How Do Bed Bugs Get In Your House?

Bed bugs may not be known to carry or transmit diseases, but when they bite, they can leave the person scratching for hours. Some people complain of losing sleep because of the bites left by bed bugs.

A single bed bug has the ability to lay as many as 500 eggs in its lifetime. This makes it relatively easy for them to breed and multiply.

Bed bugs are commonly found in dirty hotels. But how do bed bugs get in your house? Read on to get a better understanding of how bed bugs live, breed and get transported from one location to another.

Physical features and behavior of bed bugs

Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish-brown insects that are the size of apple seeds. They are nocturnal and only appear during the evenings. These insects thrive on blood but are known to be very resilient. Studies indicate that a bed bug can survive without a single meal for up to a year.

Any crack and crevice can be a potential home for these irritating pests. They can be found in mattress seams, box springs, other furniture, bed sheets, even within the plates of electrical outlets. Dirty hotels are notorious hot spots for bed bugs. They can easily travel and be transported from one room to another or from the hotel to another location simply by hitching on a guest’s luggage. Briefcases, purses and other types of bags can also carry these stragglers to your home. Even clothing and the person himself can become unwitting carriers.

Signs of a bed bug infestation

You don’t need to physically see bed bugs to know that your home has been invaded and infested with these insects. Juveniles shed their skins before maturing to full adults. Finding these empty cases is another indication that there are bed bugs in your midst.

Bed bugs can leave droppings in areas where they hide. Look for defecation in the form of dark brown to black stains on your furniture or in any cracks and crevices.

Other common indicators of a bed bug infestation are bite marks on the skin. A bed bug’s bite irritates the skin, leaving red welts. However, because skin irritation can be caused by a number of other factors, it is important to compare the welts with other signs before establishing that you have a bed bug infestation.

Contact your trusted Modesto pest control company if you wish to learn more about bed bugs or need help in dealing with pests inside the home.