If you’re worried about bed bugs in your home, you’re not alone. These tiny insects are good at hiding, which makes them particularly troublesome for homeowners.
As your trusted pest control experts in Memphis, Tennessee, at Jamison Pest and Lawn, we want to help you understand where these pests hide and how to spot them early.
In this complete article, we will discuss everything you should know about bed bugs and where they generally hide in your home.
Why Early Detection Of Bed Bugs Is Important
Finding bed bugs early is very important. When you catch these unwanted visitors before they spread throughout your home, getting rid of them is much simpler and less expensive.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), treating a small bed bug problem, while inconvenient, is far easier than dealing with a widespread infestation.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Before we explore their hiding spots, it’s helpful to know what you’re looking for. Bed bugs are tiny insects similar to the size of an apple seed. They have a reddish-brown color, a flat, oval-shaped body (about 3/16 inch long), six legs, and small antennae.
Young bed bugs (called nymphs) are smaller and more transparent, becoming darker and more visible as they grow. After feeding, bed bugs become more swollen and take on a deeper reddish color.
Also Read: 10 Bugs That Look Like Bed Bugs and How to Identify Them
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide In Your Home?
Bedbugs are the masters of concealment, and they have evolved to squeeze their flat bodies into the tiniest cracks and crevices. Generally, they stay within 8 feet of where people sleep or rest. They prefer dark, undisturbed spaces and emerge mainly at night to feed.
Below, we will share some of the most common areas of your home where bed bugs hide!
#1 In Your Bedroom and Living Room
Your bedroom serves as the main headquarters for bed bugs, primarily because they need easy access to their food source, human blood. These nocturnal pests have developed a sophisticated understanding of human sleeping patterns, which influences their choice of hiding spaces.
π Mattress
Your mattress and box spring provide bed bugs with an ideal living environment. The seams and piping that run along the edges of your mattress create perfect hiding spaces where bed bugs can stay undisturbed during the daylight hours.
These pests particularly favor corners of your mattresses because the corners provide multiple entry points and protected spaces for them.
π Box Spring
The box spring is equally attractive to bed bugs, offering even more concealment opportunities.
The hollow interior, fabric covering, and wooden frame create a complex network of hiding spots.
Pay particular attention to the corners and any tears in the fabric covering, as these areas often become primary bed bug hiding spaces.
π Bed Frame and Headboard
While less obvious than the mattress, your bed frame and headboard can also harbor significant bed bug populations.
Wooden bed frames are especially problematic because their natural grain and construction joints provide numerous hiding opportunities.
Metal frames aren’t immune either, and bed bugs readily exploit screw holes, hollow tubing, and connecting points.
π Living Room Furniture
Your living room furniture is often a secondary residence for bed bugs, especially if family members frequently nap on the couch.
Upholstered furniture presents various hiding opportunities, from the spaces between cushions to the internal framework.
The dark, protected environment inside a couch or recliner provides ideal conditions for bed bug colonies to thrive.
#2 In-Wall Features And Structural Elements
Bed bugs are not just limited to the furniture of your home. They’ve adapted to exploit various other areas in your home:
π Electrical Outlets and Switch Plates
The spaces behind electrical fixtures provide secure hiding spots for bed bugs. The warm environment and direct access to wall voids make these locations particularly attractive.
When bed bugs establish themselves in these areas, they can easily spread throughout your home using the electrical wiring channels as highways.
π Baseboards and Molding
The small gap between your baseboards and walls are ideal bed bug hiding spaces.
These areas are particularly concerning because they can connect different rooms, allowing bed bugs to establish multiple colonies throughout your home.
π Picture Frames and Decorative Things
Wall decorations provide nice hiding spots for bed bugs. The dark space behind pictures, mirrors, and other wall hangings provides protection and easy access to human hosts.
Bed bugs can sneak into the smallest frame joints or hide behind the backing material.
Other Areas For Bedbugs To Hide In Your Home
Besides these areas that we have discussed above, here are some other spaces in your home where bed bugs can hide:
π The pleats and seams of curtains
π Inside hollow curtain rods
π Between the pages of books on bedside tables
π In the joints and drawers of bedroom furniture
π Along the edges of carpeting
π In ceiling light fixtures and fans
π Behind loose wallpaper sections
What Are The Early Signs Of Bed Bugs In Your Home?
So now that you know where bedbugs generally hide, the next step is how to tell if you have bed bugs in your home. Knowing these signs of bed bugs in your home can help you detect and remove these unwanted guests.
#1 Physical Evidence
A simple way to detect bed bugs in your home is by catching the physical signs of their presence in your home.
Look for some common signs like small blood stains on your bedsheets or pillowcases, dark spots from bed bug droppings, tiny pale yellow eggs and eggshells, light brown shed skins from growing nymphs, or a sweet, musty odor in heavily infested areas.
#2 Bed Bug Bites
Also, check if you or your family members have bug bites on your skin. Many homeowners arenβt sure what bed bug bites look like. Bug bites on your body can appear as small, red, itchy bumps, groups, or lines of bites.
Other than what bug bites look like, it is important to know that these bites are commonly found on exposed skin during sleep and may take up to 14 days to appear.
Also Read: Does Alcohol Kill Bed Bugs
Schedule A Professional Bed Bug Treatment In Tennessee
For a professional approach to removing bed bugs, turn to Jamison Pest and Lawn. We’ve been taking care of Tennessee homes for years, and our team brings over 77 years of combined experience to every job.
We’re trusted by your neighbors because we care about doing things right. Our professionals are trained to get rid of bed bugs safely and effectively.
Ready to sleep peacefully again? Give us a call at (901) 452-1505. We’re here to answer your questions and help make your home bed bug-free.
FAQs
A. Call professionals if you find multiple signs of bed bugs, DIY methods haven’t worked, or the infestation has spread to multiple rooms.
A. Use mattress covers, reduce clutter, seal cracks in walls and furniture, vacuum regularly, and inspect secondhand furniture before bringing it home.
A. Take immediate action if you notice multiple live bugs, widespread infestation signs, regular bite appearances, or signs in more than one room.
A. Yes, bed bugs can affect any home regardless of cleanliness. The key is early detection and taking appropriate action.