It is a common misconception that bed bugs, Cimex lectularius, are only found in beds. The reality is that you can find bed bugs in walls, furniture, carpeting and other locations in your home. If you are wondering, "Where do bed bugs hide," keep reading to find some of the most common sites for an infestation.
Hiding in plain sight
Adult bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, but have the ability to wedge their flattened, oval-shaped bodies into the smallest of spaces. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's factsheet on bed bugs, a good rule of thumb is to check cracks and spaces with a credit card. Bed bugs are about the same width as most credit cards, so if the card fits into a space, a bed bug could too.
In addition to looking in bedding, you should also look for bed bugs on the wall behind the bed, along the edges of drawers, down baseboards, in the corners of rooms (including where the ceiling and wall meet), inside electrical outlets and in wall switches. In cases where an infestation is more severe, bed bugs may also be found behind wall hangings or under loose wallpaper, in or around electrical appliances, on curtains, between cushions or in the seams of couches or upholstered chairs.
If your household has pets, you should check their bedding, and the animals themselves for signs of bed bugs.
Bed bugs in walls
These pests can travel through walls if an infestation gets bad enough. Bed bugs have been known to use pipes and electrical wires as highways into homes. Though this is more common in hotels, apartment complexes and dormitories, it can also be how an infestation spreads from room to room in a single-family home.
They may also take refuge inside clothing or luggage, both of which should be inspected and cleaned thoroughly after any travel.
If you are seeing bed bugs – on the walls, bedding or anywhere else in your home – don't panic, there is a solution. Where do bed bugs hide when Terminix® is on the scene? They don't. Call Terminix today to schedule your free bed bug inspection.
