Bedbugs Bite

“Sleep tight ...don’t let the bedbugs bite.” Nothing like sending little ones off to Slumberland with visions of bugs gnawing on their skin.

I never used to give the little buggers a second thought. I thought the phrase was a harmless old saying from the Colonial Period. But it seems, bedbugs are tired of sleeping around. They want to take a more prominent place in the world.

Bedbugs have found their way to hotels, movie theatres, and retail stores. It seems even Victoria Secret has been bitten by the bug. After all these years...now we learn her little secret...Victoria has bugs.

Anywhooooooooooooo..............

Here are a couple of bedbug precautions to take with you while you’re traveling.

Get a good look at what is in your hotel bed by turning on the lights and pulling back all the bedding. Make sure you’re not sleeping with the enemy.

Bedbugs are not microscopic, so if they are present...you’ll see them. They are easily spotted with the naked eye. Just make sure to keep your naked body out of the sheets before checking.

Another tip....put your suitcase on the luggage rack instead of the bed. You don’t want to bring bugs home with you in your luggage. It will give new meaning to “Hey kids, look what I brought home for you.”

Being the informative Kat that I am, I did a little research for you...which has left me with a creepy crawly feeling.

Bedbugs are hardy little devils that can survive a wide range of temperatures. Below 61°F they enter semi-hibernation and can survive for at least five days at 14 °F. Their thermal death point is 113 °F. Bedbugs apparently cannot survive high concentrations of carbon dioxide for very long. Natural enemies of the bedbug include cockroaches, ants, spiders and centipedes.

So a remedy appears easy: Set your thermastat at temperatures below 14 F or above 113 F, release carbon dioxide into your ventilating system, or invite colonies of ants, spiders, and cockroaches into your home. Those bedbugs are as good as dead, should you still be around to notice.

So the next time you venture out...be VERY careful you don't pick up bedbugs that are hitching a ride. No matter how much they offer to give you for gas.