Are Bed Bugs Only Found in Dirty Beds?
Bed bugs are creatures of nightmares for many people, but, unfortunately, you may find yourself waking up with bites and seeing small black marks on your sheets. Bed bugs are parasitic insects that are reddish-brown in colour, attracted to areas where blood and heat are plentiful. Unfortunately, that makes our beds the perfect home for them to thrive and multiply. Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are visible to the human eye and you’ll be able to see both nymph bed bugs and adult bed bugs when you look closely.
Although many people think that bed bugs can only be found in dirty beds, this is completely false. Bed bugs are solely attracted to anywhere blood can be easily accessed, so no matter the cleanliness of your bed, you’ll still be at risk. This myth may stem from the fact that bed bugs are harder to identify in a dirty bed, so by the time an infestation is discovered, it has become extensive.
Symptoms of bed bugs
Bed bugs cause havoc on our skin, so you’ll be sure to notice the symptoms fairly quickly, these include:
- Itchy spots on the skin
- Marks arranged in a rough line or cluster
- Bites around the face, neck, arms or hands
- Small brown faeces in the bed
The moment you wake up with any of these symptoms, check your bed for any signs of bed bugs, although low-level infestations are hard to validate. The most effective way to get rid of bed bugs is to hire a professional pest company to ensure all the bed bugs have been exterminated.
Despite the bites bed bugs can leave on your skin, bed bugs have not shown the ability to transmit human diseases from one person to another. There is no need to go to a doctor unless you feel you are experiencing an allergic reaction.
High-risk environments
It’s true that bed bugs can inhabit any bed, but there are definitely places which are more high risk than others. Bed bugs are rife in places that have a higher turnover of occupancy, such as:
- Hotels and hostels
- Cruise ships
- Trains, buses and other public transport
- Refugee camps
If you’re concerned about transmitting bed bugs into your own bed after travelling, there are a few things you can do to prevent this:
- Wash your bed clothes at a temperature of at least 60 °C when you return from your travels. Use a tumble dryer to dry your clothes if that is available to you.
- Check your luggage for signs of infestation.
- Tidy your room so you’ll be able to notice the signs of infestation more easily.
Here at ClearFirst, we have a range of pest control services including bed bug removal. Our team are experienced in delivering high-quality solutions at a competitive price. For more information on our products and services, please get in touch with a member of our team today.
