Bed bugs are pretty good at staying unnoticed. These tiny, wingless insects with flattened bodies will often hide in tight, secluded places that are often out of sight such as deep in upholstered furniture or behind headboards. You’ve probably asked yourself the question: what is the main cause of bedbugs? Well, understanding the cause can go a long way in helping to effectively deal with an infestation.
What is the Main Cause of Bed Bugs? - Why an Infestation Can Happen
In this post, we’ll discuss what causes bed bug infestations. We’ll also point out a few tips and tricks on avoiding or dealing with a bed bug infestation. Although bed bugs like to stay hidden, they will occasionally move out of their hiding spots to feed whenever a host is nearby.
If you live in an apartment, it’s important to inspect your place for pests frequently, including bed bugs. Make sure to regularly treat your home/apartment, so the bed bugs can be spotted if present.
Travel
Travel is widely recognized as the most common cause of bed bug infestations. These little critters will often hitchhike on luggage, clothing, people or other belongings and be accidentally transported to other properties. Because they can travel and lay eggs in clothing, make sure to inspect your luggage before bringing it back into your home.
Alongside lost luggage and food poisoning, bed bugs are a major concern for travelers. A general lack of awareness has significantly contributed to the spread of bed bugs. These annoying pests have made a resurgence in the last decade or so and are a source of stress for many property owners.
Both private homes and businesses have experienced problems with bed bugs. Once a major problem for hotels, today bed bugs are a cause for concern in many types of business premises ranging from movie theatres and libraries to hospitals, and universities/colleges.
Second-Hand Furniture
The popularity of second hand furniture has also been linked to the spread of bedbugs. Bed bugs are often introduced to a property when an infested piece of furniture is brought into a business or home.
Similarly, rented property can also lead to a bedbug infestation if it’s rented to a property where bedbugs are present and then being rented again before being properly treated for bed bugs. Simply isolating an infested piece of furniture will not help as bed bugs can survive for many months without a blood meal.
Renters and homeowners often unintentionally bring bed bugs to their premises by picking up discarded furniture and bring it into their homes.
Bottom Line
So, what is the main cause of bed bugs? Now that you are aware of what can lead to a bed bug problem, you can take preventative measures to avoid an infestation. For instance, always inspect a bed carefully when you arrive at a hotel. You also want to reduce the likelihood of bugs hitching a ride on your luggage by placing your luggage far from the bed. If you think bed bugs have entered your home, isolated heat treatment can help eliminate bed bugs that are in hard-to-reach places. If you suspect only your travel clothes have been infested, place them in the dryer for at least 20 minutes to kill the bugs before washing them in hot, soapy water and drying them again.
