Bed Bug 411: Bed Bugs Like Rockford...

Rockford, Ill. (July 5, 2022) -- More than half of the entire United States population was on the move over the Independence Day holiday, according to The Vacationer. That’s around 143-million people in hotel rooms, vacation homes and rental homes from sites like Airbnb – up eight-percent from last year. And with the lifting of Covid-19 test requirements for international travel, Americans are traveling far and wide.

“That means bed bugs will be packing up and traveling too… in our suitcases,” explains Janelle Iaccino, also known as The Bug Girl with Franklin Pest Solutions, www.rosepestcontrol.com, with offices in the Rockford area.

It’s something no one wants to think about because it’s just so gross. But these tiny invaders can ruin not only a vacation but also the return home. We have gotten nearly 100 calls in the Rockford area and expect it to increase this summer.

Getting home, unpacked and doing the laundry is all part of taking a trip. It can feel so nice to be home again unless you’ve brought bed bugs back with you and then it can be a nightmare.

“Having pests in the home can be psychological terror,” Iaccino explains. And bed bugs are not discerning. They are happy with 2000 thread count sheets or 200. All they care about is breeding and warm blooded humans and pets provide that opportunity,” she added.

The problem with bed bugs and travel is that you can unwittingly bring them home with you. You get them by transferring them from one place to another. They’re cryptic and excellent hitchhikers and hiders. They get in clothes which then go into the suitcase, then the clothes and sometimes the suitcase is on the bed when you get home and you have now transferred the bed bug problem to your own home. The bed bugs are now on vacation in your home.

But there are things travelers can do to help prevent an infestation. First is to understand that bed bugs are NOT a DIY pest – if you think you might have them, contact a professional right away to get control as quick as possible. Over-the-counter products tend to make matters worse.

The next thing is to understand where they live – not only in beds but also behind baseboards, wallpaper, picture frames, drapery folds, upholstery, in pet beds and in furniture crevices.

They are elusive and nocturnal, leaving red, itchy bites. Bites usually appear in linear form, several bits in a row. As they’re crawling, they’re feeding.

Here are Top Five Tips To Help Prevent Bringing Bed Bugs Home

1. Before bringing your belongings into the hotel or Airbnb, thoroughly inspect the entire room for bed bugs, including behind the headboard, under lights and inside dressers, drawers, along seams of upholstered sofas and chairs.
2. Pull back the sheets and inspect the mattress seams and box spring, particularly at the corners, for pepper-like stains, spots or shed bed bug skins.
3. Carry a small flashlight or use the flashlight app on your phone to assist you with quick visual inspections.
4. Place suitcases in a plastic trash bag during the duration of the trip to ensure that bed bugs cannot take up residence there prior to departure.
5. Vacuum and properly inspect suitcases and your car after returning from a vacation. Do not bring the suitcase into your home until it has been thoroughly inspected once again.

If you suspect an infestation, contact hotel management immediately and ask to switch rooms. If you suspect bed bug activity in your home, call 800-GOT-PESTS? for a free inspection.

About Rose Pest Solutions, LLC

Since 1860, Rose Pest Solutions has been trusted in the Midwest to keep homes and businesses free from insects, rodents and more. Using cutting-edge technology, environmentally friendly methods, and personalized unique solutions, Rose and its sister company Franklin Pest Solutions are dedicated to creating and maintaining healthier living environments.

Owned by the Dold Family, Rose Pest Solutions proudly serves communities in all of Chicagoland, the Greater Milwaukee area, the Greater Rockford region and South Central Wisconsin Franklin Pest Solutions proudly serves Indiana and Kentucky. For more information, see www.rosepestcontrol.com and www.franklinpestsolutions.com.