Don’t Go Back to College with Bed Bugs

Latest News from National Pest Management Association about College and Bed Bugs

“Bed bugs are opportunistic and elusive pests,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. “As students return from summers filled with travel – which is often viewed as a central reason for this pests’ resurgence – and arrive with dorm furniture that can have an unknown history, university facility managers must proactively encourage student vigilance against bed bugs and work closely with licensed pest professionals to keep these pests at bay.”

NPMA offers these important tips to help prevent bed bugs from taking up residence in college dorms:

• Fully inspect your suitcases prior to re-packing for a return to school, especially if you have traveled during the summer. Be sure that any clothes that may have been previously packed in the suitcase have been washed in hot water.

• Before putting your sheets on your dormitory bed, inspect the mattress seams, particularly at the corners, for telltale stains or spots. Thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking, including behind the headboard and in sofas/chairs. If you see anything suspect, immediately contact a university facility manager.

• If you are considering bringing “secondhand” furniture to campus, properly inspect it to insure that a pest problem, such as bed bugs, is not the reason for its “secondhand” status. If you see anything suspect, do not bring it to campus.

If you are concerned about your student and bed bugs or have a bed bug problem in your home, give Rick a call at Green Earth Pest Control and we can help you out.