Honestly who (besides Scrooge) doesn’t enjoy listening to Perry Como croon There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays?
Oh there’s no place like home
For the holidays, ’cause no matter
How far away you roam
If you want
To be happy in a million ways
For the holidays, you can’t beat
Home, sweet home
Whether you’re already home waiting anxiously for loved ones to arrive or packing your bags and pumpkin pie to head back to your old stomping grounds, Christmas really is a special time and an opportunity to create memories that will keep you smiling all year round. With all the joy-filled minutes likely to come, we would be remiss if we didn’t take time to warn you about bed bugs. Yes, those tiny biting insects often found in hotels and on public transportation could become a problem in your home if you invite guests over OR do some traveling yourself.
A bed bug infestation triggers such an emotional response and one that may stick around longer than those holiday pounds. They are disgusting and it is stressful to find yourself dealing with a problem of this nature. Unfortunately, bed bugs are far more common nowadays then they were even just 10 years ago, in part because both domestic and international travel have increased and because not everyone realizes that these pests are a serious problem.
As cities and towns all across the country struggle with an increase in reports of bed bug infestations, it is important to learn what you can do to avoid bringing these pests home with you as you travel this Christmas season. That understanding begins by realizing that bed bugs are not just found in beds. Their one goal in life is finding blood, preferably human, to feast on. This is why they can be found anywhere people frequent. Sure, hotels and motels are common areas for these pests to congregate, but they are not the ONLY places. Libraries, dorms, hospitals, malls, laundry mats – you name it. If people can be found there then so can bed bugs. Airplanes, buses, taxi cabs, boats, and even personal vehicles also suit these opportunistic pests. And, YES, even Grandma’s house is not immune.
It can sometimes take weeks or months to discover that your home has been infested. This is because bed bugs can go long periods of time between meals and because people will often excuse away those red, itchy welts as spider bites or mosquito bites (depending on the time of year). It is important to remain vigilant and look for these creatures wherever you go – especially if you are traveling. Look for the bugs themselves on cushioned seat seams, mattress seams, and along the nooks and crannies and corners of rooms and closets. Look for their shed casings that they leave behind as they grow and check for small spots of blood or brown spotting from their feces. Black streaks coming from electrical outlets are another good indicator that bed bugs are present. You should also look behind pictures hanging on the wall, inspect dresser drawers, and carefully search any other small space that could allow these tiny bugs refuge.
When all is said and done, if you return to Greenville, Upstate of South Carolina, or Northern Georgia with your own case of unwanted hitchhiking bugs, make sure you call the bed bug control experts here at Spencer Pest Services.
Our highly trained and certified professionals can quickly identify a bed bug infestation during our free bed bug inspection. If bed bugs are confirmed, we will work quickly and discreetly to eliminate them. No fuss, no mess, no hassle! We even back our industry leading services with a 90-day bed bug warranty.
Be on your guard and try not to allow bed bugs to travel home with you this year, but if they do, don’t panic! Spencer Pest Services can help.
