We commonly call them bed bugs, but they are far from staying in beds. They are found almost everywhere people gather -and yes, the office can have bed bugs.
Just the thought of bed bugs in the office can make employees feel uneasy. Fortunately, the problem is manageable if you know the signs and how to eliminate them. Let Convectex Bed Bug Heater Systems help keep the team at the office and the bed bugs at home.
How do bed bugs get into an office?
Bed bugs are common all over the world and are experts at hitchhiking. But, unlike fleas and ticks, bed bugs cannot cling onto a person for a carpool to the office. They cannot grab onto you and travel. So, they must stow away in personal belongings like a bag, container, or furniture.
In most cases, your new office bed bugs were likely brought in on furniture such as an office chair. It is also possible for them to tag along in a jacket pocket or briefcase of an employee or guest that has an infestation at home.
If your office is a suite in a building with neighbors, your bed bugs may come from next door. In this case, you will need to speak with your landlord to discuss an extermination strategy for the building because you can treat it, but they will keep coming if the neighbors are not doing anything in their suite to deal with the problem.
It is always a worthwhile exercise to consider where the bed bugs came from because you can get re-infested again and again. Successful treatment does not prevent future occurrences, so long-term success depends on identifying the source and preventing future reoccurrences. It is also helpful to own a bed bug heater system to treat the office anytime you think there may be an issue. Like most everything... catching it early and dealing with it quickly, saves time, and money and keeps the office working.
Don't Wait to Begin Treatment - Bed Bugs Reproduce Quickly!
Don't wait to see if the problem will go away by itself. If there's one thing that bed bugs are good at, it's reproducing. If you start with one pregnant female in your office, you could be looking at an infestation of more than 8,000 adults after six months. That includes tens of thousands of immature bed bugs and around 60,000 eggs.
While bed bugs are not known to spread disease, their bites are often itchy and can cause a rash, and a few people are allergic and suffer much more.
The longer you wait to begin treatment, the harder it will be to successfully eliminate the problem. Start treatment at the first signs of bed bugs. Even if you see one, there is likely more hiding nearby.
How can I avoid an infestation?
Bed bug infestations always start with just a few individuals. If you can catch them early, you can avoid a full-on infestation.
The best thing to do is to be proactive about preventing bed bugs in the office. Regular inspections, vacuuming the carpets, and keeping personal belongings away from public transportation can help keep the office clean and free from bed bugs.
We can help! Check out the resources from Convectex to educate your team. See Convectex Training and Resources.
Bed bugs are nasty, their bites irritating, and an infestation may damage your company's reputation. Killing bed bugs with your own heat treatment equipment will keep you safe if an infestation is suspected.
Convectex is North America's leading supplier of professional-grade bed bug heat treatment packages, so visit our website today.