What Causes Bed Bugs?

Many believe a bed bug infestation is caused by filth but this is a misconception. These bugs are not drawn to decay. They can live in any environment, as long as they have access to their food source. Understanding this is vital in preventing a bed bug infestation.

Bed bugs are blood-eating insects. They require blood to breed and blood meals to survive; but unlike common mosquitoes in our area, they can't fly to get to their food. And, unlike ticks you can find in your yard, they don't have the convenience of living on a host. Bed bugs must find another way to get the food they need. So, these bugs hide near their food source and wait until it is safe to come out and feed.

At first, it is hard to see bed bugs because they are as small as the tip of a pen, and they have transparent skin. But, once they get to their adult size, it is hard to miss these bugs, unless the environment they have chosen is cluttered enough to conceal them. They aren't drawn to clutter, but clutter will help these bugs avoid detection longer. This has given rise to the belief that bed bugs are drawn to filthy places, but filth and clutter are not the cause of bed bugs. These bugs can live in the cleanest and neatest of environments. It is just more difficult for them to continue to avoid detection.

So, what causes bed bugs? The most apparent cause of bed bugs is a lack of awareness. The more you know about bed bugs and the causes of bed bugs, the greater success you will have at keeping them out of your home or business.

Bed bugs are hitchhiking bugs. They can hitch a ride anywhere and at any time, but there are some places you should look more closely for them.

• If you spend the night in a hotel, motel, or resort, no matter how clean and well kept, be sure to inspect for bed bugs. While these are not the only places you'll pick bed bugs up, they are at the top of the list.
• If you use public transportation, be sure to keep an eye out for these bugs as well as the signs they leave.
• When guests come to stay at your home, they may bring bed bugs with them without knowing. The bugs could come from their home or they could have picked them up while traveling. A good precaution is to wash all their bedding at the hottest temperature once they have departed.
• When your kids visit a friend's house, they could bring bed bugs home with them. Knowing how to identify bed bugs and their eggs can prevent an infestation. Examine all items brought back into the house, especially the seams.
• Bed bugs can come home with you from work. If you know what bed bug bites look like, you may recognize the threat before you bring it home. The bites from bed bugs are usually in a line or a cluster and are often surrounded by a rash.
• If you pick up used furniture from the side of the road or purchase some second-hand, it is important to examine them closely for black streaks, shed insect casings, and bloodstains. Bed bugs don't just hide in beds.
• If you go to a public place, always be on the lookout for bed bugs and the signs they leave, such as a locker room smell, black fecal deposits, insect shells, and blood staining.

If you discover bed bugs in your home, contact Action Pest Control for immediate relief. Our certified team is educated in the most advanced bed bug control protocols and equipped with the state-of-the-art resources necessary for the complete eradication of these pests.