Once you get bed bugs in your home, it seems impossible to get rid of them. At times, you might wonder where do bed bugs come from and how do they spread so quickly? Let’s find out.
Where Do Bed Bugs Come From? – Bed Bugs Origin
Numerous experts predict that the spread of bed bugs began well over a thousand years ago. They emphasize that humans may have got into contact with them through bats since both shared caves at the time.
And as humans migrated, these bugs accompanied them along to new regions. And now, these bugs occupy every continent except Antarctica.
What Causes Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs prefer living in areas with many sources of food. Unlike certain misconceptions that bed bugs are a result of a dirty or messy home, it is important to know they only come for blood. Here are a few causes of bed bugs infestation at your home:
1. Traveling
Since the bed bugs are hitchhikers, they can easily travel from one place to another. If you have been traveling, either locally or internationally, you face a serious risk of bed bugs. The place where you stay is extremely important since these places may already have an infestation of bed bugs.
Hotels, motels, and Airbnb rooms are notable examples that cause bed bugs to travel along with you. Not only can they attach to your clothes, but they can also get into luggage and tag along with you to your home. Therefore, it is always important to choose the room wisely and make sure it is bug-free.
Bed bugs can spread very fast, so it’s important to keep an eye out for signs of bed bugs where ever you’re traveling!
2. Getting Used Furniture
Most homeowners often go with cheap and used furniture to save money. But one thing they don’t realize is that used furniture is one of the most popular reasons for a bed bug infestation. At first, you may not be able to spot any signs of bed bugs on the furniture, but slowly and gradually, you will start to see the consequences.
While getting the furniture at a discounted rate or from a friend may seem tempting, it can pose serious concerns in the long run. Therefore, it is advisable that you properly check for bed bugs inside the furniture before you buy it. We also recommend going for new furniture to avoid any bed bugs altogether.
3. Educational Institutes
Another way your house can become a hub of bed bugs is through educational institutes such as schools, colleges, and daycare centers. Your children can unknowingly bring these harmful insects into your home, and thus, the bed bug invasion begins.
These institutes can be major breeding grounds for pests and can easily cause bed bug infestation at your house. Without proper care, your home will be at a threat of infestation.
7 Most Common Ways To Get Bed Bugs:
It is important to know that bed bugs can invade even the cleanest spaces. Just in a few days, they can cause bed bugs infestation on the property. Any place can have bed bugs. Some of the examples include:
- Offices
- Airports
- Cinema
- Nursing homes
- Libraries
- Educational institutes
- Commercial facilities and stores
You may not know that you are carrying bed bugs along with you till it is too late. The bed bugs can then hide in the smallest cracks and spaces and make it hard for you to find them. The bed bugs are also hitchhikers since they attach themselves to clothes, bags, or fur and make their way to a new destination.
Therefore, it is important to beware of them and make sure that they don’t follow your home.
What Attracts Bed Bugs?
Plenty of things can attract bed bugs. Some of the common things that these pests are attracted to include:
1. Carbon Dioxide
Generally, these pests are attracted to humans since we produce carbon dioxide. Bed bugs prefer to infest areas where there is a high concentration of carbon dioxide.
The most common time for bed bugs to bite humans is during the night. Since you have movement, the gas traps you in a cloud and attracts these pests.
2. Warmth
Despite popular belief, bed bugs do not come to places that are dirty or messy. Instead, they are attracted to the warmth in our bodies. It is a fact that human bodies produce heat at night, which makes it ideal for bed bugs to venture out and feast on blood.
Apart from that, these bed bugs also exist in the warmest parts of beds. These areas have the highest risk of bed bug infestation.
3. Dark Sheets
When they are not feeding, the bed bugs try to seek dark areas around the room. The dark color helps them hide, as they can blend in with the darker color. Dark colors like red and black are two notable colors that attract bed bugs.
4. Dirty Laundry
Bed bugs often rest inside dirty laundry. They rest in dirty clothes around the room and use their sense of smell to find them. It may prove to be a perfect hiding spot for bed bugs.
Are Bed Bugs Attracted to Period Blood?
No, bed bugs are not attracted to period blood. Naturally, the bed bugs are attracted to the scent of blood. If there are not many humans around, they may try to bite pets and rodents. However, they are not attracted to period blood since it doesn’t contain the proteins they require for consumption. Moreover, it also contains bacteria and tissue from the uterus. Bed bugs do not like the smell and taste of period blood, which is why you will not find them near period bloodstains.
What Scent Attracts Bed Bugs?
One scent that bed bugs are attracted to is dirty laundry or dirty bedding. Bed bugs are attracted to these once humans have come in contact with these fabrics because humans leave their scent on them. If you have dirty clothes or dirty bedding you should ensure that you don’t keep it near your bed so that these scents don’t attract bed bugs!
Bed Bugs Prevention- How To Keep Them Out
It is important to prevent bed bugs from infesting your place. Follow some of the tips below to keep these bed bugs out:
1. Confirm the Beg Bugs Infestation
People are often unable to tell the difference between bed bugs, flea, and tick infestations. To effectively prevent the infestation, it is important to know which bug is in your space. View our guide on how to find bed bugs during the day to ensure you actually have a bed bug infestation.
If you are going for a professional removal treatment, make sure that you get the inspection done first.
2. Cover Power Outlets
The electrical outlets are one of the common places for bed bugs to hide. They often come out at night from these outlets. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to cover them after using them since it prevents them from coming out.
3. Store Clothing in Vacuum Sealed Bag
Since bed bugs are attracted to the laundry, it can make it a common ground for infestation. Therefore, it is important that you seal them in a vacuum bag to keep them safe from pests.
4. Vacuum Clean your Floor
It is not necessary that you will find bed bugs on your bed or mattress. At times, these pests can quietly seep into the carpets and hide. Therefore, it is important that you get rid of these bugs with the help of a vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner will make sure that it gets all the bed bugs out of the carpet, making your home safe.
5. Clean up the Clutter
To prevent a bed bug infestation, it is important that you don’t leave your things cluttered. Clutters prove to be the main place for them to hide. The more clutter you have in the house, the harder it will be to get rid of the bed bugs.
Get rid of the things you don’t need or assemble them in a way that they don’t look messy. Without adequate care and precaution, they can become a bug’s paradise.
6. Cover the Mattresses
Mattress covers and pillow covers are essential to slow down the rapid growth of bed bugs. These covers should not have any folds on them since they can hinder their purpose. The folds are one of the common grounds for these pests.
7. Test Out DIY Methods
Before you shell out money to a professional, you should attempt to solve the infestation yourself. Try out the following DIY bed bug removal options:
8. Contact a Pest Removal Company
This is one of the most important aspects of removing a bed bug infestation from your home. If you suspect that these bloodthirsty pests have invaded your home, contact a pest removal service immediately.
The removal company will first inspect your house and then develop a plan to remove the bed bugs from your house. They will make sure to get rid of these bed bugs after effective treatment.
Final Thoughts On Where Bed Bugs Come From
Bed bugs can hitchhike to your house from anywhere. Therefore, you need to make sure to take adequate precautions. When traveling, make sure that your room is bug-free and choose a reputable cinema to watch a movie so you don’t bring bed bugs home.
It is also important to take swift action against these pests. Delaying any further may lead to a full-blown infestation. You can try out DIY methods or simply call professional infestation services to do the job for you.
