What is the main cause of bed bugs?
Question: What is the main cause of bed bugs?
Answer: Bed bugs don’t just appear. They hitchhike from one place to another, often going unnoticed. Clinging to luggage, clothing, or secondhand items, they can easily make their way into homes. Learning how they spread is the first step in preventing an infestation.
Bed bug bites on skin
Where do bed bugs come from?
Bed bugs usually come from places where people sleep or rest for long periods. Hotels, motels, dorm rooms, and apartment buildings are frequent hotspots. Public transportation, movie theaters, and waiting rooms can also harbor bed bugs.
Bed bugs often latch onto luggage, backpacks, purses, or clothing. Used furniture and mattresses are another common source. Even brief exposure to an infested area can result in bed bugs hitching a ride on your belongings. Once introduced into a home, they quickly spread to mattresses, furniture, and cracks in walls.
Two Bed Bugs
Can bed bugs come from pets or outside?
Bed bugs do not live on pets or animals like fleas or ticks. They prefer human hosts and are rarely found outdoors. Their spread is almost always linked to human movement and travel, not animals or nature.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs from Entering Your Home
To prevent bed bugs, inspect hotel rooms before unpacking, keep luggage off beds and floors, and wash clothes on high heat after travel. Avoid bringing in used furniture without a thorough inspection. Using protective mattress encasements can also help reduce the risk of infestation.
When to Call an Exterminator
If you suspect bed bugs in your home, contact an exterminator immediately. DIY bed bug treatments may not eliminate the entire infestation, especially if bugs are hiding in hard-to-reach areas. Orkin Pros are trained to identify, treat, and prevent bed bug infestations with customized treatment plans.
Contact your local Orkin branch today for help with bed bug control.
More Resources
Tips to Avoid Bed Bugs When Traveling
Travel increases the risk of encountering bed bugs, so it’s important to take simple precautions before, during, and after your trip to avoid bringing them home.
The Bed Bug Registry is a helpful resource that reports hotels that have had bed bug sightings.
Because bed bugs can hitchhike into even the cleanest homes, it’s important to know how to spot them early and take steps to avoid bringing them inside.
Bed bug infestations can be persistent and challenging. Orkin provides proven treatment solutions to help stop infestations and prevent them from spreading.