By Jennifer Brumfield
Don’t let the name fool you. Bed bugs aren’t just found on mattresses and beds. Since bed bugs feed almost exclusively on human blood, they can be found wherever humans are — including offices. That’s why it’s important for facility managers responsible for office space to be aware of the warning signs of bed bugs, the precautions that can be taken, and the treatments available.
A 2015 study by the National Pest Management Association found 99.6 percent of pest professionals treated for bed bugs in the past year, while 45 percent of those surveyed encountered a bed bug infestation in an office building.
Offices can easily find themselves with a bed bug infestation because these blood-suckers are the pest world’s best hitchhikers. Bed bugs do not like to remain on human bodies, but hide out in clothes, bags, and other personal belongings, going from place to place looking for their next meal. Once inside a building, they can spread quickly — under ideal conditions, an infestation left undetected for a year can turn into more than 10,000 bed bugs.
While bed bugs are not known to spread diseases, their bites can cause itchy, red welts on the skin. Their presence can also lead to business disruptions, reputation damage, and even human-resources, risk-management, and litigation issues if allowed to linger for too long.
Because bed bugs can enter a building at any time on personal belongings, it’s impossible to completely prevent them; however, there are measures facility managers and tenants can take to mitigate the risk of an infestation.
Bed bugs are small, flat and round, about 2-3 mm in length and brown in color, resembling a small apple seed. Signs of a bed bug infestation include live or dead bed bugs, small red to rust-colored stains on furniture or walls, shed bed bug skins, or white, sticky eggs.
Regularly inspect all areas of the office for signs of bed bugs. Look in cracks and crevices, especially around chairs, where the carpet meets the baseboards, and behind electrical outlets. Pay extra attention to employee break rooms, lounges, and other areas with plush furniture where people congregate.
Vacuum every day. With so many people coming and going each day, the potential for bed bugs is always present. Regular vacuuming of carpets and furniture can help eliminate and prevent bed bugs.
It’s a good idea to eliminate clutter, as it can provide more hiding spots and make it more difficult to detect bed bugs. And before second-hand furniture is purchased and brought to the office, thoroughly inspect it, as bed bugs may already be living in it. Don’t buy any furniture that has signs of bed bugs.
It’s also worthwhile to encourage tenants and employees to be vigilant about bed bugs in their own homes and while traveling.
Seek expert help immediately if you suspect bed bug activity in your building. Bed bug problems are easiest to resolve when caught early on, but tackling it on your own can be ineffective and costly. An experienced pest management professional can confirm if bed bugs are present and recommend the best treatment options for your facility, which may include the following:
With lots of potential hosts to feed on and even more places to hide, offices are ripe for bed bug infestations. Don’t let bed bugs turn your office into a pest hotel.
Jennifer Brumfield is a training and technical specialist and board-certified entomologist for Western Pest Services, a New Jersey-based pest management company serving major Northeastern markets.
Originally featured at FacilitiesNet.
