Top Facts About Bed Bugs

Here Are Downriver Pest Control's Top 6 Facts About Bed Bugs

1. Fast Reproducers

A single female bed bug can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime. This rapid reproduction means even a small infestation can grow into a large one very quickly.

2. Heat and Carbon Dioxide

Bed bugs are attracted to the heat and carbon dioxide humans produce, which helps them locate their hosts even in the dark.

3. Numbing Agent

When feeding, bed bugs inject their host with a numbing agent, so most people don’t feel the bite until afterward, often waking up to find itchy welts in the morning

4. Resistance to Pesticides

Over time, bed bugs have developed resistance to some common pesticides, making them harder to eliminate without professional treatments.

5. Excellent Hitchhikers

They spread by hitching rides on luggage, clothing, and furniture, which is why they are often found in hotels, airports, and public transportation.

6. Survival

 Bed bugs can live without a blood meal for several months, depending on the temperature and environment, making them difficult to eliminate even if they seem to disappear.

Inspect Secondhand Items

Before bringing used furniture, mattresses, or clothing into your home, carefully inspect them for signs of bed bugs, especially in seams and crevices.

Cautious Traveling

Check hotel rooms for bed bugs by inspecting the mattress, headboard, and surrounding areas. Keep luggage on racks or in the bathroom, and wash your clothes in hot water when you return home.

Protective Covers

Encase mattresses and box springs in bed bug-proof covers. These prevent bed bugs from infesting your bedding and make it easier to spot any pests.

Declutter

Bed bugs love hiding in clutter, so keeping your home tidy and reducing unnecessary piles of clothing or papers can minimize potential hiding spots.