We all know about bed bugs. They’re greatly feared. It can be a huge ordeal to remove large infestations. That’s why it’s important to try to discover any potential infestation. Early detection starts with bed bug moats.

What are bed bug moats.

These are commercial products designed to monitor bed bugs and help prevent infestation. Mainly, they protect you from bed bugs, captures bugs, cost effective, discreet, and uses no chemicals.

Moats are small square trays that hold legs of furniture. Usually they’re about 12 cm by 12 cm on the outer moat and the inner moat is 10 cm by 10 cm. Early detection is crucial to keeping bed bugs out of your home. Bed bug moats are designed to give early signs of potential problems. They’re mainly used as a preventative measure before major infestation concerns. Even after treatment the moat can show success in bed bug removal.

There only needs to be one bed bug to start an infestation. They can easily get into your home by hitchhiking on luggage and clothing that were in contact with contaminated areas. Removing large infestations can be very costly. Sometimes waiting until blood spots on your sheets is too late. Using the bed bug moat as a monitor is a cheap way to stay on top of any issues. The moat captures bed bugs trying to make their way to the bed. Then, they cannot get out of the hyper polished moat.

How to use the bed bug moat.

Bed bug moats should be placed under each leg of furniture where people sleep or spend lots of time. The leg should rest in the centre of the moat. Make sure your bed is an island. Move it away from the wall and clear all nearby furniture. Don’t let anything touch the floor like hanging sheets or clothing. Leave the moat in place for a minimum of 30 day, but it’s recommended to keep them for as long as you suspect infestation. Regularly check the moat for bed bugs. Remove bugs using cotton balls with a small amount of cornstarch. It’s important to handle to moat with care. It likely has living bed bugs. Place it in several plastic bags. Remove it from your area and dispose in a sealed garbage container.

Signs of bed bugs.

• • • Blood stains on the sheets, mattress or pillowcase.
    • Dark or rusty spots of bedbug excrement on sheets and mattresses.
    • Bedbug fecal spots, egg shells, or shed skins in areas where bedbugs hide.
    • An offensive, musty odor from the bug’s scent glands.

Bed bug prevention.

It’s important to be aware of potential bed bugs in hotels especially rooms that appear unclean. Inspect questionable hotel rooms starting with the mattress and bed. Make sure your luggage is far from the bed. A lot of the time bugs can hitch on luggage or other clothing and materials that have contacted infested areas. They will easily make their way back to your space searching for your bed or other furniture. When returning home put all clothes in the laundry and place luggage in a plastic bag.

Bed bug bites are good early detectors of an infestation. The bugs feast on your blood during the night. Bites usually swell red and are irritatingly itchy. They appear as most other insect bites. Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between bed bugs, mosquito or flea.

Merrickville pest control.

Bed bug control can be very expensive. At the very first sign of infestation make sure to contact Truly Nolen Pest Control.