Misschien ken je bedwantsen niet, maar heb je wel eerder van ‘bedluizen’ of ‘bedbugs’ gehoord. Dit zijn allemaal dezelfde bekende, maar vervelende beestjes. Bedwantsen zijn makkelijk te verspreiden doordat bijvoorbeeld toeristen ze meedragen in hun koffers. Hierdoor kunnen bedwantsen eenvoudig én ongezien op bedden, vloeren en zelfs muren komen. Het is dan ook niet zomaar dat je bedwantsen vaak in een hotel tegenkomt. Als hoteleigenaar van een hotel aansprakelijk zijn voor bedwantsen beten bij je gasten tijdens hun verblijf, dat wil je natuurlijk niet!
What is a bed bug?
A bed bug is small and brown. These insects can also only grow to 5 to 6 mm in size. These pests occur naturally in South America, but have been spread all over the world by tourists. There is no country left where bed bugs do not occur. For a long time it was thought that bed bugs no longer existed in the Western world due to the use of pesticides, but nothing could be further from the truth. Especially in recent years, the creatures have been on the rise again.
What do bed bugs live on?
Bed bugs are small parasites. This means that they must live from a host. Bed bugs live by sucking your blood or the blood of pets. That is why most bed bugs can be found in and around your bed so that they can suck your blood with their snout. Unfortunately, adult bed bugs can go without food for several months, making it difficult to get rid of them. Moreover, bed bugs also reproduce very quickly. A female can lay approximately 10 eggs per day. These eggs hatch after 2 weeks, after which they will reproduce quickly again.
Recognizing bed bugs
Bedwantsen verblijven niet alleen in de bedden van je woning of een hotelkamer, maar vaak ook in gordijnen en tapijten. Bedwantsen zitten ook tussen kieren en naden of achter nachtkastjes. Wanneer je ze ’s nachts opzoekt en zij net heel veel ‘gegeten’ hebben kun je ze sneller zien, want dan kunnen ze soms wel tot 3x hun normale grootte opzwellen. Hoe dan ook, overdag zul je bedwantsen niet snel tegenkomen, omdat de beestjes nogal lichtschuw zijn. Bedwantsen verspreiden ook een weeïge waaraan je ze kunt herkennen.
Are you afraid of bed bugs? Check everything
In an infested room or hotel room, you can also find shed skins and black spots of bed bug feces. If you encounter this in a hotel, it is wise to ask for another room as soon as possible. This way you avoid bringing bed bugs home with you. If you cannot get another room at the hotel, it is best to book another hotel immediately. However, this will not happen quickly, because nuisance from pests will of course lead to more complaints from guests and with all those online reviews that guests can leave, you obviously don't want this.
Tips for proper inspection
Because bed bugs are very difficult to find, it is important that you always check the room and belongings properly. We have a number of tips to help you with this.
Put your luggage in the bathtub
- When you finally get to the hotel after a long trip, you often want to put down your things and go straight to bed. You are tired and just want to lie down for a while. This is very normal and most people want this, but it is better not to do this. If you enter a room and suspect that there may be bed bugs, you may want to first put your luggage in the bathtub upon arrival. You may now be thinking: in the bathtub!? Yes, it sounds very strange, but this is a place where you can be sure that there are no bed bugs. This way you can inspect the room and also ensure that the critters do not crawl into your luggage.
Check the known spots
Start inspecting the room in an area where you know bed bugs may be present. These are often places where they can hide well. This can be in sheets and mattresses and it is also important to check the slatted base. Use your phone's flashlight for this.
Look for spots
As you have read before, you have to look for black spots and droppings. The spots are crushed bugs or eggs. If you encounter this, it is best to leave immediately.
The wall
It often happens that a bed is placed against the wall. In this case it is wise to also look carefully at the edges of the image. This is a popular place for bed bugs to hide. To be able to see these traces clearly, it is wise to also use the flashlight on your phone.
Don't forget the other stuff
It is also important to look at other places and other objects in the room. This includes blankets and sheets, but also bedside tables and chairs.
Bed bugs and poor hygiene
It is often thought that a bed bug infestation is caused by poor hygiene, but this is actually not true. As you have read before, the bugs are spread by people. You can therefore easily take the creatures to a clean home so that everything can be spread in this way. It is true that bed bugs easily survive in beds that are not changed often. Therefore, try to check and change your bedding regularly.
Are you a hotel owner?
If you are a hotel owner and you suspect that there are bed bugs in your hotel, it is wise to take action as quickly as possible. Find a local exterminator, because you need professional pest control immediately. Of course, you don't want to have an infestation throughout the hotel.
Combating bed bugs: method
The method used by an exterminator depends on the size of the infestation, but also on where exactly the bed bugs are located. Depending on the situation, steam, heat or poison may be used. Because bed bugs are small, it is important to perform follow-up treatment. This is necessary to ensure that all bed bugs are dead. If this is not done, new pests may arise and you naturally want to prevent this at all costs.
How much does professional pest control cost?
Every pest control is different, because every situation is different. The extent of each infestation is different, but the location of the bed bugs is also different. A professional exterminator will know what the situation is and what he will need for this through an intake interview. He also knows exactly which resources he needs for control. Based on all this information, he can calculate exactly what is needed for the job and give you an indication of this.
Our free tool
You may have already noticed the tool on our website, but it is completely free. This not only allows you to find out what type of pests you are dealing with, but this way you can also easily get in touch with the 3 best exterminators in your region. If desired, you can submit a request so that the exterminators contact you without obligation. This way you can easily see which company appeals to you most.
