By Kait Chapman, Extension Educator in Lancaster County
The phrase, “Good night, sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite,” is more than just a nighttime farewell; it also serves as a reminder for a very real and common problem. Bed bugs are small insects that infest homes, bite and feed on blood and are most often found in places where people spend a lot of time inactive, like their beds. Not only are bed bugs an uncomfortable nuisance, but they are also notoriously difficult to get rid of. The keys to a bed bug’s success?
1. They’re small enough to avoid detection.
2. They’re excellent at hide and seek, concealing themselves in tight cracks and crevices.
3. They’re professional hitchhikers, spreading from place to place on items stored near infested areas.
THE GOOD NEWS?
There are ways to prevent one from having to deal with a bed bug infestation through early detection. When traveling, avoid bringing home unwanted bed bug souvenirs by:
• Inspecting and examining hotel rooms and other lodgings for signs of bed bugs, paying close attention to seams along mattresses and boxsprings.
• Storing luggage and bags on hard surfaces and away from beds, couches and upholstered chairs (the bathtub/shower works great!).
• Isolating dirty laundry in bags to avoid attracting bed bugs.
• Inspecting all items before bringing them back into your home.
• Placing clothing directly into a dryer on high heat for 20–30 minutes.
• Storing all bags and luggage in an area away from the bedroom.
If you do find what you suspect to be a bed bug, be sure to collect it and have its identity verified by an entomologist at Nebraska Extension or a pest management professional.
EXTENSION’S BED BUG IDENTIFICATION CARDS
The cards are a handy tool to have ready and available during travel. Not only do they provide a description of what to look for during a room inspection, but they also slide easily into bed bug hiding spots to flush them out. For more information on bed bugs or how to get a bed bug ID card, visit https://lancaster.unl.edu/bedbugs or email Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County at lancaster@unl.edu.