How Do Bed Bugs Get Into Syracuse Homes?

Many people don't realize that bed bugs don't discriminate between clean and dirty homes — even if you have a pristine home, you could have a bed bug infestation. So how and why do these pests invade Syracuse homes? By learning more about these invasive pests, you can figure out how to keep bed bugs out of your home.

What Attracts Bed Bugs?

Unlike some other common pests in Syracuse, bed bugs aren't attracted to crumbs or clutter, and they don't seek out moisture or warm shelter. Instead, they look for one thing: blood. Bed bugs feed on the blood of humans and animals. For that reason, it's impossible to make your property unappealing to bed bugs. As long as there are people in your home, bed bugs will consider it to be a suitable environment, as there's no way to take away their food sources.

How Do They Travel?

To understand how bed bugs enter your home, you need to understand bed bug behavior. Unlike cockroaches, silverfish, and other common insects, bed bugs don't use foot travel as their primary form of transportation. Although they can crawl, they usually rely on people to get around. Bed bugs hitchhike on people and their belongings, then enter your home without your knowledge.
 
Hotels, hospitals, and college dorms are all bed bug hotspots. If you've ever been to such a place, you could have unknowingly brought a few bed bugs into your home. They travel on your luggage, in your coat, and on other belongings. 
 
Buying secondhand furniture is another way to inadvertently bring bed bugs into your residence. When in homes, bed bugs like to hide inside furniture. These pests remain in the furniture after someone drops the item off at the thrift shop. Then, you bring home the furniture and the bed bugs come with it. 

Can You Keep Bed Bugs Out?

When you travel, you can take some steps to prevent bed bugs from traveling with you. For instance, you can avoid placing your luggage on the ground. Before you put your suitcase on a luggage rack, check it for bed bugs. Keep the rack away from the wall, or pests may crawl from the wall into your luggage.
 
Despite your efforts, bed bugs could end up in your luggage. To keep them from entering your home, leave your luggage in the garage after you arrive home. Wash all of your clothes immediately, even if you didn't wear them all. 
 
If you buy secondhand furniture, there are other protective measures you can take. Inspect all items for signs of bed bugs. These pests are small and flat, and are difficult to see with the naked eye. However, you may be able to see signs of them, like shed skins, tiny brown stains, or the bugs themselves in cracks. You'll have to look carefully to see an actual bed bug, though; they're small enough to hide in the head of a screw.

The Challenges Of Preventing Bed Bugs

No matter how cautious you may be, bed bugs could find a way into your home. Their tiny size makes them an invisible invader. Whether they enter your home in a suitcase or under your door, they can go unnoticed. Once bed bugs invade, there's not much you can do. They're fast breeders, so a few bed bugs could quickly become hundreds or even thousands. Unfortunately, DIY efforts are useless, as most DIY bed bug removal methods don't treat the whole problem. They leave behind bed bugs that continue to reproduce. 
 
To effectively remove bed bugs from your home, you need to work with an experienced residential pest control company in Syracuse. Here at Pestmaster® Services, we have what it takes to get the job done. Call us at the first sign of bed bugs.