Removing Bed Bugs Before The Holidays

September 27, 2016

With the holiday season quickly approaching, many Jacksonville residents will be traveling to visit family, or having family visit them. Should you be expecting guests this year, the last thing you want in your guest room is a bed bug infestation. While more commonly found in hotels, bed bugs are known to get into our homes as the cooler months approach. Here's a quick guide on identifying and eliminating these pests.

If you·ve never seen a bed bug before, consider yourself lucky. These little beasts feast only on blood and commonly target humans as their main source of food. Bed bugs are oval insects, about 5mm in length and are reddish-brown in color and flat. They often resemble an apple seed. They get their name from being found primarily in mattress seams, but are also known to live within furniture, behind electrical plates, and near picture frames. These are particularly bothersome for hotels as bedbugs can travel from room to room, hitching a ride in a traveler's luggage.

Spotting bed bugs is easy enough, as long as you're looking for them. As young bed bugs begin to grow, they shed their skins, the discovery of which is an easy way to identify their presence. Staining on furniture is also easy to spot. This is bed bug defecation, usually black or brown in color. If you've been bitten by a bed bug you'll know it by the red welts on your skin.

The easiest way to control bed bugs is prevention. Removing excess clutter, super heat washing your linens, and inspecting second-hand furniture before moving it into your home are all great first steps. If vigilant cleaning isn't enough to correct your problem, call Safari Termite Pest Control. Our team specializes in taking on any pest and can help you clear these little pests out of your home, once and for all.

Whether you're traveling for the holidays or have guests visiting, there's no better time than now to ensure your home is bedbug free.