Summer travelers should be aware of bed bugs

Summer travelers would probably prefer to bring home a little extra sand in their shoes over an infestation of bed bugs.

“What’s important for people when they’re traveling across the country to know is that bed bugs are everywhere,” said Bryan Ninichuck, owner of Wingate Environmental Pest and Lawn Management. “Hotels, planes, buses, modes of transportation, places they stay.”

Luckily, Ninichuck says the little pests aren’t dangerous or carry disease. But they multiply quickly and their bites are frequent and can be painful.

“Bedbugs are very specific in their behavior. The bites are very specific. They’re usually in patterns, 1 2 3 4,” said Ninichuck. “You’ll see rows of bites. The bedbug itself can get to the size of a tick and then you’ll see red spotting on your pillow, blankets or clothes.”

The red spotting is from the bed bug right after it sucks the blood from its host, probably a human or a pet.

But there are steps people can take to prevent bed bugs from ever entering their home. Summer travelers should check their hotel rooms for the bugs by looking in the lining and tufts of the mattress, since the bed bugs flock to places the host will be.

“Keep your luggage off the floor and away from furniture,” said Ninichuck. “Put it on the actual baggage lift up holders that they give you.”

When people get home from their travels, they should also make sure to empty their clothes out of the luggage before going in the house. Then they should put their clothes immediately in the washer or dryer and that will get rid of the bugs.

“The heat of the dryer system alone running through a full sequence will eliminate all stages of the bed bug, both the adult and eggs,” said Ninichuck. “Make sure you take all the clothes out of the luggage and at least dry them on a full cycle.”

Ninichuck said luggage can also be left in a hot car and the high temperatures in the car will more than likely kill any bugs that may have stowed away.

Just being vigilant should keep houses free from infestations, said Ninichuck. But if there is the chance that the bugs start multiplying, it could ring up a hefty bill.

“Your average room cost is going to be $200 to $300 per room. On average, half of a duplex will be in the $800 to $900 range,” he said. “You can get a whole home in the $1,500 range. It takes a lot of time and a lot of work with a crew to eliminate the whole source.”

People should call multiple companies to get the best estimate of how extensive their services would have to be.

Ninichuck warns that since the bed bug population has exploded in recent years, people need to be vigilant about protecting their homes. He said as long as they are aware of the places bed bugs can hide (couches, mattresses, pillows) they should be able to keep the little pests out of their homes.