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What is the main cause of bed bugs?
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Travel is the main cause of bed bugs being introduced to your home. These insects opportunistically latch onto clothing, used furniture, luggage, and other items from infested locations. They can even hitch a ride on public transportation or through shared laundry facilities. Once they enter your home, they swiftly find a comfortable place to settle, usually where people sleep, which is why they are named bed bugs. They are a common problem in both residences and commercial spaces, prompting questions about their entry.
Why Are There Bed Bugs In My House?
Wondering why bed bugs have invaded your home? Here are some common reasons these pests might have found their way inside:
- Travel: Bed bugs can hitch a ride on luggage, clothing, or personal belongings when you stay in infested hotels, motels, or other accommodations.
- Used Furniture: Secondhand furniture, especially mattresses, couches, and beds, can harbor bed bugs that easily transfer to your home.
- Visitors: Guests who have bed bugs in their homes can inadvertently bring them into your house on their clothing or belongings.
- Shared Spaces: Bed bugs can spread through multi-unit buildings like apartments or condos, traveling between units through walls, electrical outlets, or shared laundry facilities.
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Why Do Bed Bugs Stay In Bedrooms?
Bedrooms offer numerous hiding spots for bed bugs, including furniture cracks, mattress seams, and folds in bedding. They can squeeze into even the smallest spaces, making them hard to detect. These pests often settle in beds for easy access to their hosts. Being nocturnal, they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed on sleeping humans. These concealed locations make them difficult to spot and eradicate.
Can Bed Bugs Fly or Jump?
Bed bugs cannot fly or jump because they lack wings and the powerful legs required for jumping. Instead, they move by crawling. These pests typically stay close to their feeding areas, so they don’t need to crawl quickly. While they are often found on beds and furniture, they can sometimes be seen crawling on walls. Despite their limited mobility, bed bugs are still highly adept at finding hiding spots near their food sources.
Are Bed Bugs Contagious?
While bed bugs are often spread by hitching a ride on suitcases or purses, they are not contagious in the way that a disease might be passed from person to person. Instead, if you come into contact with infested items, such as clothing, furniture, or luggage, you could unknowingly bring them into your home. This is why it’s essential to inspect and wash second-hand items and be cautious with your belongings when traveling. Although bed bugs don’t live on humans and prefer to avoid heat, they can easily spread from one building to another, making it vital to take preventive measures.
Do Bed Bugs Spread Quickly in Memphis, TN?
Bed bugs can spread rapidly if you’re not careful, especially in densely populated areas like cities where close living quarters and frequent movement of people create ideal conditions for them to thrive. Although they don’t fly or jump long distances, they are expert hitchhikers, often latching onto purses, suitcases, backpacks, or luggage to move from one place to another. This is why bed bug infestations are often linked to travel and why it’s crucial to stay vigilant when traveling to prevent bringing them home. Given their life cycle, preventing their spread is key to controlling an infestation.
What To Do If You Have Bed Bugs
A methodical approach is more effective than frantic cleaning when dealing with bed bugs. Begin by identifying and isolating the infested items by sealing them in plastic to stop the bugs from spreading. Refrain from moving furniture, as it can worsen the infestation by spreading the bugs further. Keeping your home clean, vacuumed, and free of clutter reduces their hiding spots, making it less hospitable for them. Bug-proof mattress covers are also a wise investment to limit their breeding grounds.
Professional bed bug exterminators have the tools and expertise needed for thorough treatment and long-term prevention. Acting quickly and getting expert help from Allied Termite & Pest Control is the best way to handle the problem effectively.