Bed bugs are found everywhere, and while hotels should perform pest inspections prior to your check-in, it never hurts to check for yourself.
Make sure you have the proper equipment for a bed bug check. A small flashlight and knowing where to look will give you the best chances of finding any unwelcome guests.
Before you begin, know where to put your suitcases to ensure that the pests won't get into your belongings. Place it on the other side of the room away from the bed or in the bathroom, where there are less likely to be bed bugs. Putting it on the bed prior to checking it for bed bugs can be risky, as these bugs have perfected the art of hitchhiking and will follow you home if given the opportunity.
Adult bed bugs can be seen with the naked eye, are roughly the size of apple seeds and are reddish brown in color. Sizes vary in relation to whether or not the bug has fed. Those which have not will be flat, whereas those that have will be bigger and have a more elongated shape.
Lift the sheet and mattress pad gently and pay close attention to the edging and other nooks and crannies that bed bugs may hide in, including the mattress tag and the upper and lower seams of the mattress. Additionally, if you can remove the headboard, consider doing so and inspecting it as well for excrement, which are tiny black spots that are smaller than poppy seeds.
The inspection doesn't stop there. Bed bugs can also hide behind wall decor, on nightstands and on luggage stands. After all, these pests are found everywhere, and you never know when you'll encounter bed bugs in hotels. They may have been introduced into the space in someone else's luggage. This is precisely why you should avoid placing your own suitcase on the handy rack until you've given it a thorough inspection.
Whether you've found definite evidence of bed bugs or simply suspect one, let a hotel staff member know as soon as possible. More likely than not, they'll offer you another room immediately. As with the previous space, you should check it over carefully before settling in. Once you're satisfied that the room is free of bed bugs, make yourself at home.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
