Bed Bugs Threaten Hotel / Motel Industry

Bed bugs are small, rusty colored insects that live and gather in places like upholstered furniture, mattresses, baseboards, walls, and other indoor areas. After World War II, bed bugs were rare in our society, however once the effective yet extremely dangerous pesticide DDT was banned, bed bugs started to reoccur.

Another contributing factor to bed bugs today is that of international travel. Bed bugs can easily stow away in suitcases, and take up residence in the room where the suitcase is unpacked. Because many travelers stay in hotels and motels, bed bugs threaten the hotel / motel industry. Bed bugs are prevalent in areas of Africa, Asia and South America, and can easily be unknowingly transported from those areas to other places around the world.

Bed bugs feed on the blood of living hosts, and most often live close to the place where they feed. Because they're most active at night and prefer feeding on sleeping people and pets, mattresses are ideal homes for these pests. Bed bug infestation appears as dark spotting on furniture or mattresses, which is dried waste from the bugs. Because bed bugs can breed quickly, they often spread from room to room. This is why they're especially bad when found in hotels and motels. Once bed bugs multiply, they can quickly become an out of control problem.

Recently featured by the media was the story of a Chicago woman who sued a resort for millions of dollars because of bed bugs. After the third night at the resort, the woman noticed a large number of fiery welts on her body. An actual bed bug was found in the bed of the couple, along with blood and bed bug excrement.

With the resurgence of bed bugs in society, it's only a matter of time before more lawsuits come to light. So how can the hotel and motel industry best protect against these pests? One way is prevention. By inspecting areas thoroughly for signs of bed bugs, the problem can be taken care of before it gets out of control. Frequent vacuuming and even steam cleaning of bedding, carpets and furniture can also go a long way towards preventing infestation. If bed bugs are found in hotels or motels, the most prudent solution would be the hiring of a professional exterminator experienced in getting rid of them. These pests can simply be too tricky to remove for someone who's not skilled in insect extermination.