No one wants to hear that they have a bedbug infestation. These blood-feasting insects are often associated with dirty environments, but they can thrive anywhere there is food. They also travel and reproduce quickly. Below are a few ways you may end up with them and how to perform your own bedbug inspection.

Where Bedbugs Commonly Hide

Since bedbugs drink blood, they are usually found anywhere there are people. These places include homes, hotels, movie theaters, offices, and schools. They are also found on public transportation, such as buses, trains, planes, and taxis, and can even show up in police stations, firehouses, and libraries.

These pests get their name from their preference to hide near beds. They will nest in box springs, frames, and headboards, as well as nightstands and other furniture in the bedroom, to be close to the humans they plan to feed on. They’ll also hide in upholstered furniture, whether it’s in a living room or a public sitting area.

How Bedbugs Travel

Bedbugs are expert hitchhikers and will easily travel from place to place to get to their food source. They will latch onto clothing, suitcases, backpacks, and other items that they come into contact with. Because they are so tiny, you may not see them until it is too late.

If you use public transportation or stay in hotels frequently, do a bedbug inspection before settling in. Look under the sheets and on all sides of the mattress, especially near the seams, for signs of live bugs. These signs include bloodstains, droppings, and insect shells. You may even smell a sour, sweaty odor in the area.

Guests in your home may bring them inside. If they are staying overnight, be sure to wash all bedding in high heat. If you stay at someone else’s house, check all bags before re-entering your own home and wash clothes at the hottest setting.

Finally, be cautious when purchasing used furniture or picking up items left on a curb. These objects attract pests and can help them spread in your home. Performing a bedbug inspection before bringing anything inside will stop an infestation before it starts.

There’s still plenty of time to travel this summer, so you need to protect yourself from a pest problem. AllPest Pest Control & Wildlife Removal serves Ohio’s Preble, Dark, Montgomery, and Miami counties, and is ready to help when insects invade your space. Their safe, effective bedbug treatments get rid of the problem quickly. The owners work on every job, and their licensed and insured team is available when emergencies arise. Call (937) 884-5646 to schedule a bedbug inspection, and visit them online for more on their bedbug heat treatments.