Bed bugs can be found in homes worldwide, which means your Saratoga home is just as susceptible to bed bugs as anyone else’s. Even if you keep a clean home, bed bugs have no problem surviving. They don’t rely on dirt, food particles, and other forms of trash for feeding. They feed on blood, so any home with human or pet inhabitants will do just fine.
Bed bugs don’t have wings and can’t fly, but they can be brought into your home in a number of ways, including your luggage, purses, used furniture, and other items you purchase and bring into your home. Bed bugs are hitchhikers and are willing to catch a ride to any new location, which might just happen to be your Saratoga home.
It’s almost impossible to stay away from places that are likely to harbor bed bugs. It’s a misconception that they are only found in beds or that you have to stay in a hotel to pick them up. This isn’t true at all. Schools, school buses, bus stations, hospitals, and just about any public place can lead to you picking up these little hitchhikers and bringing them into your home. Once there, they will waste no time starting a new infestation. Something else to remember is that you can transfer bed bugs from one room in your home to another, so if you discover them in one location, chances are good they are throughout your home.
While you can’t always be certain you aren’t picking up and bringing home bed bugs, you can take precautions to help cut down on the chances of bringing bed bugs into your home. First, always check furniture, second-hand clothes, and other items that may be harboring bed bugs. While they’re difficult to see, they are not invisible to the naked eye. Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and typically reddish brown in color with an oval-shaped body. Nymphs may be as small as a pinhead. It can be difficult to see them on dark material.
If you’re staying in a hotel, checking the bedsheets and pillows is a good idea. Dark rust-colored excrement stains, tiny blood stains, and a musky odor are signs there may be a bed bug infestation. If you notice any of these signs, don’t even risk it. Find somewhere else to stay. Bed bugs won’t jump on you just because you’ve walked into the room (they aren’t good jumpers), but if you stay, there’s a chance they will crawl into your belongings.
If you are traveling, always be aware of your surroundings and where you put your luggage. Don’t leave your clothing lying on beds at any time. In fact, avoid putting your clothes on beds just to be on the safe side.
Even with all of these precautions, bed bugs can still be brought into your home. All it takes is one visitor who has bed bugs in their home. They can carry them in purses, packages, boxes, or even on their person. If you notice you or anyone in your home has been itching, check your beds for the signs we mentioned. Someone could have brought bed bugs into your home.
The best course of action when you suspect you have bed bugs is to immediately inspect bedding in all rooms of your house. If you find you have bed bugs in your Saratoga home or you are uncertain, call the professionals at Old School Pest Control. A bed bug infestation can very quickly become a problem. Let us help you determine the extent of your bed bug infestation in Saratoga County. We can get rid of bed bugs from your home today.