One of the most common questions we get is, "What Causes Bed Bugs??" At ThermoPest, we’re here to provide the answer.
Many people believe that there is a link between having a bedbug infestation and poor hygiene. This is not the case. Having a bed bug problem is not linked to a lack of cleanliness – bed bugs can be found in the cleanest homes and even luxury hotels.
Read on to find out more about bed bug infestations, their favourite hiding places, and how pest control companies can help you if you find your home or business overrun with these small insects.
Bed bugs have several means of travel. They can crawl from one area to another or they can cling on to clothing or luggage and be transported that way. They are also quite good at moving through cracks and crevices. This allows them to infest multiple areas within a building quickly and without people noticing.
Bed bugs can easily travel between rooms or units in multi-unit dwellings, such as flat and apartment buildings, through shared walls or pipes. Their ability to move quickly and inconspicuously makes it challenging to detect and control their spread. Bed bugs do not have wings and are unable to fly. However, they have found clever ways to travel long distances and infest new areas
You should take precautions such as regularly inspecting for signs of infestation. This helps to prevent the spread of bed bugs. Bed bugs can detect human presence through the carbon dioxide we exhale. This is what helps them to locate potential hosts to hitch a ride with.
Bed bugs are small wingless insects with flat bodies. They are about the size of an apple seed and usually appear to be a reddish-brown colour. Bedbugs are parasitic insects – meaning that they feed on human blood. While they are not known to spread disease, bed bugs can leave itchy bites or cause allergic reaction.
Because these pests love human blood, you usually find them on upholstered furniture or soft furnishings near where we sleep – our bed frame, the box springs in our beds, our mattresses, etc. Bed bugs can be found worldwide; however, they are often found in larger cities.
Bed bugs are hitchhikers. If you visit a place that has them, they may hitch a ride on your luggage or get into your clothes. Bed bugs are attracted to body warmth because they know this means blood. They can be found anywhere humans are, however there are places where you are more likely to find them:
Places like hotels, hostels, and bed and breakfasts can easily become overrun with bed bugs. The same can be said for AirBnBs and cruise ships. With so many people coming and going and sleeping here, it is no surprise that you can find bed bugs here, too.
Bedbugs love to hide near where people sleep. Visitors or houseguests can unknowingly bring them to your home. Similarly, you may not realise that you have been somewhere that has an infestation and the bugs can travel home on your clothing. You can even bring bedbugs into your home on used furniture – be sure to thoroughly inspect any second-hand furniture before you bring it into your home!
If you live in a flat and a neighbour has an infestation, you may find that your home and the common areas of the building are quickly overrun.
There may be infested areas in businesses, too. If a coworker has an infestation at home, they can unknowingly bring them to work. Conversely, you can unknowingly bring bedbugs home with you from work, too.
Public transport gets a lot of traffic each day. Transportations such as buses, planes, trains, and taxis can all hide bedbugs if someone has unknowingly brought them on board.
Bed bugs are tiny insects that rely on human blood for survival. These parasitic insects are nocturnal, preferring to stay hidden in hiding places like box springs, bed frames, upholstered furniture, and bedding sheets during the day.
Their flat bodies allow them to squeeze into the smallest cracks, including loose wallpaper, electrical outlets, and peeling paint. They are drawn to body warmth and carbon dioxide – this makes sleeping humans their primary targets.
An infestation can occur quickly as bedbugs are highly mobile. They easily attach to clothing, suitcase stands, used furniture, and luggage, hitching rides to new locations. This is why infestations are common in places where people sleep and travel frequently, such as cruise ships, hotels, and apartments.
Bed bugs lay eggs at an alarming rate. Females can produce four to five eggs per day! This leads to a rapidly growing population. Within weeks, newly hatched baby bed bugs mature into adults.
This will create a full-blown bed bug problem if not addressed.
The first sign of bed bugs is often itchy bedbug bites on the skin. You may notice red, irritated itchy spots of skin of an allergic reaction. Other signs are:
1.) Blood spots on sheets or soft furnishings
2.) Dark bedbug excrement on mattresses or walls
3.) Shed skins and eggshells around hiding places
4.) A musty odor in infested areas
Yes. Bed bugs can survive for months without feeding. They remain dormant until they find a suitable host. This makes them difficult to eliminate, as they can hide in cracks, cracking paint, and other furniture for long periods.
Unlike some human pathogens, bed bugs are not known to spread disease. However, their bites can cause severe itching and allergic reactions. This can lead to skin infections if scratched excessively.
If you suspect a bed bug infestation, act fast. The sooner you address the issue, the easier it will be to remove bed bugs and prevent a larger bed bug problem.
To get rid of bedbugs completely, you will need a professional pest control company, however there are measures you can take to knock down bed bug populations;
1.) Vacuum regularly. Pay special attention to bedding sheets, bed frames, and box springs.
2.) Wash infested fabrics in hot water and dry on high heat.
3.) Use a stiff brush to scrub mattress seams and remove eggs.
4.) Encase mattresses and pillows in a protective cover.
5.) Seal cracks in walls and electrical outlets to prevent hiding.
6.) Avoid bringing second-hand furniture into your home without thorough inspection.
7.) Call pest control companies for professional treatment, such as heat treatment, which can kill bed bugs at high heat.
Do you think you may have a bed bug infestation at your home or business? If so, it is very important to act quickly. A single bed bug can live up to a year and can lay over 500 eggs in this time.
Bed bug treatments will always work best when infestations are detected early and permanently eradicated.
We will always recommend contacting a professional company for bed bug treatments rather than DIY treatments to ensure complete eradication.
Do you have an infestation? Contact us today to speak with our team
Can you see bed bugs? Bedbugs are small but you can see them. They range in colour from transparent to a dark reddish brown. Adults are roughly 4 to 5mm. They are very good at hiding, so look for telltale signs like rust coloured blood dots and shed skins on your furnishings, or bites on your body.
What causes bed bugs? Bed bugs can be found anywhere that humans live because they feed on human blood. This attracts them to any environment where they can hide out—with mattresses and upholstery the prime targets.
What are the signs that I have bed bugs? Bed bugs are difficult to identify in the early stages of their life cycles. Most infestations are discovered due to bite marks and itching skin. Pest control professionals can usually identify droppings on bedding, uncover the places where the bugs hide and even smell the strong, sweet odours of a mature infestation.
How do I kill bed bugs? It can be hard to eradicate bedbugs completely. They are usually nocturnal and are very good at hiding. If you have seen the signs of bedbug activity, it is usually a sign of a serious infestation. Contact a professional to guarantee all bedbugs are killed permanently.
Preventing bed bugs from entering your home or business can be a challenge. They are usually picked up whilst travelling and are difficult to see. By taking small measures you can help prevent bed bug infestations. Read our page on how to prevent bed bugs for more information.
The problem with bed bug bites is that they can be easily confused with other insect bites. Each person bitten will react differently. Their bites are usually red and itchy. Take a look at our article what do bed bug bites look like for more information.
Where do bed bugs bite? The face, neck, arms, hands, legs, and feet are all common areas for bites. Bedbugs will bite any exposed skin.
Bed bugs are found in virtually any place people tend to gather. They remain as close to their host as possible and feed during the night, which is why you will usually get bitten whilst sleeping. Read more on where do bed bugs come from here.
How to get rid of bed bugs? Bedbugs cannot survive when exposed to temperatures above a certain threshold. Our bed bug heat treatment works to eliminate bedbugs by subjecting them to high temperatures.
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