Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Mt. Juliet, TN
A recent study by leading pest company Orkin, calculated the number of bed bug treatments performed during 2014. The results were staggering, identifying cities with the worst to the least amount of bed bug problems. Although bed bugs have been confirmed in all states across the country, some cities are worse than others. Nashville, Tennessee ranks high on the list for the city with the most amount of bed bug treatments performed last year. It’s important to know that bed bugs doesn’t always mean filth and unsanitary conditions since bed bugs can be easily transported by clothing, a hotel is the most common place for bed bugs, even when cleaned well.
Bed bugs are insects considered to be parasitic since they feed on blood. They are small in size, oval in shape, and brownish in color. Bed bugs are approximately the size of an apple seed and typically travel on clothes and luggage, setting up camp on furniture, especially bedding, or anything that’s made of cloth. As of late, the topic of bed bugs has become more heard of as it relates to infestations at hotels. Bed bugs tend to live on and inside the bedding and mattresses in hotels and emerge to feed while people are asleep. Since hotels house hundreds of different people every night, it makes hotels an easy target for bed bug infestations. Bed bugs are also travelers, meaning they can easily be transported to your home or office by your clothes and luggage, causing an unwanted infestation. According to Orkin, $446 million were spent eradicating bed bugs in 2013 and last year alone there was an 18 percent increase in bed bugs across the nation.
Here are some tips you can keep in mind while traveling that can help you avoid an encounter with bed bugs. Remember to use the S.L.E.E.P. method. Survey the hotel room for signs of bed bugs, look for brown or red spots on the bedding and furniture. Lift and look around and under the mattress. Bed bugs tend to nest on the mattress, especially in crevasses. Elevate your luggage away from fabric, including the carpet. The best place to store your luggage is on a luggage rack, in the bathroom, or on the counter. Bed bugs will not nest on hard surfaces. Examine your luggage when you arrive home and ensure no signs of bed bugs are present. Place all items from your luggage that are dryer safe into the dryer for 15 minutes. The intense heat will kill any bed bugs that are present.
Rest assured, bed bugs are not known to spread any type of diseases, but are pesky and irritating because they leave itchy welts all over your body. If you find any of these unwanted guests to your home or business, be sure to call a professional pest company. Only professional pest control treatments will eliminate bed bugs and stop infestation. In the mean time, sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite!
If you live in the Nashville, Murfreesboro or Mt. Juliet area and think you may have a bed bug problem or just need a bed bug inspection, call Ameri Care Services today! Contact Us.