How Are Bed Bugs Spread?
Sleep tight - don't let the bed bugs bite... What a nightmarish sentiment right before going to sleep!
Bed bugs are back and back with a vengeance. Bad news - you are highly likely to get bed bugs in your lifetime. Good news - getting bed bugs has no connection to cleanliness or socio-economic standing so you do not need to be embarrassed. Bed bugs do not discriminate at all!
In fact, the more affluent you are, the more likely you are to get bed bugs because of how bed bugs spread. If you travel often, you are infinitely more likely to get them. Let us delve into an average bed bug existence.
Bed bugs have a clear life focus - to procreate. That is it. They feed on blood in order to get enough protein to lay eggs which become more bed bugs. They are opportunists - doesn't matter if the blood supply is human or animal (although they prefer humans), they just want to feed to produce eggs. They also have an incredible ability to live for long periods without feeding. Up to a year! That means if a dwelling had an infestation of bed bugs and sat vacant for a year, the unknowing victim (tenant) moving in has no idea that soon they will be the lavish buffet spread.
Bed bugs are asexual meaning they can be both male and female. Although only females lay eggs, they are gender fluid and can become females if needed. Therefore if you have a single pregnant bed bug enter your home, within weeks you could have thousands. Ugh.
The most common way to get bed bugs is to travel. I don't mean sleeping in a sleazy roach coach motel either. Any type of travel - public transportation, taxis, buses, airline flights, shuttles, luxury yachts, limos, etc. are all opportunities for bed bugs to go from one victim to the next. Staying in any hotel, AirBnB, VRBO, shelter, hostel, and 5-star resorts are equally capable of harboring bed bugs waiting to come home with you.
Next time you are at the luggage carousel at the airport, notice how many bags are black. About 85%. The tiny folds in black luggage, duffle bags, satchels, etc. all offer excellent hiding spots for bed bugs to latch on and hitch a ride.
If someone stays at a hotel and bed bugs hop on their luggage bound for a flight, think of all the chances those bed bugs have to jump on YOUR luggage. Inside the airport shuttle, on the conveyor belt on the way to the plane, smashed inside the luggage compartment of an airplane (for hours at a time in complete darkness - bed bug heaven!), then on the way to the luggage carousel once you land, in the Uber, taxi, Lyft or other transportation home (that carries other people's luggage all day long...). You have now unknowingly brought bed bugs into your home.
Few quick tidbits that make this even worse -
Bed bug bites can take up to two weeks to present, therefore, people may have been on vacation up to 2 weeks ago and do not think to assign last night's itchy bites to the event. It makes it very hard to determine the source.
The worst thing - you can be inundated with bed bugs and not know it because not everyone reacts. You could be the All-You-Can-Eat salad bar for bed bugs and have no idea until you start being anemic. Now THAT is a nightmare!
How to keep this from happening? It is so stinking simple! Spray your luggage and belongings with Greenbug for People/Pets prior to travel. The bottle is intentionally small enough to get through airport security so perfect for any type of travel. Greenbug for People/Pets offers contact control (meaning you can spray and kill a bed bug if you find one - and receive great satisfaction in the process!), but Greenbug for People/Pets is also an excellent repellent. If your luggage has Greenbug on it, no bed bug will latch on! Greenbug controls bed bugs so you do not have to worry.
Obviously check the bed and hotel room you stay in for signs of bed bugs, but most instances have no warning signs. Be proactive and spray your luggage. It will have a faint outdoor aroma because the active ingredient is Cedar. Not a harsh chemical smell at all - just a light scent that clearly states - NO BED BUGS WELCOME HERE!
And that is how you prevent bed bugs in your own home.