Where Do Bed Bugs Come From? Here's What to Know

Bed bugs are a growing concern for homeowners. These wingless, reddish-brown pests are notorious for their ability to invade homes unnoticed, often leading to sleepless nights and itchy mornings.

But where do bed bugs come from, and how can you safeguard your home against an infestation? Let’s break it down.

Key Takeaways

• Bed bugs spread by hitchhiking on luggage, clothing, and belongings from places like hotels and high-traffic areas.

• Secondhand furniture and shared spaces like apartments make it easy for bed bugs to hide and spread unnoticed.

• Common signs of bed bugs include blood spots, dark fecal spots, molted skins, eggshells, bites, and live bugs.

• Professional pest control uses safe and effective treatments to eliminate bed bugs and stop them from returning.

Hitchhike on Personal Belongings

Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers.

They latch onto luggage, clothing, and personal belongings, traveling from one location to another. Hotel rooms are a common hotspot for bed bug transfers, especially in areas with high tourist traffic, like New York City.

Once these pests find their way into your home, they quickly establish themselves in hidden crevices and mattress seams.

Secondhand Furniture

Purchasing secondhand furniture can unintentionally bring bed bugs into your home. Sofas, bed frames, and box springs are ideal hiding places for bed bugs and their eggs. Always inspect secondhand items for signs of infestation before bringing them inside.

Close-Quarters Living

Shared spaces like apartments and dormitories are prime environments for bed bugs. These pests can migrate through electrical outlets, baseboards, and even cracks in walls, making it easy for infestations to spread between units.

Previously Infested Items

Items that have been in a previously infested space can carry bed bugs even after the infestation seems to be gone. These resilient pests can survive for months without feeding, hiding in mattress seams, cracks, and crevices of furniture or even in electrical appliances.

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?

Bed bugs thrive in warm, dark spaces close to their food source: humans. Common hiding spots include:

• Mattress seams

• Box springs and bed frames

• Headboards and baseboards

• Upholstered furniture like couches and chairs

• Electrical outlets

These hiding places make it challenging to detect and control bed bugs without professional help.

Cluttered Areas

Clutter provides more opportunities for bed bugs to settle unnoticed. Since they prefer to remain undisturbed, reducing clutter in your home can help limit their hiding places.

How to Spot Bed Bug Infestations

Recognizing the signs of bed bugs early is crucial for effective treatment. Here’s what to look for:

• Blood Spots: Small, reddish stains or dark spots on your bed sheets.

• Dark Fecal Spots: Bed bug excrement that looks like tiny black dots.

• Eggshells: Tiny, white, oval-shaped shells left behind as bed bugs grow.

• Molting Skins: Shed exoskeletons found near hiding places.

• Live Bed Bugs: Flat, oval-shaped bodies about the size of an apple seed.

• Bug Bites: Itchy, red welts often appearing in clusters or lines.

If bed bug bites are scratched excessively, some individuals may develop hives or experience more severe allergic reactions, such as swelling, rashes, or even skin infections.

If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to take action.

How to Prevent Bed Bug Infestations

Taking preventative steps can save you from the stress of a bed bug infestation.

• Inspect hotel rooms, especially mattresses, bed sheets, and headboards, for signs of bed bugs.

• Keep your luggage off the floor and use protective covers to reduce the risk of bringing them home.

• Vacuum your home regularly, paying special attention to cracks, crevices, and mattress seams.

• Wash linens and bed sheets in hot water to kill bed bugs and other hidden pests.

How a Pest Control Company Can Help

When bed bugs invade, calling a pest control company is often the most effective solution. At Kodiak Pest Control, our exterminators specialize in identifying and eradicating bed bugs at every stage of their life cycle, from bed bug eggs and nymphs to adults.

Our comprehensive pest management includes treating common hiding places. We use safe, effective methods, such as high-heat treatment and EPA-approved products, to restore your peace of mind.

Ready to reclaim your home?

Give us a call today, and let us handle your bed bug problem so you can sleep soundly again.