Where Do Bed Bugs Actually Come From?

Bed bugs are very small and resilient creatures that have existed among humans for centuries. These unwanted creatures can enter any home, causing scratches and bites while sleeping. Many people consider a bed bug infestation a sign of poor hygiene. But in reality, it is not. They can lurk harmlessly in furniture pieces, suitcases, or clothing, finding their way into every place including houses, hotels, and other sites.

But where do they come from? This blog will discuss their origin and how they spread.

The Origin of Bed Bugs

The origin of bed bugs dates back thousands of years. Most research suggests that they fed on bats in caves where early humans also lived. As humans transitioned from living in caves to settling in communities, bedbugs became parasites, and bat blood and, eventually, human blood became part of their meal. Ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Rome also documented struggles with such pests.

Over time, bedbug infestations spread across Europe, Asia, and Africa. When European settlers came to the Americas, they unknowingly carried bedbugs. Today, bedbugs are found in practically all places on Earth except Antarctica. Although efforts to control bed bugs have been made, their infestation continues to be very common in our homes, hotels, and public areas today.

Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?

Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers. They can’t fly, nor can they jump; they travel by hanging on luggage, furniture, clothes, and almost all possible means. These little pests are often transported back home unknowingly from places of high human traffic, including hotels, dormitories, and public transport.

In houses, they hide in mattresses, furniture, and cracks within walls. Bed bugs are nocturnal, emerging at nighttime to feast on blood from their human hosts.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Adult bed bugs are roughly the shape and size of an apple seed, being flat and oval. The color of adult bed bugs ranges from brown to reddish-brown, and they have six legs and two antennae. After feeding on blood, they become swollen and dark red. Juvenile bed bugs, known as nymphs, are tiny and often look pale, yellowish, or whitish.

One distinctive feature of bed bugs is their bug smell a musty, slightly sweet odor. This odor grows stronger with the population of these pests in an area.

What Attracts and Causes Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are attracted not to dirt and clutter but to humans, which is their primary source of food. They look for places where humans sleep or rest, which makes a mattress, bed, or furniture almost the ideal shelter for them. They are attracted mainly by carbon dioxide, warmth, and an available blood meal.

These pests often enter into a home via second-hand furniture or luggage that has been close to an infested place before. They are also spread through power outlets and walls, as well as common areas in an apartment. However, bed bugs do not infest humans; rather, they use humans as their source of blood meal.

Does Poor Hygiene Attract Bed Bugs?

No, cleanliness does not work when it comes to bed bugs. It does not draw them to dirt or poor hygiene but to heat, carbon dioxide, and blood. This means that they can infest even the least cleaned homes, as well as the most cleaned ones. These pests are just as likely to be found in five-star hotels as in poorly maintained spaces.

Role of DDT in Bed Bug Infestation

DDT was quickly spread as a standard pesticide by the 1940s to control various pests, mainly bed bugs and mosquitoes. With DDT, the bed bugs were practically eliminated. However, later, it was found that DDT had ill effects on human health and wildlife. Since 1972, it has been banned, followed by decreasing usage.

While DDT for bed bug control helped for once, these critters have since developed resistance to many pesticides, making infestations harder to manage today.

Why Is Bed Bug Infestation Increasing?

Bed bugs have increasingly spread around the world, regardless of modern pest control methods. The reasons are:

• Increased international travel: People carry bed bugs unknowingly in luggage and clothes across various locations.
• The rise of second-hand furniture purchases: Purchasing used furniture and mattresses introduces bed bugs to a new home.
• Changes in pest control practices: Some of the modern pest control methods do not target the control of bed bugs efficiently.

Where Do Bed Bugs Live in a Home?

Bed bugs are masters in hiding. They can be found in mattresses, bed frames, headboards, and box springs, staying close to their food source. But their hiding places are not limited to beds: furniture, cracks, electrical outlets, shoes, books, and even in clothing.

Their ability to fit in very tiny spaces means that a bed bug infestation can spread very fast. Unlike some pests, bed bugs do not reside on humans but feed from them.

Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

1. Sealing Cracks and Crevices

Bed bugs hide in small cracks and crevices, so sealing them with silicone caulk keeps them at bay.

2. Heat and Cold Treatments

Extreme heat or extreme cold are among the quickest methods for killing bed bugs. Items can be placed in sealed bags and frozen at zero degrees for three days or treated with steam. Professional exterminators often use heat treatments to eliminate infestations.

3. Avoid Harmful Chemicals

Some DIY methods, such as rubbing alcohol, gas, and kerosene, are ineffective and dangerous. Using safe tested bed bug sprays is the better approach.

4. Interceptor Traps

Setting up bed bug interceptors under the legs of beds and furniture can trap these pests and prevent them from reaching sleeping areas. Over time, these traps monitor an infestation while minimizing the population of bed bugs.

Conclusion

No one wants to face a bed bug infestation, but knowing how these pests travel, hide, and survive will keep them away. They multiplies within the luggage, furniture, and clothing, which, in turn, makes it relevant to check for signs whenever traveling or bringing in second-hand items. Though bed bugs do not transmit diseases, their bites are irritating and cause sleepless nights.

FAQs

1. Can bed bugs live in clothes?

Yes, bed bugs can hide in clothes, but they do not live on humans. They can cling to fabric and travel unnoticed.

2. How do I know if I have bed bugs?

Signs of bed bug infestations include bug bites, small blood stains on sheets, and a musty bug smell in infested areas.

3. Can natural remedies help get rid of bed bugs?

Some natural remedies, like diatomaceous earth, can help control bed bugs, but professional treatment is often required for complete elimination.

Call Professionals for Bed Bugs!

Suffering from bed bug infestation? Don’t worry; just call Safe Pest Sol. Our pest control service ensures the complete and effective elimination of bed bugs.