Bed Bugs’ Favorite Hiding Places
One of the most common problems professional pest control services face is bed bug infestations. But, contrary to popular belief, bed bugs do not restrict their infestations to bedrooms. In fact, according to professionals, bed bugs can be found almost everywhere inside the house.
Bed bugs need blood, carbon monoxide, and body heat to survive. The reason they like beds is that mattresses offer uninhibited access to all three things. But remember that they can appear anywhere, including places most people wouldn’t normally consider their hiding places.
So, where do professional pest control services find bed bugs aside from beds?
Aside from the beds, these pests can also be found on the couch, desk, reading chairs, furniture with foam, and behind picture frames or switch plates.
Bed bugs love the couch as much as they love beds because this is another classic piece of furniture where people spend their time. Plus, next to the bed, the couch is the most likely place where people will sleep for an extended period. So naturally, this is the next best place for them to hide after a bed.
Pest control professionals often find evidence of bed bugs on a desk or in reading chairs, so homeowners should also check there. Although it’s not a likely place for bed bugs to hide, some people, especially those who work from home, spend as much time in their desk chairs in front of a computer as they do their beds and couches, and sometimes even more.
Homeowners who have recently replaced their mattresses or upholstered furniture pieces should have the old furniture removed immediately. In the event that the older piece has bed bugs, moving it outside will minimize the chance that the bed bugs will move to the new pieces. In addition, putting them outside and having professionals look at them first will help prevent them from spreading throughout the home.
Remember that bed bugs can appear in strange places, including the backs of picture frames and switch plates. Although these areas are not likely as the ones where they have unlimited access to the resources needed to survive, they are perfect hiding places to hibernate while the homeowner has the upholstered pieces inspected or while bed bugs are still looking for an area to live and reproduce.
Once bed bugs have entered a home, they can crawl about fifty feet in a day, meaning that a person is mistaken to think they can sleep on the couch or in the spare bedroom and be ‘safe’ from a bed bug infestation in their home. Also, bed bugs can spread from unit to unit because they hide and travel in the safety of dark, quiet walls between apartment or condo units by using switch plates or even cable holes to seek out and explore new territory and victims.
It’s always best to opt for a thorough inspection of the entire house to fully eradicate these pests. Contact a reputable pest control company for whole-house bed bug treatment.
Bed Bugs Arizona offers a free, in-home bed bug inspection and a one-year warranty on all bed bug services. No obligation. We specialize in apartment communities. Our fast, certified technicians provide the Pro-Treat Plus method of bed bug removal to Phoenix and surrounding cities in a 100-mile plus radius including Flagstaff, Globe, and Casa Grande. Veteran and senior discounts. Call now at (602) 962-8806.