5 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are peculiar. It’s not surprising these creepy creatures sparked panic among their human hosts, who found themselves fed upon in the dark of the night while seemingly safe in their beds. For a time, people felt like they could escape the pests by the light of day. That’s until bed bugs started showing up in offices. And in retail centers. And theaters. And libraries.

It sounds like a Hitchcock horror movie, but it’s just a typical day’s work for The Orkin Man^®. We were early observers of the reemergence of bed bugs, and we’ve been on the frontlines of the battle against them ever since.

Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about bed bugs:

1. Bed bugs have wings, but they can’t fly. They have no hind wings, and their front vestigial wings are not large or strong enough to let them fly. They’re the penguins of the insect world. Except people like penguins.

2. Bed bugs can ingest more than seven times their body weight at one time. That’s the equivalent of a 150-pound adult drinking 125 gallons of water in one sitting.

3. Fossilized bed bug specimens found in Egyptian tombs date back 3,550 years. We weren’t around back then, but if we had been, King Tut might have been a client.

4. The name “bed bug” is a misnomer – bed bugs aren’t only found in beds. They do prefer staying close to their host, though, and typically shelter within a 6-foot radius of the bed in the mattress, box springs, headboard, soft furniture, outlets, wallpaper and carpet.

5. Bat bugs, booklice, small cockroaches, swallow bugs or carpet beetles are commonly mistaken for bed bugs. So don’t assume you have bed bugs until an expert has inspected the area and confirmed it.

If you’re thirsty for more bed bug knowledge, look no further.

Want more? You might also like:

Restart Your Pest Management Service with Confidence

As you reopen your business, there are several things you will want to consider when it comes to pest control—especially if you paused your pest management service during the pandemic. With lighter human foot traffic and, as a result, less access to food and water, certain pests may …

Keep Reading »

The Five Most Common Pests in Healthcare Facilities

Just as your facility addresses a variety of health concerns, you may also have to address a range of pest pressures. Ants, bed bugs, cockroaches, flies and rodents are among the most common, each of which pose unique threats to your healthcare environment. For instance, flies can spread disease-cau …

Keep Reading »

Orkin Bed Bug ProAct FAQ

Bed bugs are no stranger to the hospitality industry, which is why we’ve developed Orkin Bed Bug ProAct® with you in mind. To help you decide if this breakthrough bed bug solution is right for your business, we’ve answered the most commonly asked questions about bed bugs and our proactive bed bug se …

Keep Reading »