The Most Common Causes Of Bedbugs

Your bedroom is the one place in your home where you can relax and find solace. That’s why bedbugs are a real problem when they enter your life. But how did they appear in the first place?

These pesky little bugs can show up in any household across Britain, and there’s no known reason why they’re such a problem. But there is one way to stop them, and that’s to understand the causes of bedbugs.

In this article, we’re discussing the causes of bedbugs and detailing some information about them. You can also read about caring for bedbug bites if you are unfortunate enough to become infested.

Keep reading to learn more.

All About Bedbugs

Bedbugs are small, brownish, oval insects that live on the blood of humans or animals. They do not carry disease and do not transmit disease, but they are pests that can become quite a nuisance.

Females will lay hundreds of eggs at a time into cracks and crevices where they can hatch. One bedbug can lay up to 250 eggs in her lifetime. Eggs hatch in about six to ten days, and newly emerged ‘nymphs’, or baby bedbugs, will seek their first meal.

Throughout a bedbug’s nymph stage, it will shed its skin five times before reaching maturity. Before it sheds skin each time, it will require a blood meal.

Once they are in your home, bedbugs are challenging to get rid of. They can come into your home from anywhere but mainly used mattresses or clothing.

Causes of Bedbugs

Because bedbugs can come into your home through old furniture or other items, it can be challenging to know if you have them until it’s too late.

Most people will discount bedbug bites if they’re affected severely right away. But, unfortunately, by the time it’s too late, an infestation has already begun.

Bedbugs do not nest but live in groups in hiding spaces like mattresses, box springs, and bed frames. This gives them easy access to their prey.

Clean or Dirty, Doesn’t Matter.

Dirt does not cause bedbugs. It’s important to note because this has been a myth associated with these insects for years.

Bedbugs seek animal or human blood, and that’s all they care about. So, if they find a source of food, which is you or your furry pet, they are likely to be carried into your home.

Bedbugs are commonly associated with poverty, but again, deprivation does not cause bedbugs. Impoverished communities, however, maybe at a higher risk for bed bug infestations for lack of resources to minimize the problem.

Bedbugs Hitchhike All Over

Suppose you’ve been in an area with a previous or current bedbug infestation. In that case, you are likely a carrier of bed bugs. They’ve got to catch a ride somehow.

Bedbugs have been known to infest theatres and other public places because they can be carried from place to place on clothing, purses, backpacks, coats, and more.

You can’t prevent bedbugs from finding a way into your home if you don’t know where they’re hiding in the first place. This could be any commonplace you visit. If you think you’ve been to a place that has bedbugs, wash your laundry as soon as you can when you get home.

Bedbugs Hide in Clutter

While the causes of bedbugs aren’t necessarily dirty places, they can be in messy areas.

Bedbugs like clutter because it gives them plenty of places to hide. Look for them behind baseboards, under peeling wallpaper, inside switch plates or in furniture seams. Once they’ve found these prime spots for hiding, they’ll begin to multiply.

If females in the bunch are already carrying eggs, you could have an infestation on your hands in no time with too much clutter lying around. The more chaos there is in your home, the more hiding spaces bed bugs have.

Seeking Medical Care for Bedbug Bites

Some people may not know what is causing their skin lesions and seek medical care before they know their infestation.

Bedbug bites are round red welts that appear about a day after the bite occurs. Medical treatment is not usually necessary, but in rare cases, allergic reactions can occur. In such cases, a medical health professional may be required to evaluate your symptoms.

Most medical treatment for bedbug bites surrounds reducing the itchiness that occurs.

Home Remedies for Bedbug Bites

Over the counter, antihistamine pills and itch relief creams are the best home treatments for bedbug bites. They can alleviate the swelling and itching associated with the taste and help soothe your discomfort.

You can also try using a hot washcloth on the affected areas to relieve itchiness. Try to avoid scratching, or you’re likely to break the skin, which can cause infection.

There are no medications specifically designed for bedbug bites.

How to Get Rid of Bedbugs

Now that you know the causes of bedbugs, how do you get rid of them?

The best thing you can do if you get a bedbug infestation is to start cleaning right away.

Look for blood stains and bed bug excrements on your sheets and bedding, including your mattress. You’ll have to wash everything in the house and dry it on a high setting for at least thirty minutes. For items like stuffed animals that can’t be passed, they should be thrown away or dried for thirty minutes on high.

Cover your box spring and mattress to seal in bugs and keep new ones out. You’ll need to leave it closed for at least a year to prevent another infestation.

Lastly, you’ll need to call a professional. Only a professional bug exterminator can protect your home against future breakouts. If you have a bedbug problem or have questions, contact us! We can help.