Creepy crawly and downright disgusting, bed bugs are a pest that can potentially plague any home.
Whether you’ve dealt with these insects in the past or you’re just curious about how they operate, there are lots of secrets about these bugs that may surprise you.
Read on for a list of six fascinating facts about bed bugs you probably didn’t know!
1. Bed Bugs Don’t Just Live in Beds
When you imagine these tiny pests, you probably envision them crawling inside a mattress. However, bed bugs can live almost anywhere including couches, chairs, and other furniture.
Wherever a human or animal sits or lies down, it’s possible that bed bugs can make these areas their home. In fact, they can even be found in buses and trains as long as there’s a human presence.
Bed bugs are not just confined to hotels, either. You can also find them in dorm rooms, movie theaters, and even in laundry facilities. Essentially, if humans are there, it’s possible that bed bugs are, too.
2. You Won’t Just Find Bed Bugs in the City
Many people assume bed bugs are city-dwellers that live in apartment complexes and downtown trains. These little pests can also be found in rural areas of the country as well.
One reason you mostly hear about bed bugs in cities is that these areas are much more densely populated than places in the country. With more high-rise apartment buildings and condensed spaces, bed bugs have a more plentiful food source to help them thrive and multiply.
You can still find bed bugs in isolated and rural areas although they aren’t quite as prevalent. When people are constantly on the move, like they are in the city, bed bugs can spread at a rapid pace. However, there are plenty of cases of these pesky pests in the country, too.
3. Facts About Bed Bugs: They’re Tough
Some insects need specific conditions in order to survive, but bed bugs can actually live for many months without a meal. They can hide in furniture and suitcases for extended periods of time until they find a new host.
Aside from their ability to live without food, these little insects can also survive extreme temperatures. Bed bugs are able to live in temperatures as low as near freezing all the way to temperatures as hot as 122 degrees.
You can’t rely on the seasons changing if you’re concerned about bed bugs. Whether it’s winter or summer, if you suspect you have them, it’s time to call in the professionals.
4. Bed Bugs Are Excellent at Hiding
When it comes to one of the most disturbing facts about bed bugs, this one could be the most concerning. These small pests are extremely elusive and are masters of disguise.
The pests can stay out of sight during the day as they hide in the crevices of mattresses, baseboards, box springs, or even behind the electrical switchplates on your wall!
There have even been instances where bed bugs are found hiding inside picture frames or behind wallpaper. As you fall asleep, the bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide you exhale, which brings them out of hiding. It’s important to learn more about the habits of bed bugs so you know what to look for.
5. They Reproduce at a Rapid Rate
One reason it can be especially difficult to eradicate bed bugs is that they reproduce at a rather alarming rate. Females lay anywhere from one to five eggs per day, and up to around 250 eggs in a lifetime.
Once the baby bed bugs hatch, it takes them around a month to reach full maturity. If there’s enough blood to feed on, they could mature at a faster rate.
After a full year, you could be dealing with three entire generations of bed bugs! They may not reproduce as quickly as other insects like house flies, but almost every single egg is viable so they can thrive and spread. Females also coat the eggs with a sticky material that makes it almost impossible for them to be moved until they hatch.
6. Bed Bugs Have Unique Feeding Habits
As soon as a bed bug finds a host, they tend to feed for about five to 19 minutes. Once the insect is full, it waits until hungry again, then bites the host again in a clustered pattern.
People who have been bitten by bed bugs may notice the tiny bites in clusters on their chest, arms, or legs. The strange thing is, the host might not even feel the insect while it’s biting them.
The reason most people won’t notice bed bugs biting them is because they have an anesthetic in their saliva. This natural “anesthetic” increases blood flow at the bite area, which is why most people won’t even feel it. After the bugs are completely full, they will hide for around five to 10 days as they digest their meal.
Say Goodbye to Bed Bugs
Whether you currently have an infestation or you want to be prepared, these facts about bed bugs can help you spot them more easily. If you’re unsure whether or not you have bed bugs in your home, call a professional pest control company as soon as possible.
Always check your luggage, and wash all clothing after you go on vacation to be sure you haven’t given these pests a free ride.
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