Bed bugs are small and have a similar size and appearance to apple seeds measuring around 5 to 7 millimetres in length. These brown, oval-shaped bugs are notorious for biting people and causing irritating red bumps on the skin, as well as other negative health effects like insomnia and anemia.
You might be surprised to discover that bed bugs are not enticed by an untidy house or leftover food scraps. Their real interest is in blood. Given that they feed on warm-blooded animals, it’s only natural that they are drawn to you. More precisely, they are attracted by your body heat, the carbon dioxide that you exhale, and other biological signals.
Despite not being able to fly or jump, these creatures still succeed in infiltrating numerous houses each year. Keep reading to discover what lures bed bugs into your residence, the most effective ways to keep them out, and how to get rid of these bed bugs.
How Do You Get Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are skilled at travelling by hitchhiking on people or their possessions. To answer the question “Where do bed bugs hide on your body?” — they typically hide in bags, jackets, and other items. It’s possible to pick up bed bugs from any location where you have sat or rested. Furthermore, those who travel frequently or receive guests may have a higher chance of encountering bed bugs.
The following are just a few of the numerous causes of bed bugs:
- Second-hand furniture
- Travel
- Clothing
- Guests and Neighbours
- Pets
What Attracts Bed Bugs?
During the night, bed bugs move and climb onto your bed to quietly feed themselves with your blood. Apart from this, what are bed bugs most attracted to?
- Fabrics
Bed bugs are attracted to fabrics more than cold and hard surfaces because fabrics provide warmth and hiding spots. This preference is due to the bed bugs’ biological adaptation to living close to their host, which is typically found in warm, soft environments. Luggage or bags made of fabric tend to be more appealing to bed bugs as they offer a suitable environment for them to thrive and reproduce.
- Red, dark brown colour
Because they feed on human blood, bed bugs are drawn to colours that closely mimic blood, such as red and dark brown. The bugs are naturally drawn to these hues because they indicate that it is time for a meal. Due to their visual system’s sensitivity to detecting the light wavelengths associated with certain colours, bugs can recognize them with ease.
- Warmth
Bed bugs are tiny, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. Despite common misconceptions, they are not attracted to unclean environments or poor hygiene practices. Instead, they are primarily attracted to the heat and carbon dioxide emitted by warm-blooded hosts like humans.
As a result, bed bugs are more likely to infest areas where people sleep, rest, or lounge for long periods, as these areas provide a steady supply of warmth and blood. This is why the immediate surroundings of our beds, including the headboard, bedding, and nearby furniture, are often the most vulnerable to bed bug infestations.
- Hiding Places
Bed bugs are incredibly small creatures, typically measuring only a few millimetres in length. Even the smallest cracks and crevices in furniture, walls, or floors can provide ample hiding places for these pests. Because of their small size, bed bugs are notorious for their evasiveness and their preference for hiding in tight spaces.
By hiding in tight spaces, bed bugs can create a cozy microclimate that provides them with the warmth and moisture they need to survive. Tight spaces also offer bed bugs a sense of safety and security.
- Dirty Laundry
When humans are not present, bed bugs often seek out soiled laundry as a new hiding spot. This can include stacks of dirty clothes left on the floor, which can become the starting point for a bed bug infestation. The scent of human sweat and oils found in dirty laundry are some of the scents that attract bed bugs.
- Carbon Dioxide
Bed bugs are typically attracted to humans due to our production of carbon dioxide. They tend to settle in areas where there is a high concentration of this gas. Bed bugs often bite humans while we are sleeping at night, as we tend to have minimal movements while sleeping, which can trap carbon dioxide in a cloud around us.
How to Keep Bed Bugs Out?
To prevent bed bugs from infesting your home, there are several measures you can take. Here are some tips on how to prevent bed bugs:
- Clean Up Clutter
Having a messy house creates additional hiding spots for bed bugs and makes identifying and eradicating them more challenging. If your mattress has bed bugs, using special bed bug encasements on your mattress and box springs will make it difficult for bed bugs to bite you while you sleep. It’s recommended to keep the encasements on for a year and purchase a product that has been tested for bed bugs and is durable enough to last the full year without tearing.
- Regularly Wash and Heat Sheets
Regularly washing and heat-drying your laundry can be effective in reducing the number of bed bugs in your home. Bed bugs, as well as their eggs, can hide in laundry containers and hampers, so remember to clean them thoroughly when you do the laundry to prevent infestations.
- Wash Clothes and Luggage After Traveling
To avoid bringing bed bugs home with you after travelling, it’s important to take certain precautions. After returning from a trip, make sure to immediately wash your clothes and thoroughly clean all your luggage, including suitcases, backpacks, and purses, to prevent any bed bugs from hitchhiking their way into your home.
- Store Items in Plastic Containers
Bed bugs have difficulty crawling on smooth surfaces such as glass or plastic. To prevent the spread of bed bugs, it is recommended to store your belongings in plastic containers or bags, which will make it harder for the bugs to infest your items.
- Inspect your Lodging Area
Inspect your new sleeping area, such as a hotel or dorm room, for bed bugs before unpacking your clothes. Check the curtains, walls, carpet, and surrounding areas for signs of bed bugs, especially the bed. If you find signs of bed bugs, ask for another room and avoid placing your clothes on the bed.
- Avoid Taking Furniture From Curbs or Dumpsters
Although it may be tempting to pick up a free couch from the roadside or a dumpster, doing so can result in a serious bed bug infestation in your home. It’s best to avoid taking any furniture from these places as they may already be infested with bed bugs.
No one really knows what makes bed bugs stay away. There are so many bed bugs, and they can be found anywhere, even in unexpected places. Take preventative measures to avoid bed bug issues instead of delaying until there is already a bed bug infestation.
If you already have bed bug problems, it is best to immediately get a bed bug treatment in Toronto. Bed Bug Heat Relief offers the most effective way to eliminate bed bugs with a no-chemical heat treatment. If you’re uncertain whether or not you’re dealing with bed bugs, we also offer the services of our K-9 detection unit. Reach us at (647) 205-6384 now!
