How Can Bed Bugs Travel From House to House?
Bedbugs are tiny insects. They can travel up to 20 feet in the night, so it is rare to see one walk directly up to a house. Instead, they typically come by hitchhiking. Infested items such as clothing, luggage, or upholstered furniture can introduce bedbugs to your home. Once inside, they can spread from room to room, hiding in cracks and electrical outlets.
You can prevent bedbugs from spreading to your home by taking proper precautions. The first step is to inspect all furniture. If you see any bugs, remove the furniture and put it in a clean dry place. Next, thoroughly vacuum the rooms, furniture, and chairs in the house. If you do see bedbugs on any of these items, remove them immediately and wash your clothes in 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bedbugs are hard to spot, but the bite marks may resemble those of an allergic reaction or mosquito. If you’re lucky, you may only notice them if they hitchhiked with a friend. Bedbugs are reddish brown, flat, and wingless. They feed for about three to 12 minutes per meal. Once they’ve gotten enough blood to survive, they will head back to their hidden homes to breed and multiply.
Once you have discovered that you have a bedbug infestation, you should contact a pest management company or property manager immediately. In some areas, landlords and property managers have legal obligations to take care of the problem. Fortunately, there are many ways to keep bedbugs from moving in and out of your home.