Can Bed Bugs Live in a School or Dorm?

So, you’ve sent the kids off to prep school or college. You’ve taught them life skills like independence and how to get along with (and manage conflict with) all kinds of people in their dorm. But have you prepared them for the worst roommates of all?

Bed bugs are tiny insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals, leaving behind multiple itchy bites. Bed bugs spread rapidly and are notoriously difficult to eliminate. And they really seem to love campus life.

Are Bed Bugs Common in College Dorms?

According to the National Pest Management Association, dorms are one of the top 10 locations for bed bug infestation. These opportunistic, blood-sucking pests thrive in places where there are lots of people coming and going, and where cleanliness, clutter, and hygiene may be less than optimal.

Dorm life creates peak conditions for bed bug infestations. It just takes one student who rolls up with an unexamined suitcase fresh from a summer vacation or another who drags in a used couch from a sketchy thrift store. Then soon, bed bugs are a dorm-wide problem.

What Happens If a Student Has Bed Bugs?

Most colleges and boarding schools have official bed bug policies. For example, NYU offers a student FAQ to identify bed bugs and what to do if their presence is suspected. Your student should become familiar with their school’s bed bug protocols prior to moving into the dorm.

The first step when finding bed bugs is to report the infestation to the appropriate member of the dorm’s residence life staff. Under no circumstances should a student try to handle the problem themselves.

Residence life personnel are better equipped to address the problem, typically by engaging the services of pest control professionals. The goal is to eliminate the bugs, prevent additional spread, and get dorm life back to normal as soon as possible.

How to Treat Bed Bugs in a Dorm

A dorm infestation usually requires professional bed bug treatment. This may involve bed bug spray, heat treatments, or some combination of the two. It’s important to send your student off to school with a basic knowledge of bed bugs so they can recognize the early warning signs.

Prevention is the best cure. To reduce the likelihood of bed bug infestation, your student should do the following:

• Keep their dorm room clean and free of clutter, emptying trash receptacles frequently.
• Avoid using thrifted or found furniture in their room, particularly upholstered or other soft furniture that can harbor hidden bugs.
• Wash bed linens regularly, using hot water.
• Keep clothing, coats, backpacks off the floor.
• Check library, borrowed, rented, secondhand, and thrifted books for bugs before bringing them inside the dorm.

Twin Forks is Your Bed Bug Eradication Expert

Before you know it, the kids will be home for holiday break. If they bring home uninvited pests, Twin Forks Pest Control® offers state-of-the-art bed bug detection and remediation. Should you discover evidence of bed bugs in your home, contact us online for a free estimate or give us a call to set up an appointment. If you are in East Hampton, call (631) 324-9700; in Southampton, call (631) 287-9700, or in Southold, call (631) 765-9700.