Bed bugs are leaving motels and moving into homes. From Orlando to Daytona, bed bug infestations are infiltrating everyday homes, apartments, and even office spaces. Mosquitoes and ants may no longer be Florida’s most common pests if homeowners don’t act fast.
So what attracts bed bugs to Florida homes? And more importantly, how can you keep them out? Here’s what you need to know.
Key Takeaways
- Carbon dioxide, body heat, and the scent of humans are all attractants for bed bugs.
- Bed bugs may invade your home as a hitchhiker from your travels or secondhand furniture.
- Dirty laundry and clutter make ideal hiding spots for infestations.
- Professional pest control is the most effective way to eliminate bed bugs.
What Attracts Bed Bugs to Florida Homes?
Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs aren’t drawn to dirt and clutter. What attracts bed bugs is you. Your body heat, the carbon dioxide you breathe out, and most of all, your blood. These tiny blood-sucking pests rely on the blood of animal and human hosts to survive, but can survive several months without a blood meal.
Here are the most common reasons they find their way into Florida homes:
1. Carbon dioxide and body heat
The carbon dioxide you emit while asleep draws bed bugs out at night. Add your increased body heat while you’re warm in bed, and you become the perfect target for the blood-sucking pest.
2. Hitchhiking on luggage, clothing, and furniture
Bed bugs are hitchhikers. They don’t crawl in from the front yard like ants or termites. They sneak into your home inside luggage, used furniture, secondhand items from thrift shops, or even clothes from a hotel or a friend’s house.
3. Dirty laundry
Dirty laundry can draw in bed bugs. Researchers have found that since worn clothing holds onto the scent of your skin, your used clothes can lure these pests out of hiding.
4. Used and secondhand furniture
If you love going through Florida flea markets or love taking home curbside finds, you may have a high risk of toting bed bugs home along with your neat finds. These pests love hiding in crevices, mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, and even the folds of upholstered chairs.
Common Bed Bug Hiding Spots
Once bed bugs enter your home, they don’t stray far from their food source. That’s why you’ll find them hiding within 5–10 feet of your bed. Familiar hiding places and infested areas to check for bedbugs include:
- Seams and tags of mattresses
- Inside box springs
- Cracks in bed frames and headboards
- Behind baseboards
- Inside electrical outlets
- In upholstered furniture seams
- Under clutter or within living spaces that are rarely cleaned
Signs of Bed Bugs in Your Home
Spotting bed bugs early is key to preventing a full-blown infestation. Look out for the following signs of bed bugs so you can get rid of them faster:
- Clusters of small, red, itchy bed bug bites on your skin
- Minor reddish-brown stains on sheets or pillowcases
- Shed skins or small white eggs in seams or cracks
- A musty odor, often compared to coriander
- Live adult bed bugs, about the size of an apple seed
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Act quickly as soon as you confirm a bed bug infestation. DIY methods, such as vacuuming, can help reduce bed bug populations, but they are nowhere near enough.
DIY methods often miss hidden eggs and nymphs tucked away in crevices and other hiding spots within your home. Sealing infested items in plastic bags and using heat treatment can help, but these measures are usually insufficient.
Professional pest control
Professional pest control technicians and exterminators are best equipped to deal with bed bug infestations. At Rowland Pest Management, we offer an approach that combines targeted treatment with specialized tools and knowledge to help you have a bed bug-free home. We also provide follow-up visits to ensure the infestation is completely eradicated.
Encasements and decluttering
Plastic bags are your best friends when you’ve got bed bugs. Since bed bugs can’t chew through plastic, these bags can serve as effective encasements against these pesky bloodsuckers. Seal up any infested items, such as your mattress and box springs, to trap the bugs inside and prevent new ones from moving and infesting a new area. Removing clutter, vacuuming daily, and sealing off hiding spots can also reduce their numbers.
High heat and hot water
Bed bugs can’t withstand high heat. You can wash your clothes and bedding in hot water and dry them on the highest setting to effectively eliminate bed bug infestations. You can also do this to secondhand items before taking them inside your home. It’s one of the most effective ways to kill or prevent bed bugs.
Bed Bug Prevention Tips
Living in Florida means staying proactive. Here are simple preventive measures to help you avoid bed bug problems in the first place:
- Inspect hotel rooms (especially bed sheets and seams) before unpacking
- Avoid placing luggage on beds or carpets, and use the rack
- Wash and dry all clothing immediately after traveling
- Be cautious when bringing home secondhand furniture or used items
- Vacuum your home regularly and reduce clutter
- Use mattress encasements to limit hiding places
- Seal gaps in baseboards, electrical outlets, and furniture joints
Central Florida’s Bed Bug Experts
If you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation, Rowland Pest Management is here to help. We serve homeowners and property managers across Central Florida, from Winter Park to Daytona Beach and everywhere in between, to achieve a bed bug-free space.
Our trained technicians will guide you through the entire process, from identifying the pests to completing bed bug treatment, with a follow-up guarantee.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know what attracts bed bugs and how to spot the signs of bed bug infestation early, you can take steps to protect your home before a full-blown infestation takes hold. Don’t wait until these blood-sucking pests take over.
If you suspect bed bugs or simply want an expert’s opinion, let us know. Whether you’re in Orlando, Daytona, or anywhere in Florida, stay one step ahead. Contact us today to start sleeping without fear of bed bug bites sooner.
FAQs
How do I check for bed bugs in my hotel room?
Pull back the sheets and inspect the mattress seams, the corners of the box spring, and the area behind the headboard. Look for live bugs, black stains, or shed skins.
Are bed bugs only found in beds?
Nope. They can also hide in sofas, luggage, nightstands, electrical outlets, and even picture frames.
Do bed bugs spread disease?
Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, but their bites can cause itching, allergic reactions, and sleep disturbances. The stress of an infestation can also affect your well-being.