What is the main cause of bed bugs?
Key Takeaways
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Expert Hitchhikers: Bed bugs don't just magically appear; they spread by latching onto luggage, clothing, and secondhand furniture.
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Biological Magnets: They are highly attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale, our body heat, and the scent left on dirty laundry.
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Color Preferences: Studies show bed bugs prefer dark colors like red and black, often avoiding bright colors like yellow and white.
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Human-Focused: Bed bugs prefer human hosts and rarely enter the home via pets or from the outdoors.
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Professional Eradication: DIY methods often fail because bed bugs hide in microscopic crevices. Professional treatment is the most effective, safe way to eliminate an infestation.
Why do I have bed bugs?
Bed bugs don’t just appear. They hitchhike from one place to another, often going unnoticed. Clinging to luggage, clothing, or secondhand items, they can easily make their way into homes. Learning how they spread is the first step in preventing an infestation.
Bed bug bites on skin
Where do bed bugs come from?
Bed bugs usually come from places where people sleep or rest for long periods. Hotels, motels, dorm rooms, and apartment buildings are frequent hotspots. Public transportation, movie theaters, and waiting rooms can also harbor bed bugs.
Bed bugs often latch onto luggage, backpacks, purses, or clothing. Used furniture and mattresses are another common source. Even brief exposure to an infested area can result in bed bugs hitching a ride on your belongings. Once introduced into a home, they quickly spread to mattresses, furniture, and cracks in walls.
Two Bed Bugs
[H3] Can bed bugs come from pets or outside?
Bed bugs do not live on pets or animals like fleas or ticks. They prefer human hosts and are rarely found outdoors. Their spread is almost always linked to human movement and travel, not animals or nature.
What are bed bugs attracted to?
Once inside, bed bugs look for a cozy place to set up camp. They aren't drawn to dirt, grime, or rotting food like other pests. Instead, they are attracted to the biological signals we give off and the environments we create. Here is what actually brings them out of hiding:
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Carbon Dioxide: Bed bugs are like tiny vampires. They use the carbon dioxide we exhale while sleeping as a homing beacon. They can sense it from a distance, using it to navigate directly toward their next meal.
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Body Heat: Your body naturally radiates heat, creating a warm microclimate that signals to a bed bug that a host is nearby.
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Dirty Laundry: Bed bugs are twice as likely to be attracted to soiled laundry than clean clothes. The human scent on your worn clothes acts as an invitation, making piles of dirty laundry a prime hiding spot and a common way for bed bugs to travel with you.
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Colors: Bed bugs have favorite colors, too. Research shows they're attracted to dark red and black, which may mimic a safe hiding spot or other bed bugs. They tend to avoid brighter colors like yellow and white.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs from Entering Your Home
To prevent bed bugs, inspect hotel rooms before unpacking, keep luggage off beds and floors, and wash clothes on high heat after travel. Avoid bringing in used furniture without a thorough inspection. Using protective mattress encasements can also help reduce the risk of infestation.
When to Call an Exterminator
If you suspect bed bugs in your home, contact an exterminator immediately. DIY bed bug treatments may not eliminate the entire infestation, especially if bugs are hiding in hard-to-reach areas. Orkin Pros are trained to identify, treat, and prevent bed bug infestations with customized treatment plans.
Contact your local Orkin branch today for help with bed bug control.
More Resources
Tips to Avoid Bed Bugs When Traveling
Travel increases the risk of encountering bed bugs, so it’s important to take simple precautions before, during, and after your trip to avoid bringing them home.
The Bed Bug Registry is a helpful resource that reports hotels that have had bed bug sightings.
Because bed bugs can hitchhike into even the cleanest homes, it’s important to know how to spot them early and take steps to avoid bringing them inside.
Bed bug infestations can be persistent and challenging. Orkin provides proven treatment solutions to help stop infestations and prevent them from spreading.