Bed bugs are insects that are flat, broad, and oval when unfed and swollen and elongated when fed. These typically feed on humans when they are asleep.
Their habitat is not limited to beds. They hide in small cracks and crevices, behind baseboards, wallpaper, and upholstery, in backpacks, under car seats, busses, and trains.
It takes five to ten minutes for a bed bug to engorge with blood after which, they will go back to their hiding place to digest their meal, mate, and lay eggs.
Bites from these insects become red and itchy welts.
Below are some tips to detect and prevent bed bugs at home:
- Vacuum suitcases after returning from a vacation.
- Check bedsheets for tell-tale blood spots.
- Consider bringing a large plastic trashbag to keep your suitcase in during hotel stays.
- Carry a small flashlight to assist with quick visual inspections.
- Never bring second-hand furniture, especially mattresses and box springs, into a home without thoroughly examining for signs of a bed bug infestation.
- Regularly inspect areas where pets sleep for signs of bed bugs.
- Bed bugs are elusive creatures, so it is imperative to seek professional pest control to address an infestation.
