When most people think of bed bugs, they likely imagine hordes of the critters attacking them while they sleep in their beds. But many people may not realize that bed bugs don’t just live in mattresses and bed frames – you can also find them in other home areas, like sofas, chairs, and even electrical outlets! You won’t be able to enjoy the home furniture you bought in NorthPark Center in Dallas, Texas. So what attracts bed bugs in your Dallas homes in the first place anyway? What are some of the things that can make your home a more inviting target for these pests?
What Attracts Bed Bugs Into Your Dallas Homes?
Bed bugs are small, nocturnal, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. There’s a misconception that bed bugs are attracted to dirt and grime, but the truth is that these pests are attracted to any warm-blooded host. Bed bugs are known to infest homes that are clean and tidy!
So what does attract bed bugs? Some of the things that can make your Dallas home more inviting to bed bugs include:
Carbon dioxide: Bed bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide that humans and animals emit when they breathe. This is why you usually find them near beds – because that’s where their human hosts spend a lot of time!
Dark bedsheet: Bed bugs are also attracted to dark-colored bedsheets. Study shows that, like other insects, they also have their favorite color. They are attracted to the colors red and black. They found this when they placed bed bugs in Petri dishes with different paper colors. The bed bugs mostly crawled on the red and black papers.
Body heat: As bed bugs feed on warm-blooded creatures, it is no surprise they’re attracted to body heat. This is why you’ll often find them near areas where people sleep, such as beds, sofas, and chairs.
Bed bugs are attracted to various things, but these are some of the most common. Although bed bugs are mostly attracted and mostly found in bed, it is important to note that they can also be present in other home areas. They are most active at night but can be seen during the day if there’s a blood meal available.
How Bed Bugs Get Into Your Home
Bed bugs are experts at hiding and can hitch a ride into your home on various objects. Some of the most common ways bed bugs get into homes include:
Luggage: If you stay in a hotel with bed bugs, they can easily end up in your luggage. They'll come out of hiding when you get home and start infesting your home.
Furniture: If you buy used furniture - or even new furniture infested with bed bugs - they can easily spread to the rest of your home.
Clothing: Bed bugs can attach themselves to clothing, and they'll often hide in clothing that's left on the floor.
These are just a few ways bed bugs can get into your home. Once they’re inside, they’ll start to reproduce and spread quickly. That’s why it’s important to be vigilant about checking for bed bugs.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs?
The best way to prevent bed bugs is to be proactive and inspect your home regularly for signs of an infestation. Some of the things you should look for include the following:
Bed bug bites: Bed bug bites are small, red, raised bumps that can appear in a line or cluster. They're often itchy and usually found on the face, neck, arms, and legs.
Bed bug fecal matter: Bed bugs excrete a dark brown or black substance that looks like small spots of dirt. You can find this substance on sheets, mattresses, and furniture.
Bed bug eggs: Bed bug eggs are white, oval-shaped, and about the size of an apple seed. They're often found in cracks and crevices on the seams of mattresses or furniture joints.
If you see any of these signs in your home, you must call a professional pest control company immediately. Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to eliminate, and trying to do it yourself is often ineffective and can worsen the problem. A Bed Bug Treatment and Exterminator in Dallas will have the experience and expertise necessary to get rid of bed bugs quickly and effectively.