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Newly hatched infants are a lot smaller (about 1 mm lengthy) and alter in color relying on in the event that they’ve ingested blood: They’re pale white or clear in the event that they haven’t but when they’ve, you possibly can see the blood of their our bodies, making them seem purple, tan, or mahogany-brown, Dr. Gangloff-Kaufmann explains. Their eggs are pearl white however could also be arduous to see with no flashlight since, she says, they’re the dimensions of “a comma in The New York Times.”
You may additionally encounter their poop stains (tiny clusters of brown or black spots). “They look like magic marker dots [about this size: •], and if you were to wipe the marks with a damp cloth or paper towel, the residue would be rust-coloured, reddish-brown,” she explains. Mattress bugs can even shed their “skin” (technically, their exoskeleton), so that you may come across a translucent, probably mild brown, empty shell.
3. To play it protected, fireplace up your hair dryer to exterminate potential intruders.
Most traditional pesticide sprays gained’t kill mattress bugs, however what’s going to? Warmth. In line with the Environmental Safety Company, these bloodsuckers die when their physique temperature reaches 113 levels Fahrenheit.
Whether or not you’ve probably noticed these critters or simply need to be further cautious, utilizing a hair dryer is a simple approach to exterminate them with deadly warmth and guarantee they gained’t chunk or reproduce. In fact, it’s arduous to gauge whether or not your software has reached that excellent temperature. That’s why Dr. Gangloff-Kaufmann suggests utilizing this straightforward trick: Blow scorching air below the seams of the mattress, across the boxspring, behind the headboard, and so forth, and maintain the dryer in every spot for a couple of seconds. Then, contact the realm you simply blasted: If it feels uncomfortably scorching in your hand, that ought to undoubtedly be intense sufficient to scorch a mattress bug.
Dr. Gangloff-Kaufmann’s closing bit of recommendation: Even in the event you’re assured you’ve dodged any little hitchhikers, it’s sensible to do a fast post-vacation inspection too: She recommends giving your belongings a once-over for any of the above indicators, tossing your garments (together with unworn ones) right into a scorching dryer for half-hour, and scanning your physique for potential bites. (Everybody reacts in another way, however they usually resemble a cluster of mosquito or flea bites and could also be itchy and swollen, per the CDC).
Now that you just’re armed with some pre- (and post-) getaway ideas, hopefully you possibly can journey with extra peace of thoughts — and return house with none undesirable souvenirs.
This text initially appeared on SELF.
