What Attracts Bed Bugs?

They’re awake while you sleep, extract your blood for sustenance, and can go long periods of time without a meal. As tiny vampires of the insect world, bed bugs are tiny and hardy creatures that can grow into an overwhelming army if left unchecked.

As your local pest pros, we at Responsible Pest Control want to get you up to speed on what bed bugs are attracted to so that, hopefully, you can keep them at bay and repelled from your home or building.

What Are Bed Bugs Attracted to?

Bed bugs are attracted to a combination of factors that help them find their preferred environment and a blood meal.

Human Presence

Bed bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale when we breathe. They can sense it from a distance and use it to locate potential hosts.

Body Heat and Exhaled Odors

These pests are also drawn to the warmth that our bodies emit in addition to certain chemicals present in human sweat and body odor. Apart from carbon dioxide, bed bugs can detect other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that humans exhale, guiding them toward their hosts.

Pheromones

Bed bugs release pheromones, which are chemical substances they use to communicate and attract other bed bugs as well as suitable areas for feeding.

Clutter

When there are ample hiding spots and clutter—such as cracks and crevices, mattress seams, furniture, and clothing—bed bugs will take shelter there. This makes it easier for them to avoid being detected and removed.

Do Bed Bugs Eat Anything Besides Blood?

Blood from humans and other warm-blooded animals is bed bugs’ main source of nutrition. They do not eat and are not interested in other insects as a food source, as their biology and feeding habits are specifically adapted for extracting and consuming blood. However, bed bugs can survive extended periods (up to several months) without a blood meal.

Why Do Bed Bugs Infest a Home?

Bed bugs can infest any type of home, regardless of cleanliness or other factors. Some common reasons bed bugs may infest a residence include:

Infested Items

Bringing infested, used furniture, bedding, or clothing items into your home can introduce bed bugs.

Travel

Bed bugs can hitch a ride on luggage and other personal belongings when you stay in infested hotels or other sleeping accommodations, later making themselves at home when you return from a trip.

Cracks and Crevices

Bed bugs are skilled at hiding in tiny cracks, crevices, and furniture seams—including gaps in walls, baseboards, or furniture—during the daytime.

Close Proximity to Infested Areas

If you live in an apartment building or multi-unit housing, bed bugs can easily spread from one unit to another through cracks in walls, shared pipes, or electrical outlets.

Lack of Preventive Measures

Insufficient preventive measures can increase the likelihood of a bed bug infestation, such as regular inspection, cleaning, and taking precautions when traveling.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs at Home

Keep Your Home Clean

Regularly clean and vacuum, giving extra attention to areas where bed bugs can hide, like mattresses, bed frames, cracks, and crevices. Minimize clutter throughout your home, but especially around where you sleep or rest.

Seal Cracks and Crevices

Seal any cracks or crevices in walls, baseboards, furniture, and other potential hiding places for bed bugs.

Inspect Secondhand Items

Before bringing secondhand furniture, mattresses, or clothing into your home, thoroughly inspect them for signs of bed bugs—including live bugs, eggs, or dark stains on the fabric.

Be Cautious Traveling

When staying in hotels or other accommodations, inspect the bed and furniture for signs of bed bugs. Keep luggage off the floor and away from the bed. When you get home, immediately wash and dry your clothes on high heat to kill any bed bugs.

Encase Your Mattress

You can purchase special bed bug-proof encasements for mattresses and box springs, which are designed to trap any bed bugs inside and prevent new infestations.

Consult Pest Control Professionals

Prompt detection, early intervention, and professional treatment are essential to control and eliminate bed bug infestations. If preventive measures are not effective and you suspect a bed bug infestation, it’s best to contact a trusted pest control company; they will have the experience, expertise, and tools to help get rid of bed bugs.

Professional Bed Bug Treatment in Arizona

Even when you’ve covered all your bases pest-proofing your home, bed bugs may still find their way inside. Whether you think you might have bed bugs on your hands or know it for a fact, it’s important to act fast.

Our team of pest professionals can help you take the necessary next steps—so at the first sign or suspicion of bed bugs, call or contact Responsible Pest Control. We’re happy to provide a free quote for bed bug removal services and perform an inspection of your space.