Important Bed Bugs Facts

Here are some interesting facts about bed bugs that you may not know.  These will help you to understand them a little better.  If you have any question that you don’t see answered here please use the comments section below.  I’ll answer as quick as I can.

The more facts about bed bugs that you have the better and quicker you can get rid of them.

These Bugs Can Live Anywhere

True
Up till about ten years ago the bugs were thought a problem of the past.  Once these bugs were nearly eradicated during the times when DDT was freely used to exterminate them.

But they are nothing if not adaptable.  In recent years a new type, resistant to many of todays insecticides.  These have started to infest beds and homes from coast to coast.

Most often when people think about bedbugs they think hotels.  But these resilient bugs can live anywhere.  The facts about bed bugs is that they can be found in the country or in urban areas.  You find them in hotels, motels, apartments, condos, single family homes, and in dorm rooms.

Anywhere they can find a meal they can be found.  They have even been seen in libraries, schools, restaurants, and warehouses.  They can travel hiding in furniture or on clothing.  Even boxes that are being delivered to your door can carry them.

It is true that the facts about Bed bugs show they are three times more likely to be found in urban areas.   But even rural areas are not safe from them.

Bed Bugs Are Hardy

True
These nasty pests are able live for as long as 18 months without a blood meal.  This means they can linger in furniture, bags and suitcases for a long time until they are near a human host again.  They can also survive temperatures that range from near freezing to 122 degrees.

They are Resistant To Most Chemical Sprays

True
Part of the reason that they are showing up more is their resistance to most chemicals used by exterminators.

But this is only part of the problem. With increasing world travel and trade they can travel around the world to get into your home.

Bed Bugs Are Smart

True
Sort of at least. These bugs are master hitchhikers that can speed around the globe using planes, trains and autos to come to your home.  But the truth is that they act on an instinctual level when they are searching for food and hiding.

More Facts About Bed Bugs

There are increasing instances where they have infested warehouses.  They have even traveled in packages that were sent out in the mail.

They are able to lie dormant for up to 18 months without feeding.  They will awaken as soon as they sense a blood meal in the area.  And once they infest your home they can be very hard to get rid of.

They like places like apartments and dorms where a lot of people live close together.  That way if they loose one host they can always seek out another nearby.

Once a building is infested it can be almost impossible to get rid of them.  In any typical apartment building there are always a few people that don’t want to have their home sprayed.   These become as safe haven for the bugs where they bide their time until they can emerge again after chemicals disipate.

Even if all the live bugs are killed, there are still the eggs to deal with.  Eggs are almost impervious to most chemicals.  They don’t hatch for about ten days after they are lain.  Giving bedbugs the chance to reinfest your home.

High heat can kill them.  But you must get anything over 120 degrees for a extended period for the heat to work.  It will just be an inconvenience for the bugs.  A bigger problem is getting the heat inside objects like mattresses and sofas where the bugs can hide.

Bed bugs are so small that they can hide in crevices between walls.  Heat treatments just can’t reach these places.  They just wait it out and re-emerge when conditions return to normal.

Do You Need to Get Rid of Infested Clothing and Furniture?

No
This is one of the more important facts about bed bugs. You can launder clothing to get rid of bed bugs.

In most cases furniture can be treated and should only be discarded if there are no acceptable treatments for them.  This is why it is so important to find the areas where there is an infestation located.  Then you know where to treat.

Part of the problem with treating furniture is the bulk items. Things like tables and cabinets can be treated pretty easily.   But things that have bulk like sofas and stuffed chairs are more of a problem.

This is because that padding of these items causes a bulk that makes it difficult to treat. There are solution though. Check out my page on diatomaceous earth here to get an idea of what can be done with these items.  You should also check out my page on using mattress enclosures.

Are Bed Bugs Only Found In Beds?

No
Even though they are found most often in the bedroom.  These bugs can travel any where that you go in your home.

If you find the bugs in your bed you might go to the sofa to sleep there.  But these bugs are just going to follow you and infest your sofa. This is why it is so important to find the bugs as soon as possible.  Once an infestation begins make sure to kill it before it can infest your entire home.

Facts About Bed Bugs Summary

I hope that these facts about bed bugs answer your questions.  If not, please ask your question in the comments below.  I’ll try to answer your question as quickly as possible.  Read my posts for more facts about bed bugs.