Everything Youve Ever Wanted to Know About Bedbugs

Bed bugs generally dont carry diseases, but they often leave a nasty rash.Source:SuppliedNO PLACE is a guaranteed bedbug-free zone; any place humans sit, rest or sleep gives bedbugs the opportunity to feed and multiply. I interviewed Paul Curtis, an entomologist, and he confirmed my worst fears about bedbugs.

But he also offered some advice on how to protect yourself from this travel scourge (and warns us about the unexpected pest you can find on planes).Here are Curtiss tips on how to spot bedbugs, and what to do if you find them.CAN YOU BRING THEM BACK TO YOUR BED AT HOME?

Bedbugs are relentless hitchhikers, and their primary method of transportation is humans and their belongings. Bedbugs can latch onto our suitcases or clothing if we stay in an infested hotel room, and hide until we reach our final destination home.The best way to prevent bedbugs from becoming your unintentional roommates is to conduct thorough checks at the hotel and all your personal items when you get home.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU DO IN A HOTEL ROOM?Bed bugs generally dont carry diseases, but they can cause a nasty rash.Source:SuppliedThe first thing you should do when you arrive in a hotel room is thoroughly inspect it for signs of bedbugs.

Put your luggage in the bathroom to start, as this non-carpeted room is the most unlikely place for bedbugs to linger.Inspect your bed by pulling the doona and sheets back and checking for any signs of bedbugs. Lift and check underneath the mattress and box spring and at the top and bottom of the bed.

These critters are small but visible to the naked eye, so a careful examination will reveal adult and nymph bedbugs, along with their eggs. You may also see dark or red faecal spots and leftover moulted skins.Carefully check all other furniture in the room.

Bedbugs can crawl behind hanging picture frames, hide in corners of the nightstand and disappear inside drapes.Once your room has been checked, store your luggage on a hard surface or luggage rack rather than a bed, couch or fabric chair for the smallest chance of contamination.WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU FIND THEM?

Theyre not hard to spot if you have a good look at the mattress. Picture: Terry Gilliam (FILE)Source:APIf you see signs of bedbugs in your hotel room, contact the front desk immediately so they can call a qualified pest management professional to resolve the problem. Leave the area and properly examine all of your clothing and belongings, and request a new room.

If you do suspect youve encountered bedbugs, leave your suitcase and belongings in the garage or another separate area when you return home. The luggage can be vacuumed and wiped down to reduce the chances of bringing bedbug or their eggs inside. Remove and examine your shoes for bedbugs and eggs before bringing them into the house.

For an extra level of protection, wash travel clothes immediately when you return. Items that cannot be washed can usually be run through the dryer for 20 to 30 minutes, as the heat from the dryer alone is enough to kill all stages of bedbugs and their eggs.If you are unsure of the severity of your situation, call a pest control professional for an inspection.

WHAT ARE THE MOST UNUSUAL PLACES YOU CAN FIND THEM?Bedbugs arent found just in beds they can thrive in any location where there is a human host. The most unusual place we discovered bedbugs was inside prosthetics.

Some other unexpected places bedbugs have been found are in court rooms, healthcare facilities, and on public transportation, as well as chairs in movie theatres and restaurants.No place is a guaranteed bedbug-free zone; any place humans sit, rest or sleep gives bedbugs the opportunity to feed and multiply.HOW DO YOU GET RID OF THEM ONCE YOU HAVE THEM?

The gross little suckers can be killed with extreme heat or cold.Source:ThinkStockThere are several steps you can take to eliminate bedbugs.Immediately wash infested bedding according to the manufacturers instructions the soap and heat can help eliminate bedbugs at any stage.

However, if you suspect you might have an infestation, the best thing to do is to call a professional. Pest management professionals have the best methods for treating a bedbug infestation in its entirety.HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETELY ERADICATE THEM?

Eradicating bedbugs is tricky and the length of time to resolve the problem varies on a case-by-case basis. Some infestations can be persistent.Time to control depends on the severity of the problem, where they are hiding, and the type of treatments performed.

HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF FROM BEDBUGS?Regular self, luggage, and room inspections are the most effective way for someone to protect themselves from bedbugs.Some companies market luggage encasements that help prevent bedbugs from entering your bag.

Investing in hard-sided luggage, instead of fabric, can also help prevent bedbugs from creeping in.CAN THEY MAKE YOU SICK? DO THEY CARRY DISEASES?

Hotels sometimes employ experts like Rubi to sniff out trouble. Picture: Richard Walker (FILE)Source:News LimitedWhile bedbugs have not yet been shown to transmit diseases through feeding activities, there may still be health risks associated with exposure to these pests.The most common health issue is the result of itching or excessive scratching of the bites they leave behind, which can cause damage to the skin and introduce infection.

In rare cases, individuals may have severe allergic reactions to bedbug bites. HOW LONG DO THEY LIVE?The average lifespan of a bedbug is typically around ten months.

A female bedbug lays eggs singly or in small groups and they take anywhere from six to seventeen days to hatch.By the time she dies, a female may have laid hundreds of eggs.ARE HOTELS AS LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED AS BUDGET MOTELS?

All hotels are equally susceptible to contracting bedbugs, as they are primarily introduced and spread by hotel visitors.However, hotels that conduct more thorough room inspections can often detect problems sooner and engage a pest control professional before the issue spreads from room to room. WHAT DO HOTELS DO TO GET RID OF BEDBUGS?

Most hotels rely on pest management professionals to create customised treatment plans to remove any signs of bedbugs. This can include a variety of methods, from the use of heat and cold to bringing in bedbug-sniffing dogs.RELATED8 Things You Need to Do in Your Hotel Room10 Dirty Little Secrets of HotelsFive Ways to Stop Bedbugs Before They BiteThis article originally appeared on Smarter Travel and was reproduced with permission.