You’ve undoubtedly heard the expression, “Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.” And as a child, bed bugs might have been some creature that you thought only existed in silly bedtime rhymes. But these insects are absolutely real and, if you’re like most people, you don’t want to find them anywhere in your house.
But how do you get bed bugs in the first place? Read on to learn what attracts them, as well as some of the ways they might make it into your home.
What Do Bed Bugs Eat?
Bed bugs need the blood of warm-blooded creatures to survive. Though they may feed on animals, bed bugs are generally found feeding on the blood of humans.
As bed bugs feed on warm-blooded creatures, it’s only natural that they’re attracted to you. Specifically, they’re drawn in by your body heat, the carbon dioxide you exhale and other biological signatures. In fact, they’re called bed bugs because they’re often found on or around bedding. Cracks and crevices in box springs, headboards and bed frames make cozy homes for the bed bugs that are waiting for you to rest so they can get a nice warm blood meal.
However, it’s important to note that bed bugs can be found outside of the bedroom as well. Additionally, they’ll feed during the day or night. They’re not so much waiting for you to fall asleep as they’re biding their time until you’re inactive. Therefore, you could be bitten by bed bugs at any time or anywhere, including at the movie theater, in a cab or on public transportation.
How Do You Get Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are adept at hitchhiking. They’re typically transported by people or their belongings, such as suitcases, purses or coats. More or less, any place where you’ve sat or rested is a location where you could pick up bed bugs. In addition, people who travel — or who have guests come to visit — might have an increased risk of getting bed bugs.
You can pretty much bring home a bed bug from any public area you can think of. Some examples of the many places where bed bugs could be picked up include:
- Airports
- Train and bus stations
- Public transportation
- Movie theaters
- Hotels, hostels and guest houses
- Apartments
- Libraries
- Retail clothing stores
What Should You Do if You Suspect Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are excellent hiders and prolific breeders and can live for around 12 months as an adult, so this isn’t a situation in which do-it-yourself methods are a good idea. If you think you have bed bugs, your best bet is to contact a bed bug control professional. Terminix® can help.
A trained professional will be able to perform an extensive inspection of the areas where bed bugs can hide, including beds, furniture and linens. Afterwards, your technician will work with you to customize a solution that suits your needs.
Schedule your FREE bed bug inspection from Terminix today!
