Spotting and Stamping Out a Potential Bed Bug Invasion

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Bed bugs have long been the nuisance of hotels, college dorms and other shared living spaces, with a female able to lay one to five eggs each day – with up to 500 a potential in its lifetime. Despite its name, bed bugs are not exclusive to beds – with the insects able to make their homes in chairs, couches, nearby drapes and even a child’s favorite stuffed animal. 

At the forefront of the battle against these pests, Rose Pest Solutions, the nation’s oldest pest management company providing industry-leading pest management technology, is offering tips and solutions for residential and commercial clients to ensure their homes and businesses remain bed bug-free during Bed Bug Awareness Week (June 5-11), as well as throughout the rest of the year. 

With many people soon embarking on a much-needed summer vacation, the threat from bed bugs remains ever-present – and vigilance is key to preventing these pests from ruining a planned outing. When bed bugs are suspected, it’s important to know what to look out for and how to limit the chances of these hitchhiking pests wreaking havoc in your home or business. 

Telltale signs of bed bug presence or infestation include: 

• Small reddish-brown to black fecal spots on pillows, sheets or areas of a hotel room that are often undisturbed like peeling wallpaper or behind framed pictures and bed frames. 
• Shed skins and small white eggs are present if there is an infestation. The bugs are also visible to the naked eye, with adults being about the size and color of apple seeds. 
• Symptoms in humans include red, itchy bite marks, especially on the legs, arms and other body parts that are exposed while sleeping. Not everyone visibly reacts to bites, so this alone is not a reliable way to find an infestation. 

When it comes to early identification and prevention of bed bugs, Rose Pest Solutions’ trained team of canine handlers and bed bug sniffing dogs are the first lines of defense. The company relies on this squad of elite and highly trained canines to detect and identify live bed bugs and their eggs. The division deployed by Rose Pest Solutions is also one of the largest in the country. 

Providing quick, accurate detection of bed bugs – with the same high-level accuracy of bomb-sniffing dogs – Rose Pest Solutions’ certified canines can search an entire room in two to three minutes for live bed bugs and eggs. If detected, the company will utilize a variety of eradication methods, including effective structural heat treatment, insecticide treatments and a variety of non-chemical approaches. 

“Once bed bugs are inside your home, it’s incredibly difficult to get rid of them,” said Mark VanderWerp, manager of education and training for Rose Pest Solutions. “However, there are measures you can take to prevent the spread, especially if you’re traveling – because these insects often wind up on dirty clothes, or ride unnoticed on purses, briefcases and luggage.” 

Rose Pest Solutions provides tips on how you can help prevent these unwanted guests from taking up residence in your home or business. Clients are encouraged to do the following: 

• When arriving at your destination – inspect the room for bed bugs before unpacking. Areas to check include the headboard, bed frame and along seams and edges of the sheets and mattresses and inside dresser drawers. 
• Place suitcases on luggage racks or in a plastic trash bag for the duration of the trip. 
• Before bringing any luggage inside following a trip, use a flashlight to inspect your gear. If bed bugs are found crush any live ones and store the luggage outside in a shed or plastic tub while placing washable clothing in a plastic bag before heading inside. Place non-washable clothing items in a separate plastic bag. 
• Directly deposit all clothes, linens, and other appropriate items into the washer, then place them in the dryer, at the highest temperature possible, until dry. While the wash cycle will kill most of the bed bugs, the heat of the dryer alone can exterminate all bugs, as they do not tolerate high temperatures. 
• Place items that can’t be washed in the dryer for a minimum of 20 minutes at a high temperature to kill any live bed bugs and their eggs. 

Rose Pest Solutions also offers additional do-it-yourself tips on its YouTube page that provides clients with a visual representation of what to do if they believe bed bugs are present in their home or office. 

If you think you have discovered signs of a bed bug infestation call Rose Pest Solutions at (800) 966-Rose to schedule your inspection.

Click here for more information on Rose bed bug services.

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