The best way to deal with bed bug infestations is to find them early, before they are established or spread.
Despite the inconvenience, treating a minor infestation is far more affordable and easier than treating a more widespread infestation.
There are, however, many difficulties associated with finding and correctly identifying low-level infestations. A bed bug can be easily misidentified with another insect, such as a carpet beetle.
The longer you let bed bugs spread, the more likely they are to hitchhike to your neighbor’s house and start a new infestation.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide During The Day?
It is a nocturnal insect that bites and feeds on people during the night. Insects leave their hiding spots during the night to find hosts. Mattresses and couches are typically infested in the home.
It is common for bed bugs to hide in various places when they are not feeding. In cracks on the bed frame and headboard as well as near the piping, seams and tags on the mattress and box spring, and they can also be found around the bed.
You may find bed bugs if the room is heavily infested:
- The junction between the wall and ceiling.
- A window frame’s side.
- In the area under loose wallpaper and wall hangings.
- An electrical outlet’s bottom edge.
- Appliances and electrical receptacles.
- The joints of drawers.
- Between cushions, in the folds of curtains, and in the seams of chairs and couches.
- They can be everywhere, even in screw heads.
It is possible for bed bugs to squeeze into very small hiding places since they are about the width of a credit card. In a crack big enough to hold a credit card, a bed bug could hide.
Bed bugs can be spotted in your home if you know what to look for. You will be able to deal with an infestation more effectively if you find them sooner. Here are some common signs to look for:
- Your sheets and/or pajamas are stained with rust or reddish stains
- There is dark spotting and staining caused by dried bed bug feces
- The mattress may have adult bugs or bug carcasses
- Your room smells musty and strange
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide in a Home?
Because of their flat nature, these insects can easily fit into tiny crevices in furniture and bedding.
A dark reddish brown stain on fabrics or surfaces indicates the presence of bed bugs. Mattress seams and box springs are also common hiding places for these pests. Bed bugs can also be found hiding in the following places:
- Dresser drawers
- Wood trim with cracks
- Couch cushions
Ways To Find Bed Bugs During The Day
As bed bugs multiply quickly and can be difficult to find, you should not attempt to treat them on your own. However, there are a few ways you can confirm if you have an infestation.
In the daytime, bed bugs are usually inactive. However, you can spot them by following these steps:
1. Make Sure That Cracks In Your Bed Are Free Of Bed Bugs
It is possible for bedbugs to hide in areas as narrow as 2mm wide because of their small size. In a small space, even with a concentrated light source, it can be difficult to see any activity.
You can, however, use a credit card to entice them out of hiding. A credit card can be slipped along any narrow crevice, including:
- Baseboards
- Headboards
- Dresser drawers
- Bookshelves
- Furnishings
2. Look For Small Spots On The Bedding
The aftereffects of a bed bug’s blood meal can be even smaller than the bed bug itself. Look for small brown or rust-colored spots on your bed sheets, linens, duvet, and comforter to determine if there are bed bugs present.
Depending on where they bit you, these can be blood droplets or bed bug droppings. You should inspect bedding and other upholstered items (such as pillows, cushions, and curtains) with a magnifying glass to make sure these markings are not present.
3. Check For Shed Bed Bug Skins
The bed bug sheds its skin after a blood meal, replacing it with a new, larger version.
If you find exoskeletons gathered along mattress seams, headboards, baseboards, or anywhere else, there could be live bed bugs in your house.
4. Vacuum Or Steam For Bed Bugs
Using a vacuum cleaner or steamer can also potentially cause them to come out of hiding. The bed bugs may attempt to escape if they are present in areas we noted during your search.
Make sure you have a vacuum cleaner at the ready so that you can capture them immediately. Vacuum cleaner bags should be disposed of properly in the trash away from your home.
When storing your vacuum cleaner or vacuuming in a different room in the future, you run the risk of contaminating other parts of your home.
Do Bed Bugs Hide In The Pillows?
It is possible for bed bugs to live in mattresses and pillows. Infestations of bed bugs may also occur on pillows, as they may host bed bug eggs.
The appearance of bites on pillows may indicate bed bug infestation. Bed bug bites may not have an immediate reaction for some people, but for others, they may develop into red bumps in a few days or weeks.
These bites may appear in a row and are also called papules or wheals. Check your pillow closely if you suspect a bed bug bite.
The presence of bed bugs can be detected by small, dark spots of their feces. Infested pillows, mattresses, or sheets may also emit a sweet, musty smell.
Your pillowcase and pillow may be temporarily free of bed bugs if you wash them. Many other locations in living spaces are commonly infested by bed bugs, and homeowners can’t easily eradicate them.
An inspection and consultation with a pest control professional are highly recommended if you suspect bed bugs are infesting your home.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide in Public Areas?
During long distance movement, these pests require a person or an object to transport them. It is therefore common to find bed bugs hiding on the seats of taxis, buses, and airplanes.
Insects usually enter upholstery, carpets, seat frames, or gaps along the edges until they are able to hitch a ride on an unsuspecting passenger.
Can Bed Bugs Live In Electronics?
It is possible for bed bugs to enter electronics that have small openings just as they can into other household items. TVs, phones, remote controls, gaming consoles, computers, and printers all fall into this category.
Ensure that you are aware of the signs of bed bugs when inspecting your devices with a magnifying glass.
It may not be a good idea to take matters into your own hands if you spot bed bugs in electronic devices. You and your electronics can be at risk if you attempt any DIY solutions.
Can Bed Bugs Live In Shoes?
Do you have a closet full of shoes that have barely been worn? There is a possibility that they are housing bed bugs. Under the soles of shoes, between fabrics, and in crevices, bed bugs can hide.
In this category are boots, heels, sneakers, and sandals. You will need to be hands-on when inspecting the shoe, so wear protective gloves before you begin.
Make sure all materials, layers, laces, zippers, and mesh are examined. Put shoes in a plastic bag or container if you find bed bugs or suspect their presence.
Can Bed Bugs Live In Luggage?
You may come into contact with bed bugs when traveling. You risk spreading bed bugs if you don’t detect them before you arrive at your destination.
Make sure to check all pockets and seams of your bag with a flashlight. There are ways to get rid of bed bugs from luggage.
By vacuuming with a crevice tool attachment, they can be moved into the vacuum bag. Although bed bugs may not be killed, they may be contained within the sealed vacuum bag.
It is important to remove all bed bugs from the bag when emptying it. Leaving them inside the bag could lead to their escape. Make sure the trash receptacle is outside and away from the house.
Make sure specimens are tightly sealed in old medicine bottles or similar containers before submitting them to the PMP.
Can Bed Bugs Live In Books?
You may have bed bugs if you see black spots on the fore edge of a book. A bed bug can fit in several parts of a book due to its small size.
Bindings, foredges, and protective covers are included in this category. Near your sleeping area, you may find books or magazines with bed bugs on them.
Conduct a thorough inspection of your books to determine if bed bugs are hiding there. In order to find bed bugs, place the book against a white sheet or bathtub, since they can be hard to see.
Upon detection, bed bugs may attempt to escape. Keep a vacuum and plastic bag nearby to prevent migration. Infested books should be sealed within a plastic bag as soon as possible.
Can Bed Bugs Live On Plastic Mattresses?
Among medical facilities, dormitories, and summer camps, plastic and vinyl mattresses are especially common. Even after repeated use, they remain durable and easy to clean.
The bed bugs can also easily climb onto them and feed on sleeping humans, just like they can with other types of mattresses. Although they can’t live on or inside plastic mattresses, they can occasionally hide along their seams.
Can Bed Bugs Live On Memory Foam Mattresses?
Mattresses made of memory foam are relatively new, but they can still be a breeding ground for bed bugs. Bed bugs can easily climb on the material.
The place isn’t ideal for making a shelter. Regardless of the type of bed, bed bugs are determined parasites and enjoy feeding on humans.
Can Bed Bugs Live On Air Mattresses?
Air mattresses can be climbed on by bed bugs to feed, but they can’t live or nest inside them. Modern air mattresses are made of materials that are puncture resistant.
An infestation of bed bugs cannot hide inside the mattress by gnawing through the surface. It is unlikely that the mattress itself would provide much shelter to them, even if they were able to get inside.
You can still get bitten by them even if you sleep on an air mattress. The carbon dioxide on your breath can be detected by bed bugs from three feet away. They will find a way to feed if they need to.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide Their Eggs?
Investigators can identify potential bed bug infestations and prevent them from becoming an infestation by knowing where the eggs are hidden.
Female bed bugs hide their eggs in secluded places after mating. To find food sources, they will try to get as close as they can, and look in cracks and crevices, even in seams of mattresses, mattress tags, and other hard-to-reach places.
The female bed bug produces a sticky substance to help eggs stick to surfaces, and each female can potentially lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime.
Eggs of bed bugs are white and tiny. They are about the size of a grain of salt, and are difficult to observe without magnification.
The hatching process takes 7-10 days when temperatures are above 70°F, and longer when temperatures are lower. As soon as new bed bug nymphs hatch, they immediately seek out a blood meal.
Final Words
Clothing and linens, under clutter, in wall voids, and around window and door moldings can also be hiding places for bed bugs.
Bed bugs are generally more active during the daytime as the number of their populations increases, and they are also more likely to reside in hidden, protective places within the house as well.