Bed bugs can move through our possessions because they are passive travelers. They lack wings and are unable to fly. The ability to fly is not present in bed bugs because they lack wings. Bed bugs cannot jump very far, unlike other wingless insects like fleas. Bed bugs can travel from host to host, but they usually do so by crawling.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Before feeding, bed bugs are tiny, flat, wingless insects that are reddish-brown in color and about one-quarter inch long (similar in size and shape to a small apple seed).

They hide during the day in cracks and crevices of walls, floors, and furniture, as well as on beds (mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, and headboards). At night, they emerge.

They can move quickly while crawling but cannot fly or jump.

What Can Be Mistaken for Bed Bugs?

Here are 6 examples of similar-looking bugs that are sometimes mistaken for bed bugs:

• Bat Bugs.
• Spider Beetles.
• Baby Cockroaches.
• Carpet Beetles.
• Ticks.
• Booklice.

How Do I Control a Bed Bug Problem in My Home?

It can be done, but it usually requires what is called an “integrated pest management” (IPM) approach, which combines methods with the least amount of risk to the environment and to human health. Try these strategies:

• Particularly in your bedroom, declutter and clean.
• Away from any furniture or walls, move your bed.
• Every day, vacuum the floors, molding, and windows. Mattress sides, box springs, and furniture seams should all be vacuumed. As soon as possible, empty the vacuum or bag, and then throw it away outside in a bag or sealed container.
• Sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and bed skirts should all be washed before being dried in a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes. Use dust mite control mattress and box spring covers and cover the zippers with duct tape.
• Fill in cracks and crevices as well as any openings where wires or pipes enter the house.

Should I Also Try Pesticides?

Incorrect use of pesticides can make them dangerous and less effective. If you decide to use pesticides, follow these rules:

• Use only pesticides that have been approved for use in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can be found there. Make sure they are marked to control bed bugs on the label (EPA Registration Number).
• Applying pesticides directly to your body is not advised (there are no repellents approved for use on humans to control bed bugs).
• Indoor pesticides should not be used.
• Make sure the pest control company has experience dealing with bed bugs if you decide to hire them. Along with the use of pesticides, they should adhere to IPM principles. Utilize a business that is accredited and hires applicators with a license. A list of registered companies is available from the Department of Environmental Conservation.

How Can Bed Bugs Get into My Home?

They may originate from previously used furniture or other contaminated areas. They can travel in bags, backpacks, purses, and other items that are placed on padded or soft surfaces.

In multi-unit structures like hotels and apartment buildings, they are able to move between rooms.

How Can I Avoid Bringing Bed Bugs into My Home?

When staying at a hotel, put your bag on a suitcase stand rather than on the bed or floor. Away from any furniture or walls, keep the rack. When you get back home, wash and dry your travel attire in a hot dryer.

Before bringing it inside, look over both new and used furniture. Look under cushions, in tufts, and in seams.

How Do Bed Bugs Travel?

A: Bed bugs must rely on their six legs because they lack wings and cannot jump. How’s that for a workout? Bed bugs are often known as “hitchhikers” because they hitch rides on luggage or clothing to travel more rapidly. Because so many people travel during the summer, bed bug activity increases during that time.

How Long Can You Have Bed Bugs and Not Know It?

Most people do not realize they have been bitten until bite marks appear anywhere from one to several days after the initial bite. The bite marks resemble those left by a flea or a mosquito and are a slightly swollen, red area that may itch and be uncomfortable. The bite marks could be haphazard or in a line.

How Do Bed Bugs Find Hosts While They Are Asleep?

A: The bed bugs are attracted to unknowing, sleeping hosts by body heat, carbon dioxide from exhaled breath, and other biological signatures.

Will Vacuuming Get Rid of Bed Bugs?

In some places, particularly those with groups or clusters of bed bugs, vacuums can be useful in reducing bed bug populations. Vacuuming is not 100% effective but will help capture bed bugs.

Can Bed Bugs Live in Your Hair?

Blood from humans or animals is what bedbugs eat. They frequently appear in areas like mattress seams or bed frame cracks. Bedbugs aren’t adapted to live in your hair, but it’s possible a bedbug could end up in your hair after biting your scalp. The likelihood of having head lice increases when you find bugs in your hair.

Conclusion

Bed bug removal requires patience and persistence, and in some cases, the cooperation of landlords, neighbors, and other people. It might make you feel emotionally and physically worn out. When pest control companies are contacted, the cost may also be high. Just keep in mind that bed bugs are more of an annoyance than a health risk and that with caution, you can prevent or manage infestations.