How Do Bed Bugs Travel: Everything You Need to Know About Bed Bug Spreads and How to Control Them

Despite being wingless, bed bugs are always a factor to bear in mind when traveling. So, how do bed bugs travel from property to property?

Here’s what you ought to know.

Understanding Bed Bugs and Their Behavior

Before answering the question, “how do bed bugs travel” it is essential to understand these insects and their habits. Bed bugs are small reddish-brown insects that rely on human and animal blood to survive. They are also wingless, measuring about 1-7mm, roughly the same size as an apple seed, and can go months without feeding.

Bed bugs are present in every region of the United States, even in the cleanest rooms or hotels. Usually, bed bug infestations begin in sleeping areas such as hostels, apartments, and shelters. They tend to hide in cracks and crevices, mattress seams, headboards, and box springs during the daytime.

Evidence shows that bed bugs move up to 100 feet at night. Even so, these critters prefer to stay within 8 feet of where humans sleep.

Fortunately, bed bugs don’t spread diseases. However, bed bug bites can lead to severe allergic reactions, which will require medical assistance.

How Do Bed Bugs Travel?

To answer the question, “how do bed bugs travel” you must remember that bed bugs can spread from room to room despite being wingless. They achieve this by hitchhiking on you, your luggage, second-hand furniture as well as your pets.

Common areas where these pests may hitchhike include taxis, airports, hotels, theaters and trains. They can also move about 4 feet in a minute. Therefore, if you switch from your infested bedroom to another sleeping area, it could take only an hour for bed bugs to crawl and get to you.

Besides how bed bugs travel, another thing that should concern you is how fast they can spread. It only takes a single female bed bug for you to end up with a large infestation. Female bed bugs usually lay about three eggs daily and roughly 250 eggs during their lifetime.

Under a suitable environment, bedbugs take up to six weeks to reach adulthood. Your home could therefore end up housing three generations of bed bugs within a year. Note that they also spread their hiding spots fast.

They can hatch anywhere from nooks and crannies to door frames and inside furniture cracks. Also, while bed bugs crawling from place to place is a factor behind their fast spread, “hitchhiking” is their preferred method of travel.

How to Stop Bed Bugs Infestations

The best way to prevent bed bugs infestation in your home or business is to spot the signs early and immediately call pest control. Some of the indications of infestations include a molted exoskeleton and a musky odor. Moreover, you might spot bloodstains in areas where bed bugs feed, like on pillowcases and bedsheets.

You can do several things to prevent and control bed bug infestations.

• Inspect luggage and clothing after a trip. It would be wise to place items in the washer immediately.
• Stop bringing second-hand furniture and clothing inside before a thorough cleaning. Alternatively, you could avoid purchasing such items.
• Clean and declutter your home regularly.
• If you spot bed bugs, put clothing, teddy bears and beddings in the washer under the highest setting.
• Seek pest control services to get rid of bed bugs fast.

Bed bugs are a menace. They can ruin businesses and also disrupt peace in your home. Considering how easily they can travel from place to place, it’s imperative to take action at the earliest signs.

McDonald Pest Control is a trusted company with decades of experience in bed bug control treatment, among other pest control services, including bed bug heat treatment. Don’t wait until you have a large-scale infestation. Schedule a free consultation with us today!