Bed bugs come from places where people sleep or gather, and they spread mainly by hitchhiking on people’s clothing, luggage, or secondhand items. They’re not introduced by pets or from outdoors, and they’re commonly brought into homes via travel, used furniture, or shared spaces. Once inside, they can quickly move to mattresses, furniture, cracks, and crevices. Key points
- Common sources: hotels, motels, dorms, apartment buildings, transit areas, and even waiting rooms where people rest or sleep. They hitch rides on luggage, clothing, backpacks, or secondhand items, including used furniture and mattresses.
- History and biology: bed bugs are Cimicidae and feed exclusively on blood; the common bed bug Cimex lectularius has five life stages, with nymphs needing a blood meal to molt. They’ve accompanied humans for centuries as humans moved around the world.
- Misconceptions: bed bugs do not live on pets or wildlife in the way fleas do, and outdoor exposure is not a typical source; human movement and travel are the primary drivers of introductions.
- Prevention basics: inspect accommodations before staying, keep luggage off beds and floors, wash and heat-dry clothing after travel, inspect and thoroughly check used items, and consider protective mattress encasements.
If you’d like, I can tailor these tips to your situation (for example, travel plans, recent moves, or concerns about a specific hotel or apartment) and provide a step-by-step plan to reduce risk or address an active infestation.
