Lincoln is the home of the University of Nebraska, and when the Huskers play at home, tens of thousands of visitors fill the city's hotels and rentals. Between students, game-day guests, and the steady flow of people through the state capital, bed bugs have many opportunities to find new homes.
How infestations start in Lincoln
Student housing near the City Campus and East Campus has constant turnover, with furniture and belongings shifting at the beginning and end of each semester. Rental houses and apartments around Downtown, the Haymarket, Near South and North 27th Street are busy markets. Visitors who stay in hotels or short-term rentals for football weekends may carry luggage home with unwanted passengers. Secondhand couches, beds and clothing from resale shops are other common sources. Once bugs are in an apartment building, they move through shared walls and plumbing.
How to recognize bed bugs
- Small, flat, reddish-brown insects in mattress seams and bed frame crevices.
- Dark specks of droppings on the mattress, sheets and wall near the bed.
- Small blood spots on sheets from crushed bugs.
- Bites in lines or clusters on exposed skin, though not everyone reacts.
The approach licensed providers use
After inspecting beds, furniture, baseboards and outlets, the provider will recommend heat, residual products, steam or a combination. Heat treatment raises the temperature of a room to levels lethal to bed bugs in all stages, usually in a single visit, though some providers follow up with residual products in hard-to-heat spots. Chemical-only approaches typically need two or more visits. Mattress and box spring encasements keep survivors from hiding in the fabric. A follow-up inspection about two weeks after the first visit is common.
Ask the provider for a detailed preparation list. You will probably need to launder and bag fabrics, clear clutter around the bed, and leave belongings in the treated room instead of carrying them elsewhere.
Landlords, tenants and roommates
Nebraska landlords are generally responsible for maintaining habitable rentals, and bed bug treatment is commonly arranged by the owner with cooperation from tenants. Notify your landlord in writing and keep records. In shared houses, all roommates should prepare at once, and neighbors' units in multi-unit buildings should be inspected. Students in campus housing should notify housing staff immediately.
Homeowners in Lincoln who rent out rooms to students, or who host relatives on football weekends, should keep a simple routine: strip and wash guest bedding on high heat after every stay, and look at the mattress seams with a flashlight once in a while. It takes five minutes and can catch a few bugs before they become a population that needs a full treatment.
Staying ahead of them
- Inspect hotel mattresses and keep luggage on a rack.
- Put clothes in a hot dryer after trips, including game-day weekends away.
- Check used furniture thoroughly, or skip upholstered pieces.
- Use mattress and box spring encasements.
- Reduce clutter near sleeping areas.
Reaching a provider
Call (844) 725-1661. PestMinistry is a referral service that connects Lincoln residents with independent licensed bed bug providers. We do not perform treatments.
Lincoln bed bug FAQ
Can bed bugs survive Nebraska winters?
Not outdoors for long, but indoors they're comfortable year-round.
Should I move out while they're treated?
Usually not necessary. Follow the provider's instructions about leaving during treatment.
Why are bites showing up on my arms only?
Bed bugs feed on exposed skin, and the pattern varies. Identification of the insect is the best confirmation.
Do I need to wash everything?
Washable fabrics should be laundered at high heat as directed. Other items can be treated by the provider.