Unfortunately, homeowners don’t know near enough about the parasitic pest known as the bed bug. However, what they do know is they are iconic hiders. One of the most cryptic pests on the planet, thanks to their unique body design. Their near-credit card-like profiles and reddish-brown coloring give them the ability to blend in with most everyday surroundings while squeezing into some of the tiniest cracks and crevices in the home. Simply put, trying to find a bug in the home is not an easy task. To do so, one almost needs to know exactly where to look. That’s exactly what we are here for.
Common Hiding Spots For Bed Bugs
When it comes right down to it, bed bugs are opportunistic pests, meaning they will take any opportunity given to them. A chance to feed or a new location to call home. You better believe they will jump at this opportunity and just at is as quickly as possible. This being said, they are also smart and witty. Therefore, there are some locations in the home that make more suitable living arrangements for them. These will without a doubt be the areas you want to check first and pay the closest attention to. And there are reasons they choose these spots. Most of the time it is because they provide quick and easy access to food sources.
Mattress/ Box Springs
You can do all the research you want or even speak with a handful of professionals, and you’ll get the same response every time. If you suspect your home is infested with bed bugs, you’ll without a doubt want to check the mattress and box springs first. This is because these are the bed bug’s go-to hiding spots. They are safe, offer access to a variety of hiding spaces, and provide quick and easy access to human hosts. When checking the mattress and box springs, you’ll want to check the corners, behind the tags, in the stitching, and every inch of the surface. Scouring it with a powerful vacuum cleaner is one of the best ways to tackle an infestation here.
Linens/Sheets/Drapes
If bed bugs are going to invade your mattresses and box springs, why wouldn’t they hide out in your sheets? They would and they oftentimes do! There is one distinct advantage to an infestation like this. It is that the bugs are much easier to spot. You don’t have to worry about digging them out of cracks and crevices, you’ll likely just see the bug lying on top of the sheets. If they are in the sheets, you might as well go ahead and check the drapes or curtains. The reason for this is because you can kill two birds with one stone. Washing the sheets and drapes in hot water followed by a high heat drying will kill the bugs out in all stages. The right amount of heat for the right amount of time will eradicate adults, larvae, and eggs.
Bed Frames/ Headboards/ Footboards
Speaking of the mattress and box springs, bed bugs are also known to take up residence in your bed frames. Because of their unique size and shape, they can get into some of the hardest-to-reach places. Where the rails connect with the headboards and footboards are common hiding areas for these pesky parasites. Sucking them out with a powerful vacuum cleaner will be your best option for removal.
Other Hiding Spots For Bed Bugs
One could go on and on about hiding places for bed bugs. The truth of the matter is they are going to hide all over the home. Given the chance, they’ll hide in your carpet, rugs, behind your baseboards, in your electrical outlets, in nightstands, and a whole handful of other locations. This being said, the most important thing is locating and removing the bugs.
This is something we are always more than willing to help you accomplish. However, if you want to undertake the task yourself, the option is there. Just be careful not to spread the infestation. Infestations are best dealt with when they are confined to one room of the home, when the numbers are at the lowest possible.
Start Your Search For Bed Bugs
With the above information in mind, the most important thing to know is when to search for bed bugs. Remember, these pesky parasites try to avoid human contact. They’ll miss a meal or two just to avoid detection. Use this information to your advantage. Bed bugs only come out when you are asleep. Whether this is during the day or at night, this is when the bugs will be active. It is possible to mimic your sleeping hours if you are unable to miss a night of sleep. Either way, this is the opportune time to look for bed bugs.
Other Ways To Lure Bed Bugs Out Of Hiding
Along with mimicking the hours of which you sleep, you can also mimic other conditions to lure bed bugs out of hiding. For instance, did you know that bed bugs are attracted to heat and CO2? They use their antenna to sense these chemicals, which are produced while we sleep. This is just another of the many reasons for their taking up residence near the bed. Using a heating pad, hairdryer, or turning up the heat in the bedroom might be enough to draw the bugs out of hiding. There are also specific CO2 lures designed for this task.
To learn more about these lures and other ways to trick bed bugs to come out of hiding, you can contact our local offices. We always have trained and certified specialists standing by. Whether it is just a question or an emergency call you need, feel free to give us a ring or stop by the office. We’re always glad to see a smiling face. Although you won’t likely be smiling if your home has been invaded. Fear not because will have the tools and knowledge to remove the infestation with the utmost efficiency and precision.