Nighty Night- Keep The Bed Bugs Away This Holiday -

Bed-Bugs-Blog

“Sleep tight; don’t let the Bed Bugs bite!” We have all heard the age old saying when our parents tucked us into bed. But when we were younger, we didn’t realize the true meaning and the actual threat of bugs in our bed that feast on us while we sleep.

Tis the season for family, food and travel. Unfortunately there is a pest that isn’t so joyful to have around this time of year… or any time of year that is. When going to see Uncle Joe, be sure to be on the look-out. Keep your eyes peeled not only for the hand-me-down Christmas socks, but for the Bed Bugs that may have been in your hotel room long before you got there. Bed Bugs are parasitic insects that which feast on mammalian blood; more often human blood. They are cryptobiotic which means they hide from the light. Their bodies are small and flattened like a penny which allows them to hide in seams or folds in the mattresses or couch as well as anywhere else the host spends the majority of their time. These hitchhikers are excellent at just that; they will sneak into your luggage and take up residence in your home instead. Typically, these pests go unnoticed for a few months before realizing there is an issue. Bites can be noticed on some individuals who have an allergy to the Bed Bug saliva which acts as a numbing agent applied before they feast. However, not everyone has this sensitivity and some people may not show bites at all. Alongside that, being in Florida there are many other pests that could be to blame for the bites which deems the bites a poor identification characteristic. Bed Bugs feast in the early morning hours or the late evening hours when they do not sense any more movement which also makes a problem difficult to detect.

Here are a few tips to ensure you don’t bring anything more than the Christmas Cheer home:

When staying at a hotel or other lodging, inspect the beds thoroughly. They are called Bed Bugs for a reason, but don’t hesitate to check in any couches, chairs, and behind picture frames. If you do notice any signs (reddish defecation in the folds, black spittle, blood stains on the sheets or any live bugs) switch rooms or stay elsewhere.
Don’t throw your luggage on the floor, instead place suitcases and any other bags in the bathtub, this makes them getting in and hitchhiking home a much more difficult task.
When it is time to go home, inspect your luggage just to make sure. Just because no bed bugs were found on your initial inspection doesn’t mean they weren’t there. Better safe than sorry. If Bed Bugs are brought home and discovered, it is crucial to have your home treated. If left alone and untreated the problem can quickly grow out of control. Leaving your house for a while and staying somewhere else won’t do any good, in fact, this poses the problem of spreading them to other people and when you come back they will most likely still be there as they can remain dormant for up to a year!

Please enjoy the holidays safely and Bed Bug free.

From our Safe home to yours,

The Safe Home Team