As small as they may seem, bed bugs could be the root of bigger problems. If not detected early, it could pester you with bites and damaged beddings. It’s just the superficial outcome as massive infestations could result in more serious conditions like anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The key to prevent these from happening is knowing where bed bugs usually hide.
This task isn’t easy. Bed bugs are flat-bodied pests and they can squeeze themselves on the smallest cracks you can find in your house. This characteristic allows them to evade treatment and roam the property without being seen.
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Bed bugs are not named as such for naught. This pest loves harboring on the bed of the host as it makes it easy for them to access the human body at night. Bed bugs are nocturnal beings, which add up to the horror, and they will attack you when you are defenseless.
Most of the time, they stay on the box spring, headboard, and mattresses as these have rough surfaces. Since they are small, it’s effortless for thousands of bugs to hide under the bed or within the seams of the sheets.
Alarm clocks
Everything that’s close to your bed could be where bed bugs usually hide. Your alarm clock is placed right next to your bed and it has tiny crevices where handfuls of bugs could hide. This is a convenient choice for them as you’ll rarely touch the object unless you’re setting the time before sleeping. Alarm clocks have the same inviting nature as your bed and mattress. Go ahead and check your alarm clock for small bugs that might be waking you up with itchy bites instead of the loud ring.
Borrowed books
One thing that you should know about bed bugs is they lay their eggs on rough surfaces. This includes uncoated wood, cartons, papers, and books. Borrowing books from a friend or a library could be the ride the bugs are waiting to enter your house. Bed bug eggs are tiny and it’s hard to see if you’re not going to scrutinize the material very well or use a magnifying glass. The eggs and bugs on the books would soon alight once the lights are off.
Closet
Dark, full of tiny crevices, and undisturbed. You might not be thinking about it yet but your closet is also an ideal place for a bed bug hideout. One reason is because it’s located near you and another is its dark nature. The bugs would then crawl out when they sense a host through the body heat the person emits as well as the chemicals in his breath. Checking your closet for possible bug presence would be the first step in detecting the pest. You can also use a fabric-friendly bug repellent to drive them off their harborage.
Where bed bugs usually hide: Your luggage
Your past travels could be the culprit to the infestation happening to your house right now. One thing you should include to your inspection list is the luggage you used. Chances are there are a few bugs still hiding at its seams. Once you saw the presence of the pest, assume that there is more of it already harboring in different parts of your house. The best thing to do is to rid your luggage of the pest and start doing extermination measures. If you can’t do it yourself, call a pest control expert.
Underneath the carpet
Do you ever wonder how massive numbers of bed bugs can crawl around your house like invisible ninjas? It’s because they use the edges of the carpet as their pathways. These parts are usually hidden beneath the baseboards of your wall. Try lifting your carpet and check for the presence of the bugs. Focus on the edges as these are the usual track of the pest. You can trace their trail to find out where else the bugs are infesting. You can utilize a steam cleaner or vacuum to remove the bugs from your carpeted floor.
Where bed bugs usually hide? Pet cage
Bed bugs don’t just feed on human blood, they also target pets. Aside from your sleeping area, check if your furry friend’s cage is also the habitat of the bloodsuckers. Some pets aren’t prone to bites as they have very thick fur but that doesn’t exempt them from the blood-hungry parasites.
If there’s a presence of bed bugs on the pet’s coat or cage, you can use Permethrin dust upon the recommendation of your veterinarian. It’s important to ask the expert’s opinion first as some dogs develop stomach problems due to this dust.
Electrical Outlets
Electrical outlets in your room are the most convenient harborage as it’s often undisturbed and dark inside. Once you remove the cover, you’ll see lots of bed bugs hiding and waiting for you to lay on your bed. The bugs stay within 20 feet where the host is typically located at night and that doesn’t exclude these innocent spots. The quick fix here is to vacuum the outlet to suck the pest out of it. As a word of caution, never use steam cleaners on electrical outlets as it will result in short circuit and electrical failures.
Couch
Like your bed, your couch has the same tiny spaces that can be a comfy place to hide. This is so the bugs can easily crawl on your skin when you’re watching movies with the lights out. And if you’re too engrossed with the plot, you’ll end up with a few bites and an infested cozy space.
Couches and sofas can be treated using steam cleaners and vacuums. There are also natural pesticides that are safe to apply directly to the fabric.
Knowing the spots where bed bugs usually hide is the next big step to removing the pest and preventing future infestations. These are just some of the possible places in your house where the pest could harbor so start moving and look for the hideouts!
