So. You have a bed bug problem. Or at least you think you might.
Are the itchy bumps on your back from bed bugs or mosquitos? If you’re reading this, you’re not sure … and you’re probably scrambling to figure out where you may have even encountered bed bugs.
First, don’t panic. Bed bugs are unfortunately pretty common. About one in five Americans has had an infestation (at least once), so don’t be ashamed. They can (and do) happen to any of us. The other thing to keep in mind is that while they can disrupt your bedroom and your life, a good, trustworthy pest control service can take care of the problem for you.
So let’s trace your steps. Here are some of the places bed bugs commonly lurk.
- Hotels and motels: 68%
- Nursing homes: 59%
- Schools & daycare centers: 47%
- Office Buildings: 46%
- College dorms: 45%
- Hospitals: 36%
- Public transportation: 19%
But the truth is bed bugs can hide themselves in lots of unexpected places, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, like in the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains, In drawer joints, in electrical receptacles and appliances, under loose wall paper and wall hangings, at the junction where the wall and the ceiling meet and, brace yourself, even in the head of a screw.
Concerned you might have an infestation? Call Dixon Pest Services to find out for sure. And for the future, here’s how to minimize your chances of picking up bed bugs.