Have Bed Bugs Come to Hawaii?

Bed bug infestations have become a source of concern across the country, with numerous cities citing serious battles with the tiny pests. Have bed bugs come to Hawaii as well? While initial reports indicate that bed bugs may be a problem in some areas of the islands, we have information to help you recognize and get rid of those nasty buggers once and for all.

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are tiny, non-flying insects that look somewhat like ticks or small cockroaches. These critters can easily travel on clothing or in luggage, allowing them extreme mobility that makes it difficult to get rid of them completely once they arrive. While they do bite humans, the bites are relatively painless and not usually dangerous. However, infestations of bed bugs are a concern, since they can be very difficult to exterminate completely.

Detecting and Eliminating Bed Bugs

Many people suspect a bed bug infestation if they find small red bumps on their feet and legs in the morning. Further inspection of mattress crevices may reveal egg cases or shed skins of the bugs, but it is best to see the bugs themselves before calling an exterminator. These professionals use a variety of insecticides throughout the house and recommend specific cleaning measures to remove eggs so an infestation does not recur.

The Hawaii Link

Like other areas of the country, Hawaii has not been able to escape the new bed bug infestation completely. According to a recent report in Honolulu Magazine, beg bugs have been discovered on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Big Island. While the Hawaii State Department of Health does not consider the bugs to be a public-health risk, the buggers can be relatively difficult to get rid of, and this has complicated the matter for both city officials and residents of the islands.

It appears that Oahu may be experiencing the worst of the bedbug infestation, according to a report on Hawaii News Now. Emergency personnel have been noticing a rise in bedbug cases in the homes they are called to, which has resulted in a revamping of some emergency procedures to ensure bedbugs are not carried to medical facilities around the island. Most of the reports of bedbugs in Hawaii found on the Internet are also located on Oahu.

While bedbugs are a concern, it should be noted that most of the hotels and resorts throughout the islands have not seen any of the critters in their locales. The islands are also taking a proactive approach to the problem, with many facilities training their staff on how to recognize bedbugs so they can be eliminated before they become a bigger problem. Bedbugs may be making a return in this country, but the good news is that there are plenty of steps that can be taken to get rid of the pesky buggers once and for all.