Nashville, Murfreesboro, Knoxville and Chattanooga TN
Bad news, Nashville. Earlier this year, Orkin released a list of the metro areas where it performed the most treatments for bed bugs between Dec. 1, 2022, and Nov. 30, 2023. The Music City ranked 30th on the list. Bed bugs tend to be found in areas that travelers congregate such as hotels, but they also can be found in offices and even homes. Today on the blog, your pest control professionals in Nashville help determine your risk factor for dealing with bed bugs.
Get the facts on bed bugs
Bed bugs have small, flat bodies that are oval shaped. Adult bed bugs have a brownish color but may turn a reddish hue if they feed–on blood, no less. They are small enough to be undetected without a close inspection. That’s why they are known for being at hotels, because they can travel on suitcases, pieces of clothing or even on the human body without someone realizing it.
Once bed bugs enter a room, they like to find dark nooks and crannies to hide. This may include the seams on sofas and mattresses. Bed bugs also can be found in the crevices of bed frames, headboards, box springs and dressers. This is why bed bug infestations can occur even if a hotel is highly rated or very clean.
Other areas where bed bugs congregate include:
- Seams and crevices on upholstery, especially if the couch in your hotel room or home is used for sleeping
- The edges of wall-to-wall carpeting
- Cracks in wood molding
- Behind any picture frames or mirrors mounted on walls
- Outlets and switch plates
- Any items stored inside closets
- Inside appliances, such as clocks, phones, TVs and smoke detectors
What are the signs of bed bugs?
When you check into a hotel, strip the sheets off the bed and lift the mattress if you are physically able. You want to look for any tiny black spots, which can be droppings left behind by the insects or shedded bed bug exoskeletons. You need to check the sheets for small drops of blood, which can be indicators that bed bugs have been feeding on a prior occupant of the bed.
There are also protocols you should follow when you return home from your travels. Follow this regimen for maximum protection against bed bugs infesting your home. Leave your luggage outside when you arrive. Then place all packed clothing in a garbage bag and tie a knot to seal it until you have time to put them in the dryer on a heat cycle for at least 30 minutes. This will kill any bed bugs as well as possible eggs.
Treating for bed bugs in Nashville and Murfreesboro in Tennessee
You want to trust bed bug treatment to trained pest control professionals. The technicians at Ameri Care Services have the experience and expertise to identify bed bugs and signs of those insects that typically go unnoticed by novices. We can perform a bed bug inspection at your home or business. Then, if a problem is detected, we can treat the infestation. To find out more about our bed bug treatments or any of our other services, contact Ameri Care Services today to schedule a free consultation with one of our technicians. Just call (615) 893-7111 or complete our online form.