending on their age; you may also see red in their abdomen if they have recently had a blood meal.
One Last Thing
It can be difficult to detect bed bugs both inside your carriables and inside your Rock Island, IL home. If you or someone in your home is being bitten when they go to bed at night, contact pest control professionals like the ones found at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators immediately! Our pest control technicians are not only trained to eliminate bed bugs, but also know how to inspect and monitor for bed bugs. Contact us at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators for more information on our bed bug control services in Rock Island, IL!