PSA: Bed Bugs
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Posted by varelseshrike
#1

I work in Pest Control here in Indianapolis and I thought I would share some information about Bed Bugs and the epidemic that could affect you. Almost everyone on this forum will be staying in a hotel next month for the convention and this is most likely place to get Bed Bugs. I have outlined below some points and suggestions. Please feel free to ask any questions. 

1. Indianapolis is one top 10 worst infested cities in the nation. 

2. Bed Bugs are not filth based bugs. The nicest hotels to the dodgiest motels can have them.

3. Average Bed Bug treatment is $1000 - $1500. 

4. You will sleep with them for quite some time before you notice them.

5. Inspect your hotel room. Bring a flashlight with you. Use the flashlight starting on the comforter. Remove each layer of the bed, all the way down to the fitted sheet. Once all the sheets and protectors are off, look at the mattress, especially near the head board. Focus on the seams on the mattress as well. Bed Bugs like to leave in nooks and crannies of beds and frames. 

6. If you find a Bed Bug, reach out to the front desk and notify them immediately. 

I have seen it all, and we do bed bug work every day. If you have any questions let me know. I linked a YouTube video from SciShow with some great info. 

Posted by stiehle
#2

But will a Cure Disease spell eradicate the infestation?

Posted by aaronmlopez stiehle
#3

stiehle wrote:
But will a Cure Disease spell eradicate the infestation?

Needs to be cast at a higher level than the caster of the Insect Plague... 

Posted by stryyder
#4

As an incoming non-Indy resident who has never had to deal with this problem, thanks for the heads up.  Definitely good information to have.

Posted by nascragman
#5

darn it.  now ill be thinking about this every time I lay down
 

Posted by andrewj.rager nascragman
#6

nascragman wrote:
darn it.  now ill be thinking about this every time I lay down
 
I know. No problems last year, no I won't be able to sleep. lol

Posted by njseahawksfan nascragman
#7

nascragman wrote:
darn it.  now ill be thinking about this every time I lay down
 
Just inspect the mattress before hand and you're good to go.

Posted by garhkal
#8

Thanks for the heads up...  And as the OP said, this is something that matters not if its a clean or dirty(skanky) place.. 

Posted by jevertt
#9

Then, ask for a new room in a fully sold it hotel...

Posted by varelseshrike jevertt
#10

jevertt wrote:
Then, ask for a new room in a fully sold it hotel...

They are not actually completely sold out, usually. They normally leave a couple empty rooms for a variety of reasons, this being one of them.

Posted by grizzly73
#11

You can search for your hotel on http://bedbugregistry.com/ to see if there are reports... Like G.I. Joe said: "Knowing is half the battle".

Posted by pinheadjo
#12

Is there anything that the hotel guest can use to reduce their risk of exposure to these pest?

Posted by varelseshrike pinheadjo
#13

pinheadjo wrote:
Is there anything that the hotel guest can use to reduce their risk of exposure to these pest?

Yes. Don't unpack your suitcase. Live out of it. When not in it, leave it closed and zipped. You can even put dirty into a plastic bag or trashbag in the suitcase.

When you get home, take all your clothes and fabrics from your suitcase and put them right into the dryer on high for 30-45 minutes. 

Posted by lore seeker grizzly73
#14

grizzly73 wrote:
You can search for your hotel on http://bedbugregistry.com/ to see if there are reports... Like G.I. Joe said: "Knowing is half the battle".

*checks*

Phew - last report at the hotel I'm staying at was in 2015.

Posted by raidkillsbugsded pinheadjo
#15

pinheadjo wrote:
Is there anything that the hotel guest can use to reduce their risk of exposure to these pest?

A flamethrower

More seriously, like the poster above said, use the dryer...heat kills them.  I had an issue in Columbus once, meaning I was eaten alive while in the hotel there by something (in a 'nice' hotel too, so, as stated earlier, anyplace can harbor them).  When I got home, I left my suitcase in the cab of my beater pickup in the non-shaded driveway for 3 or 4 days in  90 degree + summer temps...If anything did hitchhike, it didn't survive that...

Posted by garhkal grizzly73
#16

grizzly73 wrote:
You can search for your hotel on http://bedbugregistry.com/ to see if there are reports... Like G.I. Joe said: "Knowing is half the battle".

Thanks for posting that link.  MANY of the downtown hotels have reports, but most seem to be from 2015 or older..

Posted by lore seeker garhkal
#17

garhkal wrote:
grizzly73 wrote:
You can search for your hotel on http://bedbugregistry.com/ to see if there are reports... Like G.I. Joe said: "Knowing is half the battle".

Thanks for posting that link.  MANY of the downtown hotels have reports, but most seem to be from 2015 or older..

Hopefully that means they've corrected the matter.

Posted by garhkal
#18

Crossing my fingers its so.

Posted by caitcreates grizzly73
#19

grizzly73 wrote:
You can search for your hotel on http://bedbugregistry.com/ to see if there are reports... Like G.I. Joe said: "Knowing is half the battle".

I poked around a bit on that website - the most recent report from anywhere seems to be from Feb. of 2016 - almost 18 months ago.  Is there any other site that is more current?

Posted by donaldbain
#20

This one seems current - http://www.bedbugreports.com/city/in-indianapolis

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