What Causes Bed Bugs

" What causes bed bugs has a simple answer. If you live in a single family house, then the bed bugs would have to of been carried into the home by a family member or visitor. They can also enter the home if used furniture, or new furniture/mattress was carried into a home from a truck that also carries or carried used furniture. Bed bugs apartment problems are either caused by the aforementioned problem, or by the residents in the apartment. The spread of bed bugs has nothing to do with the sanitary conditions or cleanliness in the home ."   

Common Answers to What Causes Bed Bugs

Bed bugs cannot travel long distances by themselves. They need to be transported from one location to the next. Common ways bed bugs are carried into a home include: Common causes of bedbugs include:

1. Has a family member been traveling with luggage?
• Has the luggage been in a room that was possibly infested?
• Were any backpacks or other items placed on chairs or seats?
• Was the luggage brought back into the house after traveling
2. Has a recent visitor who was traveling stayed in the home,particularly if they had a jacket, or bag
3. Did a student recently come home from college?
   
   
4. Was any used furniture such as electronics (TVs etc), boxes brought into the home?
5. Were any mattresses delivered to the home or picked up off the street?
6. Were any gifts received or borrowed such as luggage?
7. Were any times brought into the home from self storage?
8. Was any furniture rented?
9. Were any items brought into the home, particularly a mattress or furniture, from a truck?
10. Were there any recent house guests?
11. Did anyone visit the home from a cruise ship?

What Causes Bed Bugs in an Apartment

Besides the many causes listed above,  all you need is one resident to bring bed bugs into a building for a bedbug infestation to spread.

Can bed bugs travel from apartment to apartment?

There is a 20% chance that bed bugs will travel from apartment to apartment, when the two apartments on the same floor.  There is a 7% chance that bed bugs will spread above and below the infested room.

It is becoming common for buildings to educate tenants regarding what causes bed bugs, so that future problems can be avoided. Many apartment buildings in larger cities are starting  to enforce strict policies in term of inspecting items brought into homes and even going so far as to building heat rooms, that kill any insects at high temperatures (114F), the level needed to kill bed bugs and any hidden bed bug eggs.

What to Do If You have Bed Bugs in an Apartment or attached home

1. Inspect the bedrooms and other rooms of the apartment for bed bugs. Check areas where you spend time such as sleeping or watching TV.
2. Call you building manager and check with your local department of health to see what your rights are, such as mandatory treatment.
3. Schedule a treatment with the landlord.  Be sure to inform adjacent apartments (next door, above and below yours).
4. Prepare the apartment for treatment by removing clutter.
5. Note that it can take 2 to 3 treatments before the bed bug problem is taken care of.

What To Do About Bed Bugs in a Free Standing Home

The best approach is to call in a bed bug pest control professional, who has the knowledge and experience to do an inspection, assess the extent of the bed bug problem and then recommend a treatment plan.

Don't wait or the problem will get much worse and possibly more expensive to treat.  We have a list of pest control companies that are specifically qualified to treat bed bugs. These companies will provide a quote at no charge to you.

Be sure to use a bed bug specialist, as they will know where to look and may have specialized equipment such as heating units.

Follow this link to find a qualified local bedbug exterminator near you.  Please keep in mind that if the bed bugs are not treated correctly, insects missed will begin to multiply and the problem will return.  Don't use a pest control company unless they have extensive experience treating bed bugs.

 

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