All about spiders!

Spiders are creepy looking, and the webs are frequent Halloween decorations. What’s a good haunted house without some spider webs and a big, hairy eight-legged creature menacing you from the darkest corner? But while spiders certainly can scare us, they also help us too. They are excellent pest control agents! Their webs trap flies and other insects on which the spiders subsist. Let’s get real about spiders.

First, those spooky webs we just mentioned: not all spiders spin webs! While all spiders are capable of producing silk, not all spider species use the silk to trap prey. Spider silk is incredibly strong, in fact, for its weight, it’s stronger than steel! The spiders that do spin webs have been doing so for 100 million years, and contrary to myth, the webs aren’t all round, symmetrical webs, they really do come in many shapes and sizes. What they do have in common is that they are all sticky. The stickiness is what aids in trapping prey.

How do the spiders who don’t spin webs find food? Some hunt their prey by hiding in flowers, waiting for prey, some dig deep burrows with a trap door to catch insects, some chase their prey and can run up to 2 miles per hour on those tiny legs! There are 47,000 species of spiders in the world and all together they eat between 400 and 800 tons of insects a year!.

Spiders get a bad rap as being aggressive. The truth is, spiders are as freaked out by us as we are of them. If it seems like the spider is rushing at you, the poor thing probably has poor eyesight and is just really trying to get away. Most spiders have poor vision and rely on other senses to navigate and find prey. Both dark, hidden places and light sources can have benefits for spiders. Dark, secluded spaces can be inviting to spiders hiding from predators, while light sources can help them to locate prey. Spiders in general, even black widows and brown recluse, won’t bite unless provoked. 

Spiders eat insects like mosquitos and roaches, as well as moths and help to lessen the spread of diseases caused by those pests. They will also kill other spiders. But as beneficial as they can be, you do NOT want an infestation of spiders in your house. If you’ve got spiders, you probably have other insects which are providing a steady food supply for the spiders, so the spiders might be the least of your worries! If you’re seeing a lot of webs in your attic, basement or any where else in your house, call a pest control professional to assess the spider situation and help to figure out what other insects you’ve got that are providing food for them. 

Ant Prevention Tips

Ants have a sweet tooth - don’t tempt them! Clean up crumbs and spills promptly!

Ants are the number one pest in the US and as with most pests we encounter, it’s easier to prevent an infestation that to have to eliminate it. Here are our top six tips to keep ants out!

1. Keep an eye on their usual hangouts Ants are most often found in kitchens, but they can also turn up in bathrooms, basements, bedrooms, living rooms and attics, pretty much where ever there is water (like around your air conditioning units, or near an outdoor hose.

2. And speaking of water … Reducing moisture and standing water around your home can go a long way to help prevent ants. Repair leaky pipes, and routinely check under sinks for areas of moisture. Consider using a dehumidifier in damp basements, crawl spaces or attics. Outside, ensure that downspouts and gutters are functioning properly so that water flows away from the home’s foundation.

3. Eliminate food sources Keeping your kitchen tidy will help to discourage ants from coming indoors. Wipe down counters and sweep floors regularly to eliminate crumbs and residue from spills. Store food in sealed pest-proof containers, and keep ripe fruit in the refrigerator. Wipe down sticky jars, especially any containing honey, syrup, soda or other sweets. Finally, use a lid on trashcans and dispose of garbage regularly.

4. Don’t forget about pets! Cats, dogs and other pets can inadvertently invite ants into your home. Their food and water bowls are an attractant for pests, so be sure to keep pet bowls clean and clean up any spilled food or water promptly. Opt to store dry pet food in a sealed container rather than the bags they often come in, which can be easily accessed by ants and other pests.

5. Block off access to your home! Take time to inspect the outside of your home for easy access points. Trees and bushes should be trimmed away from the home, as branches can provide highways indoors for ants. Seal any cracks and crevices on the outside of the home with silicone caulk, paying special attention to areas where utility pipes enter.

6. You don’t have to do it alone! Without the proper training and tools, battling ants can be an uphill battle. What’s worse, an infestation can continue to grow if it is not properly treated. Some species of ants can cause serious property damage (like carpenter ants) and others can pose health threats to your family. Even species that are considered nuisance pests (like odorous house ants) can contaminate food.

   So if you do find ants in your home, call Siani right away! We can send out one of our licensed, experienced technicians, determine what kind of ant and see where they are entering so we can work together to eliminate them completely.

Ants need water! Prevent an infestation by keeping areas inside your home clean and dry.

Spotted Lanternfly 101

Spotted lanternflies are planthoppers, and though they do have wings, they fly only They lay eggs in theshort distances and primarily jump or walk. They lay eggs in the fall which hatch in the spring, depositing 30-60 eggs on hard surfaces like house siding, trees, rocks, and decks. They go through several colorful phases as they mature, emerging in summer as adults which go on to lay their own eggs in the fall. They live about one year but can do a serious amount of damage in that time.

Spotted lanternflies’are an invasive species and were first introduced in the Berks County area in 2012. Their preferred plant to feed and mate on is the tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), itself an invasive species. But spotted lanterflies are not picky: they have been known to host on over 70 other plant species and will lay eggs just about anywhere.

Tree of Heaven

Spotted lanternflies are not directly harmful to humans in that they do not bite or sting, but they are a major destructive pest. They are a huge agricultural threat to plants and trees such as grapes, hops and hardwoods, causing costly damage. Spotted lanternflies harm their host plants by feeding on the plant’s sap, leading to weeping wounds of sap and mold, which can result in damaged trees and plants and ultimately the death of the vegetation.

What can you do? Check your property and especially vehicles when driving out of our area. Keep an eye on outdoor equipment, like grills, firewood and lawnmowers, when traveling in and out of the quarantined zones. If you find an infestation on your property, use these tips to curb the spread, then call a pest control professional who specializes in SLF treatment!

• Remove any tree of heaven you find on your property.

• When you see a Spotted Lanternfly, kill a Spotted Lanternfly. Swat, stomp, crush!

• Scrape any visible egg masses off of trees and dispose of them in a plastic bag with alcohol or hand sanitizer.

Ants 101

Ants are the number 1 nuisance pest in America, and they come in a lot of different sizes and types - from the tiny odorous house ant (aka sugar ant) to the Carpenter ant. Read on to learn which types can cause food contamination or expensive property damage!

Carpenter ant

Carpenter ants are among the largest ants in our area. They can infest your home and other buildings on your property. They have dark-colored bodies, narrow waists, and bent antennae. When found in homes, their nests are usually found in moist or decayed wood. Carpenter ants damage wood by excavating and creating galleries and tunnels for their nests. These areas are clean, i.e. they do not contain sawdust or other debris, as is usually seen with termites, and are smooth, with a well sanded appearance. The potential damage to wood structures is variable. The longer the ants are uncontrolled in a structure, the more damage they can do. Structural wood can be weakened when carpenter ant damage is severe, although damage occurs slowly, often taking years to occur.

Carpenter Ant damage

 The pavement ant is one of the most commonly encountered house-infesting ants throughout Pennsylvania. Pavement ants are around an eighth of an inch in length and have parallel lines on their thorax and head. They can vary in color from light brown to black, and their legs are lighter in color than the rest of their bodies. Pavement ant antennae have multiple segments and a club at the end. They naturally nest in the ground under a variety of objects but gravitate towards the pavement. If they are allowed to infest your home, they can spread bacteria to all surfaces they come into contact with which can contaminate your food.

Pavement Ant

  Odorous House Ants are species of small ant between 1/16 and 1/8 of an inch long that also goes by the names sugar ant, stink ant, and coconut ant. Odorous house ants will, given time, develop extremely large colonies. Winged ants from this type appear in May through July. Odorous house ants will nest indoors near sources of moisture and warmth, but also in termite-damaged wood. They have a sweet tooth, but can feed on so many types of food that they can contaminate stored products throughout the home.

Odorous House ants, aka sugar ants, stink ants or coconut ants.

Wasp Nest Identification

Do you know the difference between a wasp and a hornet nest? If you see any of these on your property, do not attempt to remove it yourself! Call a licensed professional who can remove it completely and safely.

Hornets’ nests are at least 3 feet off the ground, often in trees or under eaves and they average the size of a basketball.

Paper wasps’ nests don’t have the paper covering that hornets’ nests have, they are open and the little hexagonal cells they construct will be visible. These kinds of nests often only have 20-30 insects, but that doesn’t mean you can take care of it yourself!

Yellowjacket nests are underground with a very small opening. They can fly a good distance so don’t be surprised if you see insects but can’t find the nest right away.

Centipedes vs Millipedes

Centipedes and millipedes are both long, many-legged creatures that can be found in your yard or even in your house. But what are the differences between these two types of pests? And which one is more of a threat to your home?

Centipedes have segmented bodies and one set of legs per segment on the sides of their bodies. Their front “legs” are not actually for walking but for for injecting venom into the other insects they feed on. These fang-leg combos are unique to centipedes. Despite having this venom, their stings are not harmful to humans. Centipedes are creepy looking (the longest of the centipede species are 6 inches!) but are actually beneficial and eat other insects, such as cockroaches, silverfish, bed bugs, flies, moths and other spiders.

Millipedes also have segmented bodies but they are more rounded and have 2 sets of legs per segment directly under their bodies. Unlike the centipede, the millipede eats decomposing plants and wood and prefers to be outside, under your trash can, in piles of leaves, grass clippings or mulch, and flower beds. If you have millipedes in your home, it’s best to call a licensed pest control expert, as they can exude a substance that is toxic to animals and can cause small blisters on human skin.

Hiring a Pest Control Service?

Spring is here and if you’re a home- or property owner, you might be thinking about hiring a pest control company. Whether you’re needing a WDI inspection, or you’ve just discovered mice in the attic, hiring a pest control professional can be confusing and expensive. There are a lot of companies out there, from big corporations to small local businesses. How do you decide? Read on as we have some tips to find the pest control solution that’s right for you!

Ask Around: Friends, family and neighbors can be a good resource. Ask if they’ve used a pest control service and if so, how satisfied they were with the results/service. 

Read reviews: Search out online reviews. Look for companies with not only good ratings, but how do they respond to the not-so-good ones, if any? This is a good indication of the level of customer service you’ll receive. A responsible company will respond to all reviews and show appreciation for the good ones and try to improve from the bad ones.  Read some of our reviews here.

Shop Around: If it’s a big job, get quotes from a few companies and compare, don’t just go with the least expensive option!

Check Affiliations: Look for qualified and licensed pest control professionals and companies that are members of national, state or local pest management associations.

Hope these tips give a starting place for anyone looking to find a pest control company or any other type of service for your home or property. If you prefer working with a locally based, family owned company that takes customer service seriously, please give Siani Pest Control a call! 

Lady Bugs or Lady Beetles?

Lady Bugs or Lady Beetles? What’s the difference? 

The insects we know as lady bugs are actually small beetles and there are more than 6000 types! The Asian lady beetle is actually the most prevalent and it was brought to the US in 1916 to help combat aphids. While the red body with black dots is the type that first comes to mind when picturing a lady bug, these tiny beetles can be red, pink, orange or tan with or without black spots. They are generally beneficial to plants, eating aphids and scale insects, but too much of a good thing can mean a nasty infestation. Lady beetles leave behind drops of yellow liquid to protect them from predators, it has a very unpleasant odor and can leave stains. Asian lady beetles or lady bugs are not known to carry any diseases, though some types can bite if they land on your skin. 

The best way to prevent lady beetles from getting out of control inside your home is to prevent them getting inside in the first place. If you’ve not checked your home for cracks around windows and doors, now is the time. It’s also a good time to inspect your screens before warmer weather arrives, patch up any holes or tears. Insecticide around cracks and near openings of doors and windows can be effective in keeping the beetles out, but know that it’s useless once they’re inside. 

Spring Pests Part III: Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are large bodied black ants that become active in early spring. Similar to Carpenter Bees in that they don’t eat wood but chew it as they tunnel into it. And like carpenter bees, they can do damage to the wood in your home or on your property. Keeping them out is a matter of:

1. Sealing cracks and keeping branches and shrubs near your house trimmed.

2. Eliminate sources of moisture and standing water.

3. Store firewood and building materials (wood!) away from the house.

How do you know if you have carpenter ants? Seeing small piles of sawdust or body parts near small holes in wood is a pretty good sign that carpenter ants have set up a colony. In spring the winged males emerge and look to mate. Colonies can be comprised of more than 50,000 ants!

The presence of a carpenter ant nest is sometimes indicated by a rustling sound that will come from wall voids or from wood where the nest is located when they are disturbed. If you see one ant, don’t be complacent, if you see one there’s more. Call a pest control professional to safely and completely eliminate carpenter ants from your home or property!

Spring Pests and Prevention Tips Part II: Carpenter Bees!

Carpenter bees, or “wood bees,” are so called because they bore into wood to make their nests and raise their young. They don’t eat wood but tunnel into it, and wood like your eaves, deck, fencing or other wooden structures on your property can be seriously damaged by carpenter bees.

Carpenter bees that survived the winter in a tunnel or cell will emerge in early spring to mate and reproduce. Carpenter bees don’t live in colonies or hives like other bees, but one carpenter bee can do a significant amount of damage. To add to the issue, the larvae in the tunnels are food for woodpeckers, who may do further damage to the wood to extract and eat them. What can you do now to avoid Carpenter bee damage?

1. Paint and/or stain any wood, including fences, the exterior of your home, deck or sheds.

2. Fill depressions or cracks in wood to make it less attractive to the bees.

3. Fill occupied holes/tunnels with steel wool to prevent re-use.

If you find yourself with more of an issue than you can handle with carpenter bees, call a pest control professional! Call Siani!

Spring Pests and Prevention Tips

As much as we’re all looking forward to spring, it brings a whole new slew of pests into the picture here in the Berks, Lebanon and Lancaster county areas. Read on to learn more about the most common local spring time pests and how to keep them from causing headaches and worse: costing you money!

First up: Termites!

Termites: This word can strike fear in the hearts of homeowners all across the country and rightly so. Termites cost US homeowners over $5 billion in property damage every year. When spring comes, termite swarmers looking to start a new colony are typically the first sign of termite season. These winged-pests show up inside homes in early spring.

Termite Tips:

1. If you have any wood exposed to soil or near your foundation, it’s an open invitation to termites, carpenter ants and carpenter bees. Treat this wood with a termite product, even if it’s painted (paint alone will not deter these pests!).

2. Don’t place shrubs or any plants (or even mulch!) next to your foundation, the wood fibers and moisture will attract termites.

3. Check out this video on how to tell the difference between flying ants and termites. If you’re still confused about what you have, call a licensed pest professional!

If you find yourself with any kind of a pest issue, don’t wait - call a licensed, experienced LOCAL pest professional: call Siani! 610-589-4091.

All about Rodents

Rodents of some kind will find their way into over 21 million homes this winter. Familiarizing yourself with signs of a rodent presence in your home, then taking quick action at the first signs of an infestation will help safeguard your family’s health and your property value. Read on to find out what types of rodents we have in the Berks, Lebanon and Lancaster county areas and how to identify them.

Deer Mice - Deer Mice are found throughout the entire US and love to nest in fence posts, hollow trees, and log piles (your firewood!). They don’t come inside often, but if they do, they are a heath threat, as they are the most common carrier of Hantavirus. You can distinguish a deer mouse from an ordinary house mouse by their tail, which is bicolored brown and white. Prevention tip: Don’t tempt them inside by storing pet or bird food in garages or storage sheds!

House Mice - Unlike deer mice, house mice like to be inside in a dark secluded area of a house or other structures. but like deer mice they are also a health threat, and can spread Salmonella and tapeworms via fleas (also, fleas!). The main threat, however, is property destruction as they can gnaw through walls, food containers and furniture and have been know to cause fires by chewing through wires. House mice can fit through an opening as small as a dime. Although they have poor vision and are color blind, their other senses are very keen. Prevention tip: house mice love to nest in clutter, so keep storage areas clean and store boxes off the floor. Also, keep food in sealed, rodent-proof containers.

Norway Rats - Like deer and house mice, they’re found all over the US. They’re primarily nocturnal, and love to nest in basements, attics and and garages. Norway rats can cause significant damage gnawing through walls, doors, food containers, even plastic and lead pipes! They also carry disease, such as plague, jaundice, rat-bite fever, cowpox virus, trichinosis and salmonellosis. Also, fleas! Norway rats can gain entry into your home through a hole the size of a quarter so a good prevention tip is to seal cracks and holes in the exterior of your home before they squeeze in.

Now you know all about the rodents that are likely to invade your home, keep your eyes peeled for signs of rodent droppings, gnaw marks, footprints, damaged food containers or oily streaks on walls left behind by the rodents’ fur. Call Siani at the first sign of a rodent, because if you see one, there’s definitely more!

Our Top Pest Prevention Tips!

Ants, cockroaches, spiders, stink bugs, termites, mice, bees, rats; if you have them in your home, one thing is for certain, they ALL got there coming in from the outside. So, it should come as no surprise that many of our top pest prevention tips have to do with keeping them out in the first place. Read on to learn how to do the best job possible in preventing the most common pests in the Berks, Lebanon and Lancaster county areas!

Keep pest-friendly environments as far away from your house as you can.

• Trim tree limbs and keep them away from your house, roofs and windows in particular.

• Store firewood at least 20 feet from your home and at least 5 inches off the ground.

• Repair/seal cracks and holes in the exterior of your home and foundation.

• Repair leaky pipes and make sure drainage runs away from the house.

• Use weatherstripping around doors and windows, especially in the basement.

• Replace rotting shingles on your roof

Keep areas prone to dampness dry

• Maintain dry conditions in your basement with a fan and/or a dehumidifier

• See that your attic is also well ventilated

• Don’t allow exhaust fans from bathrooms or kitchens to vent into your attic or crawlspace.

  Keep things clean

• Inside, wipe up spills and crumbs promptly and remove garbage consistently.

• Outside, store garbage away from your house in heavy duty containers with tight-fitting lids.

  Don’t be afraid to call a pro!

• We can identify and eliminate all the common pests in the Berks, Lebanon and Lancaster county areas, so don’t hesitate to call us. We can also help to ensure that bugs don’t come back with a service plan that includes regularly scheduled visits throughout the year.

Where do pests go in the winter?

While we might be enjoying the cold months in our warm houses, or even taking off to Florida to soak up the sun, what happens to the pests over the winter?

Ants

Ants are very good at surviving cold temperatures. In the fall, they consume lots of food to survive for long stretches without eating. In winter, they hibernate deep in the soil or under rocks and emerge in spring, ready to chow down at your first picnic or cookout.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs can withstand temperatures from nearly freezing to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes them hard to eliminate, though they will most likely die after a few days of exposure to temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Too bad we provide them with toasty warm quarters in our homes and beds!

Cockroaches

No pest is quite so resilient as the cockroach. They have survived for millions of years and become highly adaptable to different environments. Cockroaches can and will survive year-round as long as they have access to warm, moist conditions, like our kitchens and bathrooms.

Termites

Subterranean termites, the most common variety in our area, can survive easily by digging down deep into lower layers of soil. In spring they swarm out, looking for mates and new nest locations, often in our houses!

Now you know that some of our more common pests will not just die off when the weather gets colder, be especially aware of signs of an infestation and call a pest control professional!

Five Signs You May Have a Termite Infestation

Termites can destroy a home in as little as one year and cost billions of dollars in damage for US homeowners. Repairing termite damage in the US typically costs between $600 and $3,000, with an average cost of $1,800 nationally. The structural integrity of your home can be compromised before you even know there’s an issue. Do you know what the signs of termite damage are? Let’s take a closer look.

Subterranean termite common in our area

1. Swarmers - appearing in the spring after the last freeze, these young females and males come out of the nest looking to mate and start a new colony. Seeing lots of discarded wings or the swarmers themselves, near windowsills and doors, is a pretty good sign that you have termites.

2. Mud tubes - look for these around the foundation of your home. Termites construct the tubes to provide moisture in between the colony and their food sources.

Termite mud tubes

3. Wood damage - Blistering or wood that sounds hollow when you when you knock on it can be a sign of termites.

4. Uneven or bubbling paint - this is either water damage or termites!

5. Frass - Termites produce wood-like droppings. If you see a small pile of wood-colored pellets, it’s a strong possibility you have a termite problem.

Seeing any or all of these signs around your home? Don’t wait, call a pest control professional in your area. In the Berks, Lebanon or Lancaster county areas? Call Siani!

How to avoid bedbugs when traveling

Summer vacation often means travel, and whether you’re staying in a hotel, motel or other rental accommodations, know what to do to prevent bedbugs from hitching a ride home with your family!

• Check the room BEFORE you unpack, leave your suitcases in the hallway while you inspect the behind the headboard and in sofas/chairs.  If you see any sides of bedbugs, change rooms or hotels immediately!

• The bed: pull back the sheets and inspect the mattress seams, particularly at the corners, for telltale stains or spots.  Again, if you see anything suspect, change rooms/establishments immediately.

• Once you’re home: inspect your suitcases before bringing them into the house. Vacuum them thoroughly - don’t forget the seams - and wash all of your clothes in hot water.

Follow these tips and let memories and maybe a sun burn be the only things you bring home from summer vacation!

Spring Pest Prevention Tips

Spring is coming and the time you devote now to pest prevention will pay off in the coming months. Let’s get started!

1. If you have any wood exposed to soil or near your foundation, it’s an open invitation to termites, carpenter ands and carpenter bees. Treat this wood with a termite product, even if it’s painted (paint alone will not deter these pests!).

2. April showers bring moisture loving pests! Check your outdoor faucets, hose hookups, etc., and fix any leaks, then install drains or spouts to avoid any standing water, as this is where mosquitos breed.

3. Check areas such as crawl spaces, basements and garages for dampness now to avoid more problems with summer humidity. Set up ventilation systems in spring and you’ll help prevent insects and possibly mold.

4. Don’t place shrubs or any plants (or even mulch!) next to your foundation, the wood fibers and moisture will attract pests such as termites.

   
   If you still find yourself with a pest issue, don’t wait - call a licensed, experienced LOCAL pest professional: call Siani! 610-589-4091.

Yellow jackets are STILL hanging around

It’s well past the end of summer, yet we’re still getting lots of calls about Yellow jackets. Ever wonder why these pests seem to get more aggressive as fall sets in? Read on and we’ll tell you!

Late summer and into fall the yellow jacket nest (“nest” can refer to both the collective insects and the structure they live in. Here it refers to both!) is as large as it will get, with potentially up to several thousand bees inside. That’s a lot of stingers! Yellowjackets are very territorial and will not hesitate to attack an intruder or someone who simply gets too close. Their stings are painful, and they can sting more than once. 

With more bees and the temperatures getting cooler, food becomes more scarce and the nest goes into survival mode. Desperate for the sweets they love, they might be seen hanging around trash bins or swinging by your tailgate party for the sweet drinks or spilled barbeque sauce. 

A development in recent years is the addition of the Spotted Lanternfly to the mix. The “honeydew” secreted by the Spotted Lanternflies is sweet and if the yellow jackets feed on it, it could actually contribute to the yellow jackets longevity.

But enough about why they’re around and why they’re so aggressive, what to do if you have a nest on your property? You may be tempted to try to eliminate the nest on your own. A quick web search provides a number of ways to handle a yellow jacket nest, including dumping ice into the nest, covering the nest entrances with bowls, or spraying peppermint oil at the nest. All of these methods are dangerous and we do NOT recommend them! The best thing to do is call a pest professional to safely and completely remove the nest, especially if the yellow jackets have gotten into your home. Nests in the wall of a building are very difficult to remove and should not be attempted by anyone other than a trained, experienced pest tech. 

Pest Proofing for Cooler Temperatures

Just when you thought you were safe from summer bees, flies and mosquitos, along come the cooler temperatures and spiders, cockroaches and rodents. Don’t let your home become a warm haven for these critters, follow these tips and keep them OUT!

• Look for cracks and holes outside your house, especially around where cables and pipes enter. Make sure they are sealed, mice and rats can fit their bodies through surprisingly small holes!

• While you’re checking around those pipes, make sure there are no leaks or clogged drains. Pests need water to survive, don’t provide it for them!  

• Screen the vent to your chimney, if you have one and keep your basement, garage, and any other storage areas clean and dry. 

• Check basement window and foundation and fix any loose weather stripping or mortar. 

• Install door sweeps and fix those screens. Check weather stripping around all doors and windows. 

• Store firewood at least 20 feet from your home. Insects and rodents like to nest in wood piles so don’t allow them easy access to your house or garage. 

Isn’t there enough to worry about with winter without adding a pest infestation to the list? Keep your home healthy and pest free when cooler weather arrives! 

How to Avoid Bedbugs

When it comes to a dream home for a bedbug, a college dorm or other communal living situation is ideal: lots of warm bodies in a small space.

If you understand how bedbugs travel, it’s easy to see how they can quickly become an infestation. They’re very good at hitchhiking; they can go for a long time without feeding and live in suitcases or furniture or sometimes electronics and books. Let’s look at some ways to prevent a bedbug invasion.

• Check suitcases thoroughly, inside pockets and under flaps.

• Fully inspect the room, especially the mattress and box spring, if there is one. Look for the telltale signs of bugs or eggs in every seam and crease. As well as the actual bugs, you’re looking for the tiny dark specks that are bedbug droppings, and small spots and stains. Be thorough and leave your bags in the hall or put them in a bathtub while you check.

• Secondhand furniture is also a big transporter of bedbugs. We all know students are on a budget and a free comfy sofa on a neighbor’s curb might seem like a lucky find, avoid secondhand furniture unless you can be sure the reason for it’s being tossed out is NOT bedbugs!

• Look closely at library books, as they also can transport bedbugs into your living space. Examine the binding and in between the pages for signs of bedbugs.

• Finally, itchy bites, especially in clusters of three, may indicate a bedbug bite.

  Bedbugs are one of the most difficult pests to treat, so don’t let them into your dorm room, apartment or home. Our techs are trained to treat bedbug infestations, so if you do end up with these pests, don’t hesitate to call for an appointment!