If you’re like most people, the mere mention of bed bugs sends shivers down your spine. These pesky little pests are the stuff of nightmares, lurking in the shadows and waiting to strike when you least expect it. But where do bed bugs actually come from? Are they brought in from the outside or do they originate inside our homes? As someone who has personally dealt with a bed bug infestation, I can attest to the fact that these questions are more than just idle curiosity. In this article, we’ll explore the origins of bed bugs and find out once and for all if they really do come from outside. So sit back, relax, and let’s get to the bottom of this creepy crawly mystery.
Do bed bugs come from outside?
Once inside your home, bed bugs can quickly spread and become a nuisance. It’s important to regularly inspect your home and take preventative measures to avoid an infestation. If you do suspect a bed bug infestation, it’s best to call a professional exterminator to properly identify and treat the problem.
1. Inspect your luggage and clothing after travelling to ensure that no bed bugs have hitchhiked their way into your home.
2. Seal up any cracks or gaps in your home’s windows, doors, walls, and foundation to prevent bed bugs from entering from outside.
3. Avoid purchasing second-hand furniture, as bed bugs and other pests might be hiding inside or on the surface.
4. Keep clutter to a minimum to reduce potential hiding spots for bed bugs both inside and outside the home.
5. Regularly vacuum your home’s carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture to remove any bed bugs or eggs that may have been brought in from outdoors.
Take a look at this fascinating video on Bed Bugs, I guarantee you’ll find it interesting:
Bed Bugs: Indoor Insects That Can Start Outside
Bed Bugs are annoying indoor pests that no one wants to deal with. However, contrary to popular belief, bed bugs do not originate inside the house, but typically start outdoors. Bed bugs are indoor insects that can survive outdoors in a variety of hiding spots before finding their way inside homes. In general, the term “bed bugs” refers to insects that live in indoor environments, so the odds are that if they reach as close as your lawn, they’ll enter your home and stay there.
Once bed bugs get into a home, they can be incredibly difficult to get rid of. They tend to spread rapidly, are difficult to see and can be quite hardy, even surviving extreme temperatures and starvation. Because they are so difficult to eradicate, it’s essential to understand how bed bugs get into our homes in the first place to minimize the risk of infestation.
Outdoor Hiding Spots Where Bed Bugs Lurk
While bed bugs might not start inside the house, they are quick to seek shelter and food indoors. In the meantime, they find a wide array of hiding spots outdoors, where they wait until they can find a way into your home. Some common outdoor hiding spots where bed bugs are known to lurk include:
1. Fences, Pergolas and Decks – Bed bugs are tiny, so they can fit in very small spaces, making them perfect at hiding in rotting or loose wooden fences, pergolas and deck boards.
2. Grass – Bed bugs can also be found in the soil and grass around homes. They hide out here until they get a chance to move into the house.
3. Woodpiles – Bed bugs also hide themselves on woodpiles where they can remain hidden and safe as they wait to hitch a ride inside.
How Bed Bugs Use Nature to Invade Homes
While bed bugs are more likely to remain indoors because humans are their primary meal source, they use the outdoors to their advantage when it comes to seeking out new homes to infest. Outdoor hiding spots for bed bugs offer a wide range of advantages, including:
2. Availability of food – Bed bugs need human blood to survive. They can wait a few weeks without food. But, while they are outdoors, they can find alternate sources of food other than humans.
3. Temperature Control – Bed bugs seek shelter in hot or cold outdoor habitats until they find their way into a home.
Bed bugs also reproduce quickly and can lay up to five eggs a day, which will hatch within two weeks. Therefore, outdoor hiding spots provide opportunities for them to lay their eggs, reproduce, and then spread once they find their way into a home.
Lawn and Garden Pest Infestations: Bed Bugs Included
Homes are not the only places bed bugs can infest. Bed bugs can also cause havoc in gardens, where other pests cause plant damage. Bed bugs are also plant pests known to damage plants by latching onto stems and leaves to feed on sap. Additionally, some household pests may hitch rides inside on plants, which can cause bed bugs to move indoors as well.
Identifying the Signs of Outdoor Bed Bug Infestations
If you want to prevent bed bugs from infesting your home, you need to be able to recognize the signs of bed bugs in your lawn or garden. Some indications of bed bug infestations are:
1. Small brown/black spots on plants, especially on the leaves and stems.
2. A large number of bites on the body – Bed bug bites are often small, red, and itchy, and usually occur in a line pattern.
Knowing what to look for can help prevent bed bugs from infesting your home by stopping them at the source.
Preventing Bed Bug Invasions by Targeting Their Outdoor Hiding Places
Preventing bed bug infestations inside the home can be challenging, but targeting their outdoor hiding spots is one sure strategy to help keep bed bugs out of the home. Some methods of preventing bed bugs in outdoor hiding spots might include:
1. Clearing out clutter and debris in your yard – By clearing out any debris from your yard, such as old leaves and other organic matter, you get rid of potential hiding spots for bed bugs.
2. Early detection practices– Inspecting plants regularly can help find an infestation of bed bugs early on. The earlier the detection, the easier it is to manage and address the bed bug problem.
3. Regular inspection of your wooden fence, pergola and decks – Rotting wood and loose boards can be a breeding ground or hiding place for bed bugs, so it’s essential to check for any damages. Make sure to fix any problems quickly to stop infestations from happening.
What to Do if You Suspect Bed Bugs Have Entered Your Home Through the Outdoors
Even with prevention measures, chances are you might still find bed bugs in your home. If you find these pests have indeed entered your home, it’s vital to act quickly to avoid a full infestation. Some tips to keep in mind:
1. Wash all beddings and curtains in hot water – Water at 120°F will kill bed bugs and their eggs.
2. Thorough cleaning of your home – Because bed bugs can hide just about anywhere, do thorough and deep cleaning throughout your home.
3. Contact a Professional Bed Bug Exterminator – Dealing with a bed bug infestation can be extremely difficult. A professional bed bug exterminator has the experience needed to get the job done right while keeping you and your loved ones safe.
In conclusion, bed bugs are indoor insects that can start outside. That’s why it’s essential to target their outdoor hiding spots to prevent their invasion inside the home. Early detection and action play a crucial role in avoiding a full-blown bed bug infestation. Keep your yard clean and remove clutter from the yard. Ensure timely repairs of fences, decks, pergolas, and other wooden structures that offer bed bugs hiding places. Following these tips will help reduce the likelihood of bed bugs entering your home via the outdoors and decrease the risk of bed bug infestation.
