Bed bugs are extremely stealthy pests with dark red or reddish/brown bodies. They feed on human blood using a “hit and run” tactic, which only makes them more difficult to detect. As soon as they’ve had their meal, they scurry back to their hiding place, to avoid detection and wait until their next feeding. What’s even more troubling is, they usually only feed while their hosts are asleep. These bugs will even go out of their way to avoid detection. They’ll completely rearrange their sleeping patterns to match that of yours so they can feed when you are sleeping. Simply put, these pests will not be easy to detect. The signs and symptoms might be there, but you’ll still likely never procure a sample, which is sometimes something that’s needed to confirm the infestation.
It almost takes knowing exactly where these bugs hide to procure a sample. Here are some of the common hiding spaces for
bed bugs:
Common Hiding Spaces For Bed Bugs
To confirm a
bed bug infestation it will be crucial to know these pest’s favorite hiding spots. It will be even more essential for the elimination. Here’s what you need to know about
bed bug hiding spots:
Box Springs And Mattresses
Given their name, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise that these pests like to take up residence in the mattress, bed, and box springs. However, they won’t just hide on the bed, they’ll burrow deep down into the corners of the mattress. They’ll get down in the crevices. As was mentioned, they are cryptic pests that try to avoid detection at all costs. It wouldn’t even be unnatural to think of these guys hiding behind the tags. If you want to find bed bugs in the mattress, you’ll have to flip it, check the corners, and scour every inch of it.
Cracks And Crevices In Bed Frames
There are a lot of cracks and crevices in any bed frame. There are more in wooden bed frames, but every mattress frame will offer cracks and crevices for
bed bugs. Look where the railing meets up with the headboard and footboard. Anywhere where there are connecting and joining joints. These will make the perfect hiding spots for
bed bugs. Given their small, flat bodies and abilities to squeeze into small spots, these pests will get into some of the most unthinkable spots. A bed bug can get into a hole with a diameter of ¼ inch opening.
Bedding/Linen
A
bed bug will take up residence in your mattress, so why wouldn’t it take up residence in your sheets? They will and they do! The only good thing about this is, these types of infestations are usually much easier to detect. It’s easier to spot a bed bug crawling on top of the sheets rather than squeezed into the corner of a mattress. Also, keep an eye out for brownish/red stains and musty smells. These will be surefire indications of an infestation.
Rugs And Carpets
Most bedrooms have rugs and carpets, making them another chosen hiding place for the bed bug. While these aren’t usually the go-to spots for bed bugs, they will take up residence here. They usually do so when they just unlatch from a pair of shoes or luggage. The rug or carpet will provide the cover for the tie being until they find something more suitable. Check where the carpet tucks under the baseboard or forms in the corners. These will be the perfect spots for bed bugs.
Couches And Upholstered Furniture
How many times have you heard about someone buying a used couch or piece of furniture only to later discover that it was infested with bed bugs? How many times have you heard about someone giving someone an infected piece of furniture? Unfortunately, this is becoming a more and more common occurrence in today’s widespread bed bug world. The couch and furniture are such popular hiding spots for the bed bug because they provide a thousand little hiding spots within one. Think of all the spots bed bugs can hide on a couch. They can get into the armrests, in the padding, under the cushions, and even behind the legs.
Surprising Places You Might Find Bed Bugs
The spots mentioned above are just some of the common locations you might find bed bugs. There are also plenty of other spots that you might not even think to look where bed bugs will hide. Knowing these spots could make the biggest difference in the success of your elimination of these pests. Here’s what you need to know:
Luggage
Do you want to arrive home from a two-week trip and discover that you’ve brought home an uninvited friend with you? This would be like learning that your water froze up and a pipe burst while you were away. Either way, the situation would not be good and it’s becoming more and more common. This is because bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers, with the ability to latch right onto your luggage and suitcases. Learn about the SLEEP theory and how to apply it to increase your chances of avoiding an infestation while on vacation.
Books
The same goes for your books. No one wants to open their classical favorites to delve into a good read, only to discover that bed bugs have taken up residence in the books. That being said, bed bugs are more likely to burrow into the front pages or the spine of a book, rather than between the actual pages.
Nightstands
Dark, damp, and oftentimes dank, the nightstand provides all the perfect environmental conditions for a bed bug. It doesn’t hurt that these items are also extremely popular bedroom furniture pieces.
Electronics
With the sheer number of electronics in a home these days no one wants to learn they provide the perfect environmental conditions for the pest. Add to this the price of the items and the potential for destruction and electrical shorts, and it just makes the situation all that more troubling. These pests are usually attracted to the warmth from the circuit boards, and with their slim frames, they can stuff themselves into TVs, iPads, iPods, laptops, and computers.
