It is time for college students to return to school–or adventure out for the first time. If you are a college student, or the parent of a student, there is something you need to know. This is the time of year when bed bugs go to school too. It isn’t that bed bugs are interested in higher learning. While these insects are definitely smart, they aren’t exactly “college” smart; but they are smart enough to know how to spread and how to keep themselves from being detected by humans as they spread. Here are some facts you need to know about bed bugs before you or someone you love heads off to college.

Bed Bug Facts

• Bed bugs go through five development stages called instars. In the first stage, they can be as small as the tip of a pen.
• Bed bugs must feed on blood to develop, but their bites aren’t always immediately noticeable. Bites from nymphs can be small and have no rash associated with them at first.
• A home can be infested with bed bugs and the homeowner may not know it. That means returning students may not even know they’re bringing bed bugs with them.
• Many students travel to college from other countries where pest control measures are much more lax.
• These bugs don’t just infest dirty places. They can be found in the cleanest of environments. They will live anywhere they can get a blood meal.
• Bed bugs can be picked up on the way to college. These pests have been found in planes, trains, buses, taxis, and other forms of public transportation.
• Infestations are more common in areas of high population or where people travel.
• Bed bugs can avoid detection easier when there is more clutter.

Bed Bug Tips

• Learn to know what bed bugs, and their eggs, looks like. A bed bug egg does not need the mother in order to hatch.
• Learn to recognize bed bug bites. These are most often recognizable by the rash that develops around the bite wound.
• Be prepared to look closely when you see a tiny bug crawling around.
• If you’re a college student, keep your room free of clutter.
• If you see a bed bug or notice signs of bed bugs, report it immediately.
• Bed bugs leave black streaks, blood stains, and shed casings when they infest. Look for these signs on mattresses, sheets, pillowcases, upholstered furniture, baseboards, outlet covers, and electronics.
• Keep your guard up.

An ounce of precaution goes a long way when it comes to bed bugs. Don’t let the bed bugs bite; and if you can help it, don’t let them come back home with you.

If you get bed bugs or want to keep from getting bed bugs in your Macon, Georgia, home, give Active Pest Control a call. This is a pest that can be controlled. We’ll walk you through your options and help you keep these disturbing bugs from finding a home inside your house.