As students head off to college in the fall, they’re usually excited to meet up with their friends and have some independence. Finding bed bugs in their rooms could stop that enthusiasm in its tracks, however. These pests can hitchhike to campus from people’s homes, and an infestation can spread quickly. Knowing how to check for bed bugs can prevent you from dealing with a bigger problem down the road.
Inspect The Empty Room
Dorm rooms are usually outfitted with a few pieces of furniture. Before you bring your belongings into the room, examine everything for pests. Some areas to inspect include:
- The mattress, including the seams and crevices around the edges
- The bed frame
- Inside drawers
- Behind picture frames
- Inside and underneath alarm clocks
What To Look For
Finding an insect is a prime sign that you have a problem. Bed bugs are about the size and shape of a lentil. They’re dark brown or reddish in color. They’re extremely flat and can squeeze into tight spaces.
Because bed bugs are good hiders, you might be more likely to find evidence of their existence than the pests themselves. After they feed, bed bugs might leave dark smears of blood on surfaces. You might not see this if a dorm room has been empty for a few months, though.
Look for skin that has been cast off when the bugs molted. You might also find white, sticky eggs on mattresses, carpets or upholstery.
If you have already moved in and start to get mystery bites on your skin, you might have bed bugs. The insects might bite only one person living in the room. The bites occur on exposed skin and can become extremely itchy.
What To Do If You Find Bed Bugs
If you detect signs of bed bugs, alert the administrators at the educational institution. It’s always best to have an exterminator take care of your bed bug problem. Pest control experts know what to look for and how to effectively treat the problem. They can do so safely and efficiently.
Don’t pick up pieces of furniture that you find on the side of the road. Be careful when purchasing secondhand furniture and décor too. The best way to handle bed bugs is to prevent an infestation in the first place. If you do find yourself with a pest problem, contact Abarb Pest Control for a comprehensive inspection.
