How Do Bed Bugs Create Their Nests?
Bedbugs can be easily introduced into your home through used furniture, luggage, or hotel stays. They are also found in clothing and daycares. Bedbugs can breed in any warm, dark, or enclosed space. You may find them in mattresses, headboards, drawers, or even cushions.
These tiny creatures are nocturnal, and they avoid bright lights. Adult female bedbugs lay one or two eggs a day, laying hundreds of eggs in their lifetime. These eggs are the size of dust specks, and they are sticky when they are first laid. Bedbug eggs hatch in approximately a week at room temperature. Once hatched, bedbug nymphs are about the size of a pinhead and shed their skin up to five times before reaching maturity.
Bedbugs are attracted to carbon dioxide, a gas found in the breath of a living host. They also prefer the warmth that comes from human beings. Therefore, bedbugs are attracted to warm surfaces and will tend to cluster around red and black items. In addition, they can hide in darker colors, making them more difficult to detect. The best way to prevent bedbugs from spreading is to watch for them at night and check for any nests. Common places for these bugs to hide include mattresses, box springs, and bed frames.
Although bed bugs have a short lifespan, they can live for months without a blood meal. The average bedbug lifespan is about 10 months, but it can be extended by cooler temperatures or restricted access to a host.