How Do Bed Bugs Travel?

How Bed Bugs Travel & Invade Your Home

Bed bugs are relentless invaders, causing distress to homeowners and case managers alike. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent a bed bug infestation, and the experts at Advanced Bed Bug Preparation can help equip you with the information you need to know.

Understanding how these pesky insects get around is vital for preventing and managing infestations effectively. Whether you’re concerned about protecting your own home or your clients’ home, it’s well worth learning the ins and outs of bed bug travel.

So, let’s explore how bed bugs move from one location to another, spread throughout rooms, and multiply rapidly. By the end of this journey, you’ll be better equipped to safeguard your home or the homes of those under your care from these unwelcome guests!

3 Main Ways Bed Bugs Travel

As bed bugs can’t fly or jump, you may think their movements are limited, but that’s not true. These critters can crawl quickly, hide expertly, and latch on tightly. They’re more than capable of migrating to new places and making themselves comfortable.

Here are the main ways bed bugs travel from one location to another:

1. Bed BUgs Are Commonly FOund IN Public & Shared Spaces

Bed bugs are attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide—two things that are present in large quantities wherever people spend time. The combination signals to the insects that a food source is nearby. So, it’s no surprise that infestations often occur in public and shared spaces. These bloodsucking creatures take advantage of places such as theaters, libraries, offices, stores, gyms, airports, bus stations, hotels, cabs, laundromats, and dorms.

Basically, any place multiple people gather, visit, or live is a potential hub for bed bugs. However, they prefer to make their move when people remain still for long periods of time. It’s an opportunity for them to find a new target while going unnoticed.

2. Bed BUGs Often HitchhikE on Clothing & Belongings

Bed bugs travel from one place to another by hitchhiking. Unlike some other pests that latch onto skin and hair, bed bugs don’t stick to people themselves. Instead, they make their way by hiding in clothing and belongings, such as backpacks, purses, and luggage.

If someone is in an infested place, they could end up bringing bed bugs home without realizing it. A single insect can emerge from its hiding place and scamper onto a person’s bag, coat, or shoe—wherever is most convenient. Then, they can cling there until they reach their final destination.

That’s why taking precautions after traveling (no matter the distance) is critical to nipping a bed bug issue in the bud.

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3. Bed Bugs Can Travel Via Secondhand Furniture

Lastly, bed bugs travel by nestling in furniture that’s then moved to another location.

Secondhand furniture is, by definition, used. That means it was initially used in someone else’s home. And if that person’s home happens to be infested with bed bugs, there’s a good chance the furniture is infested, too.

Once infested furniture is brought into a dwelling, it’s only a matter of time until the bugs spread. Thoroughly inspecting used furniture for bed bugs and deep cleaning it before placing it in the home is strongly recommended.

Not even a free couch can offset the cost of having a house or apartment treated for bed bugs by a pest control specialist!

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How Bed Bugs Travel within a Living Space

When these creepy-crawlies find their way into a house or residential complex, they basically have free rein. Thanks to their speed and small size, bed bugs can move virtually anywhere. If a resident isn’t looking for signs of bed bugs, they can go undetected for weeks or even months, spreading the infestation.

Here are some ways bed bugs travel within a space—be it a home or an apartment building:

Movement within a Room

Despite what their name suggests, bed bugs aren’t confined to the sleeping area. It’s true these pests like to stay near their food source, enjoying their blood meal while a person is sleeping. But they can and will venture further out after the five to ten minutes it takes them to feed. These pesky critters can move three to four feet per minute. So, once they’re done feeding, they’ll skitter away and tuck themselves into any available spot.

If bed bugs are present, they’re likely in more than just the bed. That’s why treating or throwing out the mattress, box spring, pillows, and linens isn’t enough. The critters can take up residence in drawers, within baseboards, beneath picture frames, and even in electrical outlets.

Ultimately, bed bugs travel throughout the room, find a safe spot to hide during the day, and—in the case of females—lay their eggs.

Transfer to Adjacent Rooms and Units

Bed bugs don’t just stick to a single space or dwelling either… These determined pests have no problem traveling to other areas in a home, nearby apartment units, or even adjacent hotel rooms. They use the following to their advantage:

Cracks in shared walls
Connecting vents
Ceiling openings
Pipes

During a study on bed bug movement, Rutgers University researchers Cooper et al. released marked insects in six apartments. In roughly a month, the critters infested several other units, even those located a hallway away. The researchers found marked insects in apartments near five of the six units where they were released.

Bed bugs’ ability to travel long distances means that one infected room or unit can lead to a full-blown infestation in a relatively short time.

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How Quickly Can Bed Bugs Spread?

As mentioned previously, bed bugs travel about three to four feet per minute, which means they can cover a lot of distance in just an hour. If they make their way into an occupied dwelling, they can easily find somewhere to hide until the resident(s) are asleep. And once they’ve discovered there’s a food source available, they’ll set up shop.

There are several factors that determine how fast bed bugs can spread:

Speed of travel
Opportunity for hiding
Food availability
Reproduction
Life cycle

Female bed bugs usually lay around one to three eggs per day. These eggs hatch in roughly a week, going through five stages before reaching adulthood. The entire process takes around a month, resulting in brand-new adult bed bugs ready to make a home their own. That’s why taking steps to prevent bed bugs is important. Otherwise, a full-blown infestation can go unchecked in a matter of weeks!

How Far Do Bed Bugs Travel?

Bed bugs are capable of traveling considerable distances in search of food, sometimes moving up to 100 feet, though they usually remain close to their hosts. In a single night, bed bugs may crawl as far as 20 feet to feed, and in some instances, they have been known to cover up to 60 feet. In shared living environments such as hotels or apartments, bed bugs can easily move between rooms by passing through shared walls, electrical outlets, or plumbing.

There are several reasons why bed bugs relocate. First, they are driven by the need to access a host, as they are attracted to body heat emitted by humans. They may also move when their hiding places become unsuitable or exposed. Lastly, temperature fluctuations can also prompt movement, as bed bugs prefer environments within a specific range of 46°F to 113°F.

How Bed Bugs Travel: The Takeaway

Understanding how bed bugs travel is a vital step in the ongoing battle against infestations. These tiny pests are more skilled at moving around than most people realize. But now that you know, you can take action to protect your home or empower those in your care to safeguard their living spaces.

In the event of a bed bug infestation, remember that Advanced Bed Bug Preparation is here to help! By taking advantage of our services, you can ensure your or your client’s Northeast Wisconsin home is properly prepared for extermination. And more importantly, you can improve the chances of complete eradication!

Our bed bug preparation experts serve the Oshkosh, Appleton, Green Bay, Sheboygan, and Fond du Lac areas. If you have any questions about what is all involved in the preparation process, the actual extermination service, or restoration following the procedure, we’ve got you covered!