Terminex recently released the top 10 bed bug infested cities.  Congratulations NYC, you are no longer the number one infested city, Philadelphia has earned the top spot!  (New York city now ranks number 3 in most Bed Bug infested cities).  Should the rest of us relax?  Absolutely not!  If you have experienced bed bugs in your business, you already know the drama it brings.  If you have not yet had the pleasure, now is the time to have a plan in place so you will be ready when that call comes.

Bed bugs are not going away.  It’s nobody’s fault, it’s a perfect storm of nature, increased world travel, and pest control.  Bed bugs were nearly extinct in the United States through the use of DDT which effectively killed bed bugs and their eggs.  Unfortunately, it also killed other things in our environment which we valued.  After the ban on DDT, chemical treatment has been effective in killing the bug, but not their eggs, which makes it more complicated to eliminate bed bug infestations.  Increased travel helped reintroduce bedbugs back into our country and the prolific nature of bed bug reproduction has created almost an epidemic of infestation in many areas. 

What can Corporate Housing Professionals do to be prepared for a complaint about a mysterious bug bite?  Here are some suggestions:

• Train your housekeeping staff to identify the signs of bed bugs.  Because they are nocturnal and hide in small dark places, in most cases you will not actually see the bug.  Look for small blood spots on the sheets- a result of the bite.  Also look for small black spots (that look like ink spots) on the mattress, box, nightstand, or baseboards (bed bug excrement)  Proactively finding an infestation will help reduce the growth and spread.
• If your guest complains that they are being bitten by bed bugs, have a professional confirm the presence of bed bugs.  Many itchy welts look the same.  Bed bug bites have been confused with chicken pox, flea bites, jigger bites etc. 
• Once an infestation has been identified in an apartment, it is a good idea to do a 360 degree check of surrounding units.  Bed bugs easily move through outlets and baseboards into surrounding units.  It is not unusual for the infestation to originate in a surrounding unit.  If the original “nest” is not eliminated, the problem will return. 
• Have a Customer Care plan in place for how to help your guest.  If your plan involves moving the guest to a new unit, be sure they are not moving bed bugs with them!  Temperatures over 113 degrees kill bedbugs and their eggs.  Anything a guest can safely heat in a dryer for 15 minutes will eliminate the possibility of taking the infestation with them.  Other items (such as luggage) should be treated by a professional.
• Know your options for pest control in your cities.  If you are renting apartments, you will need to work together with property management to treat according to their protocol.
• If bed bug sniffing canines are available in your area, they can be very effective in helping you to know when the apartment is pest free.  These extensively trained dogs, while not 100% accurate, are very effective in identifying even the most minor infestation!

Bed bugs are no joke and not a bedtime nursery rhyme anymore!  They can be very disruptive to your business and your guest.  You can’t prevent bed bugs from biting, but you can be prepared when they do!