Many commuters use the subway each day to get to and from work or to run errands. While public transportation can have its issues, such as running late, there's nothing worse than discovering a pest infestation while on the train. However, this is becoming a common problem, according to the NY Daily News. People are leaving the train a little itchier than they expected, and it's mainly due to bed bugs. Consider these tips to prevent bed bugs from following you home.
Subways are one of the busiest forms of public transportation. For many hours of the day, they are packed with travelers moving back and forth between the city and home. As so many people come on and off the subway each day, it's hard to lead a bed bug infestation back to the train. Instead, people may blame other things, such as their apartment, a piece of clothing or a new mattress. While bed bugs are inhabiting more and more items these days, trains are becoming commonplace. Unless a person deliberately spots a bed bug on the move, these problems can go on for months without notice, meaning bed bugs can really get comfortable. Many people also bring their belongings on the train, from briefcases to handbags and even suitcases for traveling. This is a dream for bed bugs, as they can wiggle into items with ease and be transported to a new place. Most importantly, the subway is filled with warm bodies, which bed bugs can feed off of for days.
Skip the seat: If you're offered a seat on the train, opt to stand instead, Allergy Technologies advised. Bed bugs love fabric-lined seating or upholstered items, so they're more likely to be hiding in the seats than anywhere else. Standing will lower your chances of a bug getting too cozy with you. You should also keep your bag with you, instead of on the seat. Keeping your bag on top of one of the seats makes it vulnerable to infestation. If you find that it's hard to hold your belongings while on public transportation, maybe you should consider keeping these bags at home if possible, or covering them in a plastic bag when you're commuting.
Keep your eyes peeled: Look around while on the train for any signs of bed bugs. They could be anywhere, and you may notice an egg casing instead of the bug itself. Regardless, if you see bed bugs, you should notify authorities.
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.
