Firstly, let me make my disclaimer...the reason I want to write about them is because after reading through some condo notes, I am now a Bedbug expert and if you think it won't happen to you...YOU MUST READ ON! IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE....
Bedbugs are not found in "dirty" dwellings...NO...it can and will happen anywhere and there tough to get rid of once you have an infestation. BUT, there's some SIMPLE and COST EFFICIENT steps you can take to prevent having to call the exterminator...who can barely keep up with the calls they're getting and they're getting more and more expensive.
If you're a landlord spend the 40 bucks and buy your tenant a mattress and box spring cover. This will prevent the nasty critters from infesting a mattress...and if there are a few who have already nudged their way into the crevices and creases of the mattress...a mattress cover will prevent them from being able to come back out and they will eventually die. Invest in some preventative measures NOW!
The typical bed bug can live up to 1.5 years without food! I researched this!
AND DO NOT BLAME YOUR TENANT. But, recommend your tenants vacuum the mattress and place a mattress cover, making it impossible for these nasty bugs to hide. They are nocturnal, typically they feed for 5 minutes on the blood of the sleeping person. Yes it's painless...and it produces a reaction similar to that of a mosquito.
Bedbugs were nearly extinct in the 1940's but they have mutated into more resillient creatures, and with the increase in international travel, and the change in pesticides 10 years ago. They breed at an alarming rate, laying up to 500 eggs every 10 days. They are called bed bugs for a reason...but they won't simply dwell in beds...check under the bed, the frame, the headboard, screw holes and nooks and crannies under baseboards. They can hide everywhere. YOU CAN GET RID OF THEM ON YOUR OWN...an ounce of prevention will save you and your tenant a lot of hassle.
I hope people will realize this is EVERYONE'S problem...and has NOTHING to do with cleanliness. They can live for months and sometimes years without feeding...and can hop from luggage to luggage in airplanes and hotels.
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