What Is The Main Cause Of Bed Bugs?

The primary cause of bed bugs is travel. These opportunistic insects hitch a ride on clothing, luggage, used furniture, and other items from infested areas. Once they’ve made it into your space, they quickly find a cozy spot to settle in — usually where people sleep, hence their name.

Bed bugs are a common nuisance in homes and businesses throughout Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Uncovering these pests inside often leads to the question of how they got inside.

Most times, these creatures enter a residence via luggage or fabrics. They’re known to cling onto clothing or make themselves at home inside used furniture. Due to their small size, comparable to an apple seed, it’s quite simple for these bugs to slip in unnoticed.

Why Are There Bed Bugs In My House?

There are various avenues through which bed bugs make their way into houses. Public spaces can be hot spots for picking up these unwanted visitors. Should there be bed bugs at home, chances are they’ve arrived by:

• Remaining hidden in luggage after trips or from places like college dorms.
• Catching a ride on pre-owned pieces of furniture, especially upholstered ones.
• Stowing away in personal items like purses, backpacks, or luggage.

Bed bugs can migrate from one unit to another in apartment buildings. Shared laundry facilities are another common place where bed bugs can inadvertently acquire people.

Why Do Bed Bugs Stay In Bedrooms?

Bedrooms provide a wealth of hiding spaces for bed bugs, such as furniture crevices, mattress seams, and folds in bedding material. Bed bugs tend to take refuge in beds where they can easily access their hosts. As nocturnal creatures, they prefer to hide out during daylight hours and surface to feed at night, often on sleeping humans. These hideaways make it challenging to detect and eliminate them.

Can Bed Bugs Fly or Jump?

Bed bugs can’t fly or jump since they don’t have developed wings or strong enough legs to help them bounce around. So how do bed bugs get around? They crawl! Because they tend to hide near where they feed, there’s no need for them to crawl quickly. After feeding, they’ll crawl back to their hiding spot until they emerge again. In rare cases, the bugs can be seen crawling on walls.

Are Bed Bugs Contagious?

Although bed bugs are commonly spread by latching onto suitcases or purses, they are not contagious in the sense that they pass from person to person. If you come into contact with something that has bed bugs or their eggs on it, there’s a high chance you could inadvertently give them a free ride to your home. This is why it’s crucial to inspect and wash second-hand clothing or furniture and be mindful of your belongings when traveling.

Bed bugs do not like heat, so they don’t live on humans and transmit to other people that way. Although they aren’t directly contagious, it’s very common for bed bugs to spread from one building to another.

Do Bed Bugs Spread Quickly in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky?

Yes, bed bugs can spread quickly if you’re not careful. They are expert hitchhikers and can spread rapidly within communities, especially in densely populated areas like cities. This is partly due to the close proximity of living spaces, as well as the frequent movement of people and their belongings. 

As mentioned before, bed bugs thankfully do not fly or jump long distances. So how do they spread from room to room? Bed bugs most commonly latch onto purses, suitcases, backpacks, or luggage. From there, they can easily transport from one spot to another. This is why bed bug infestations frequently are tied back to travel, and why it’s important to stay vigilant when traveling to avoid bringing them home with you. Especially because of their life cycle, it’s important to keep them from spreading.

What To Do If You Have Bed Bugs

Rather than resorting to frantic cleaning, a structured approach is advised to get rid of bed bugs. Starting off, identify the bed bug-infested areas or items and securely encase them in plastic to halt their spread. Resist the urge to move furniture around, as this often does more harm than good, spreading the pesky critters even further. Keep your living spaces clean, vacuumed, and decluttered to cut down on their hiding spots, making it less inviting for them to stick around. Also, investing in bug-proof mattress covers can significantly curtail their breeding ground.

If you’re wrestling with a bed bug infestation, remember that while DIY efforts have their place, calling in the professionals can truly turn the tide in your favor. Bed bug extermination experts are equipped with the know-how and tools required for comprehensive treatment and eradication of bed bugs, offering long-term relief and prevention strategies tailored specifically to your situation. Acting swiftly and seeking expert assistance from Action Pest Control is the best strategy for handling a bed bug problem effectively.