What Makes You A Target For Bed Bugs?

Imagine this: You’re in your bed and have drifted to sleep. You are in the midst of a sensational dream about being on a beach with the cool breeze intertwining with the heat of the sun when suddenly you feel a scratching on your leg that jolts you awake and brings you back to reality. Disappointing, right? It may also be worrisome as you might just be waking into a real-life nightmare: Bed Bugs. 

Bed Bugs are much more common than you might think. Anyone can get them regardless of social status or where they live. Countless pest exterminators are called to someone’s home to eliminate other critters such as spiders and roaches but then end up finding Bed Bugs as well. Many people think as long as they keep rooms clean, they’re out of harm’s way, but that is just not true. Even cleaning gurus are not immune to these pests (looking at you, Marie Kondo). There is no guarantee you will not fall victim to these creepy little critters. 

Perhaps Dracula and Twilight may have gotten their inspiration from Bed Bugs, as they are like little vampires that suck human blood to survive. This means that they can survive anywhere that humans exist and make anyone their next prey. They can live without feeding for a few months, which is in stark contrast to other household pests. As the name suggests, they love your bed and want to be roomies. If you notice small blood stains in your bed, that may be an indication that they have bitten you. The itching sensation can lead to scratching which causes open sores thereby making you vulnerable to infection. Even if the pests you have been feeding are satiated, and there are no symptoms for a while, you may think your problem is gone. The reality is, they may just be playing hide-and-seek with you. 

Don’t be fooled by their name - not only do they like to share your bed, they also like nice plush chairs and your couches. If the infestation in your home or apartment is large, they may also want to share your clothes, as they can get into your drawers and bury themselves deep into your personal belongings. They love joining students in college dormitories. In fact, some 46% of pest control operators found them on college campuses.

Vacation should be a time for relaxing, but you may want to inspect your hotel room, though, as travelers bring them to about 68% of hotels and motels. It is so commonplace that there is a registry where you can check apartments and hotels. They are reddish-brown and the size of an apple seed, so look closely at that fancy plush robe before you put it on. 

Much of our lives are spent in an office, and where people congregate, they will set up shop. They aren’t the greatest admin assistants and leave their feces and molted shells as reminders of their presence. Additionally, they may enjoy a view of the great outdoors by living on curtains and blinds. If a nice day of shopping is on the menu you may end up with an unwanted companion. They can get in boxes of inventory and hang onto the clothes while being tried on, spreading from person-to-person and garment-to-garment. Bed Bugs also enjoy the comfy cushions in theaters, so they may choose to catch a show and have a snack from an arm or leg while they’re there. 

As if there aren’t enough infectious diseases on public transportation, they like to travel throughout the city and the sky take in the views, too. Based on the sheer number of commuters via train, plane, or bus, and the amount of seating in the depots and airports, imagine how quickly they can make their way from an unsuspecting carrier to a piece of luggage to your home. International travel is one of the main causes of the recent surge in activity. 

If you’ve had an experience with Bed Bugs, you understand why parents tell their kids not to let them bite when they tuck them in. Overall, these pesky pests are just a plain nuisance and need to be eliminated as soon as possible. In Belford, Union Beach, Matawan, New Jersey, and the surrounding area the company to turn to is Elite Pest Control. We are the Top-Rated pest control operator in the region for Bed Bugs and many other nuisance pests. It is our goal to protect and create a pest free environment for our clients. Contact us today for a free estimate.