How Does a Home Become Infested with Bedbugs?
Some people believe that dirty living conditions attract bed bugs.
It happens suddenly for most people: Itchy, inflamed lumps appear in clusters all over their body, yet they’re not sure what the cause is.
It’s often hard to pinpoint the exact cause of these bites alone, but a routine trip to the doctor’s office reveals a person’s worst fear–bed bugs are biting.
“Bedbug bites may go unnoticed or be mistaken for flea or mosquito bites or other types of rash or skin conditions since they are difficult to distinguish from other bites,” says Melissa Stöppler, M.D., a board-certified anatomic pathologist. “The bite itself is painless and is not noticed. Small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin are the most common sign; redness, swelling, and itching commonly occur.”
As for why these troublesome critters exist and why they’re so hard to deal with, is a mystery even for researchers, who describe them as one of the biggest pest nuisances for homeowners and those in apartments.
What attracts bed bugs?
Some people believe that dirty living conditions attract bed bugs. Researchers say this is simply an old wives’ tale. Bed bugs are opportunistic insects that will travel to find new hosts.
We know that bed bugs are attracted to fabric-covered furniture, from couches and stuffed chairs to beds and stored clothing. They will crawl to their next location or hitchhike in luggage. They can contaminate a single room or apartment unit or an entire home or building.
Often, bed bugs infest homes in ways people wouldn’t typically expect, such as hitchhiking in a suitcase, coat, or purse when a person travels. Because bed bugs can survive months without feeding, which includes biting and sucking blood from humans, chances are a person may never know when they infest their home.
Once they infest a home, though, residents will know immediately: The bugs begin breeding and burying themselves in any dark space possible during the daytime, but during the night, they leave their hiding spaces to find something to feed on. Unfortunately, most of the time, that means the people living there.
Where to find bed bugs
Bed bugs can lurk anywhere, but there are several places where they are commonly found.
Hotels: Although we expect hotels to be free of pests such as bed bugs, they commonly infest hotels and motels due to the amount of traffic that flows through these buildings. Chances are there is at least one person staying at a hotel who has traveled out of the country recently–and the chances are even higher that a bed bug hitched a ride on this unsuspecting person’s clothes or luggage. How clean or expensive it is doesn’t matter either: Even 5-star hotels deal with nasty bed bug infestations.
Thrift stores: Many people will hit up a thrift store to save a few bucks on a new couch or shirt. Unfortunately, doing so could expose them to blood-hungry bed bugs. Again, the reason is the same: Too much traffic and untreated furniture and clothes increase the risk of bed bugs. Shoppers can be sure thrift stores aren’t concerned about controlling the spread of bed bugs when selling merchandise.
Clutter: While a dirty living room is not why bed bugs move in, cluttered living quarters can attract them. The reason is that more clutter gives bed bugs, naturally nocturnal insects, more places to hide and reproduce during the daytime, making it harder to eliminate them. To keep risk low, eliminate clutter throughout the home, such as moving boxes, storage boxes, and clothes and shoes stuffed in small areas.
Bed bugs can literally be anywhere, and the more cluttered a living space is, the higher the likelihood the homeowner will experience a bed bug outbreak. Although there are DIY options available, the most effective solution for eradicating bed bugs from a home is to hire a professional exterminator who specializes in bed bugs.
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.
