Family vacations, international travels, and road trips are extraordinarily fun. During these special events, long-lost friends, college classmates, and families come together to share their past experiences. When it is time to return home, there is a boatload of memories to take with you. While you would love to take home these special people, everyone has a life to return to. Unfortunately, not every encounter will be a memorable one. This is especially true for people, encountering bed bugs during their travels.
Do Bed Bugs Target Travelers?
Yes, bed bugs specifically target travelers, staying in motels, country inns, hotels. And bed & breakfasts. These temporary rental facilities are highly known for playing host to travelers from all walks of life. With so many frequent fliers, hotels just happen the make the perfect gateway between bed bugs and humans.
Know What Travel Accommodations Are Infested With Bed Bugs
Contrary to belief, all travel accommodations are on the bed bug’s target. Five-star resorts, roadside inns, chalets, hostels, guest houses, motels, and homestays are frequently targeted by bed bugs. These facilities are constantly hosting professionals, tourists, families, honeymooners, and other groups. When you visit one of the aforementioned travel accommodations, you are almost always guaranteed to encounter bed bugs.
How To Inspect A Motel Room For Bed Bugs?
Knowing there is the possibility of a bed bug encounter as a hotel guest will play in your favor. Now, you are aware of the potential encounter, it is time to learn how to conduct a bed bug inspection. It all begins immediately upon entering the room. The first step of the process is to visually scan the room for signs of a bed bug infestation. If any signs are obvious, do not enter the room, instead, visit the front desk for assistance.
If not signs of bed bugs were detected during the initial assessment, it is clear to enter the room. Upon entering the room, it is time to conduct the second assessment. This time, you must physically assess the room, not just visually scan it.
We highly recommend starting the inspection at the bed. Since bed bugs are known to infest mattresses, box springs, and bed linen, this is where the second inspection should begin. Slowly remove the bedspread, sheets, and blankets before inspecting the mattress and box springs.
What Are The Signs Of A Bed Bug Infestation?
Before you can move further into the bed bug inspection process, you need to know the signs of an infestation. Once you are familiar with the signs, you can implement them during the inspection.
- Fecal Material – Fecal droppings, black in color, can be found on pillows, bed linen, mattresses, and box springs
- Exoskeletons – Bed bugs shed the thin shell that covers their bodies during the molting process. The insect sheds its exoskeleton in the host’s bed
- Blood Stains – Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on human and animal blood. The insect penetrates the victim’s skin with its feeding tube. Feeding continues for a few minutes before withdrawing its feeding tube, spilling a few drops of blood. The blood dries on the linen or victim’s clothing
- Live Insects – The most obvious sign of an infestation is live bed bugs
- Bite Marks – Bed bug bites can be found on exposed body parts, including the arms, neck, and upper back
Protect Your Belongings
If you think a bed bug encounter is bad, you have never witnessed an infestation. Every infestation develops from a bed bug encounter, which can take place in hospitals, friend’s houses, nursing homes, college dorms, homeless shelters, and airplanes. There is nowhere 100 percent safe from bed bugs.
