By Gary Anderson|August 26, 2025|5 min read

What Are Bed Bugs?

Parasitic insects that feed on blood while you sleep.

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that seek blood meals from humans and warm-blooded animals while they sleep. Found everywhere on the planet except Antarctica, they are associated with hotels, motels, restaurants, workplaces, schools, and public transportation.

They get their name from taking residence in beds where food sources remain undisturbed for hours. These bugs have become increasingly resistant to pesticides and can survive without food for up to 400 days, making hidden dormant bed bugs extremely difficult to treat.

400 Days

Without Food

5 Eggs/Day

Female Output

21 Days

Nymph to Adult

Bed Bug Appearance

Adults

Flat, reddish-brown, wingless
Oval-shaped body
Size of an apple seed
Become engorged after feeding

Nymphs (Young)

Much smaller than adults
Lighter in color
Pass through 5 stages
Molt at each stage

Eggs

White color
Size of a pinhead
Difficult to spot on white mattress
Found in clusters

How Do You Get Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are found in places with high turnover: apartments, hotels, resorts, hostels, cruise ships, airplanes, buses, and taxis. They hitchhike on unsuspecting humans via clothes or luggage. They can also catch rides on pets, wildlife, or birds.

Critical First Weeks

Females lay up to 5 eggs every day with nymphs reaching adulthood in 21 days. The first 2-3 weeks of an infestation is the most critical time to discover bed bugs before populations explode.

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?

Bed bugs follow CO2 from respiration and body warmth to find food sources. They hide in mattress seams, box springs, and bed frame cracks. Being flat, they fit into extremely thin crevices. They generally live within 8 feet of their food source.

Mattress seams and cushions

Box spring folds

Bed frame and headboard cracks

Upholstered furniture

Curtains, linens, clothing

Nightstands and dresser joints

Electronics and light switches

Carpeting and baseboards

Luggage and suitcases

Screw holes

Behind picture frames

Wall cavities

Suspect You Have Bed Bugs?

Early detection and professional treatment are key to elimination.

Call (866) 326-2847

Signs of Bed Bugs

Finding bed bugs early is critical. Treating smaller infestations requires much less stress and resources. The following indicators suggest a bed bug population may be growing:

Small itchy welts

Appear after sleeping

Reddish-brown fecal spots

On mattresses, bedding, upholstery

Molted skins

Shed during nymph stages

Empty eggshells

White, pinhead-sized

Live bugs in traps

Use interceptor traps

Sweet musty odor

From scent glands

Are Bed Bugs a Threat?

While bed bugs are a massive nuisance, they do not pose much physical threat. They feed by piercing skin and sucking blood through their beak for 3-12 minutes. There is no recorded transmission of blood-borne illness from bed bugs. However, the toll they take on quality of life includes stress, insomnia, and anxiety. The biggest physical risk is when itchy welts are scratched enough to cause infection.

Bite Symptoms

Most bites painless initially (anesthetic in saliva)
Cause allergic reaction into itchy welts
Some people have no reaction at all
Small portion have severe allergic reaction
Appear in clusters or lines on face, neck, arms, hands

Activity Patterns

Most active at night when feeding
Can travel over 100 feet in one evening
Generally live within 8 feet of food source
Spread throughout homes relatively quickly

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are the most difficult bug to eradicate, so professional help is usually recommended. They hide well, survive months without food, and are resistant to many pesticides.

Non-Chemical Methods

Vacuuming carpets
Washing clothes and bedding
Temperature control

Heat Treatment

Bed bugs cannot survive temperatures above 122°F. Heat control is an effective treatment that permeates walls and furniture to eradicate all bed bugs.

Preventing Bed Bugs

Prevention requires vigilance when contacting public places frequented by many people. Check for bed bugs when sleeping away from home.

Inspect hotel mattresses for signs

Use trash bag to protect luggage

Elevate luggage off floor

Vacuum luggage after travel

Wash travel clothes on hot water

Avoid secondhand furniture and mattresses

Clean pre-owned items thoroughly

Stand on public transport when possible

If Bed Bugs Are Suspected

Use footer traps under bed legs

Use mattress covers (leave on 18 months)

Move bed away from walls

Seal cracks between rooms

Steam areas thought to harbor bed bugs

Need Bed Bug Treatment?

Bed bugs are the hardest pest to exterminate. Professional help ensures all bed bugs are eliminated using proven methods including heat treatment. Contact EcoGuard Pest Management for effective treatment.

Call (866) 326-2847 Get Free Quote

FAQs

Do bed bugs fly?

No, bed bugs are wingless and incapable of flying. However, they are faster than expected and can crawl rapidly, covering up to 100 feet in one evening.

What causes bed bugs?

Bed bugs are not drawn to unclean environments. Because they feed on blood, they are found even in 5-star hotels and resorts. They generally arrive via used furniture or by catching a ride on travelers.

What kills bed bugs and their eggs?

Bed bugs have become resistant to most chemical pesticides. However, they have a heat threshold that if exceeded (above 122°F) will kill the bugs and their eggs immediately.

How long do bed bugs live?

The lifespan of a bed bug ranges from 4-6 months depending on conditions. However, bed bugs can survive for over a year without food in optimal conditions.

Why have bed bugs made a comeback?

Pesticide-resistant bed bugs emerged in the early 2000s and spread in major metropolitan areas. Increasing travel to developing nations and overpopulation have also provided bed bugs resources to make a comeback.

From Our Blog

7 Stages of the Bed Bug Life Cycle | Complete Guide

Learn the 7 stages of bed bug life cycle from egg to adult. Understand bed bug lifespan, reproduction, and why they are...

In This Article:

Bed Bug Appearance

Adults

Nymphs (Young)

Eggs

How Do You Get Bed Bugs?

Critical First Weeks

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?

Suspect You Have Bed Bugs?

Signs of Bed Bugs

Are Bed Bugs a Threat?

Bite Symptoms

Activity Patterns

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Non-Chemical Methods

Heat Treatment

Preventing Bed Bugs

If Bed Bugs Are Suspected

Need Bed Bug Treatment?

FAQs

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