Are you waking up with unexplainable itchy bites? You may have a bed bug infestation in your home!
It’s always frightening to have an unexpected insect problem, especially when they’re actively causing harm. However, how do bed bugs enter and move around your home? Do bed bugs fly, or are they flightless insects?
We’ll explain everything you need to know about bed bug infestations and how these pests come indoors!
Signs of a Bed Bugs
Most invading insects leave behind a few clues as they crawl around. Ants make their presence known by actively foraging around your kitchen, while termites produce frass or mud tubes.
Because bed bugs prefer to hide away until they find a still and unmoving host, you may not notice these pests until they bite you at night. Here are some common signs of a bed bug infestation you should look out for:
Feces stains- Live, crawling bed bugs
- New or unexplained bites on your skin
- Blood stains on your bedding, clothing, or furniture
- Eggs along the seams of your mattress or furniture
Bug bites are a sign of bed bug problems, especially if you discover new marks each morning. Even if you don’t find bed bugs around your bed, these pests will travel over 20 feet from their hiding spots in search of a meal, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Because they require blood to survive, you can generally find bed bugs inside your mattress, box spring, or other furniture.
Understanding Bed Bug Bites
Any bug bite may leave you wary, especially pests that regularly feed on other humans or animals. Blood-sucking pests like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas can spread dangerous diseases to their unwilling hosts.
Can bed bugs transmit illnesses, too?
Thankfully, bed bugs are nothing more than a significant nuisance. While their affinity to blood makes them similar to other biting pests, they aren’t known to carry or transmit diseases like other pests.
At most, bed bug bites could become infected with frequent scratching, or you may lose sleep worrying about the pests creeping around your room.
What do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?
It’s easy to mistake bed bug bites for other common insect markings. If you spent the previous day outdoors, you may misinterpret the bed bug bites as other common pest bites like mosquitoes or ticks.
Bed bugs leave behind small swollen welts on your skin, similar to mosquito bites. While their appearance may mimic mosquitoes, you can identify a bed bug’s mark by its location. Mosquitoes typically bite at random, while bed bugs prefer to stick around a central area on your skin.
These bites may look differently for those allergic to bed bugs. You may notice a rash, significant swelling, difficulty breathing, or even anaphylaxis. Bed bug bites won’t normally require medical attention, but consult with a physician if your symptoms worsen.
Do Bed Bugs Fly Indoors?
When bed bugs invade your home, they can disrupt your sleep and leave you with annoying, itchy welts. For many homeowners, bed bugs are significant worries as they move into new homes.
So, how do bed bugs overrun your home? Do bed bugs fly in from the elements, or can they infest your bedroom in other ways?
Thankfully, bed bugs aren’t like other common insects. They cannot enter your home through open cracks, windows, or doors. You won’t have to worry about bed bugs creeping inside as you crack open a window for a cool breeze.
How Did I get a Bed Bug Infestation?
Unlike other pests, bed bugs don’t exist in the wild. You can’t accidentally introduce bed bugs after a long hike, nor can these insects crawl indoors atop your furry friends like ticks or fleas.
Instead, bed bugs hitch a ride from other infected areas. Many hotels, motels, and hostels often struggle with bed bug infestations from the numerous guests who cycle in and out of their rooms. Unfortunately, this means you may have an unwelcome guest accompany you home.
According to the CDC, most continents have bed bugs, and these pests can come from any institution. Even well-rated resorts, cruises, hotels, and trains can house these invasive insects!
Bed bugs can even infest your home from newly bought furniture. Many homeowners discover a bed bug infestation after purchasing a used mattress, furniture, or bedding. If the previous owners had bed bugs, you could have accidentally inherited their pest problems.
These pests can even hide in clothing, children’s toys, or stuffed animals. While bed bugs like to stay within the seams of larger furniture, these sneaky insects can sneak into your home in numerous ways!
Can Bed Bugs Fly from Infected Furniture?
After accidentally introducing bed bugs from infested furniture or bedding, you may wonder, “Can bed bugs fly from other items in my home?”
If you have bed bugs in luggage, chairs, or couches, it’s normal to have concerns about these pests migrating toward your bedroom. No one wants to share their favorite pillow with blood-sucking bugs!
While bed bugs often crawl long distances to obtain their next meal, they cannot fly around your home or to other objects. Thankfully, these little pests can’t jump either!
Because bed bugs can’t fly, they lack wings, as well. However, this doesn’t mean bed bugs can’t quickly move around. Look at how fast bed bugs run around a styrofoam cup in this video!
We know bed bugs are annoying, and we want to help! Proudly serving many north Texas areas, NTX Best Pest is the pest control agency to turn to whenever you have tough pests like bed bugs.
Like many other common Texas insects, bed bugs are no match for NTX Best Pest’s residential and commercial bed bug control services. Our trained technicians can visit your home for a complimentary inspection before they apply our tried and true treatments!
Call us whenever you suspect bed bugs have invaded your home, or contact us today with our online form here!
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