Since bed bugs cannot fly or jump, they get from place to place by stealthily crawling until they get to some kind of fabric object that they can then hide within and be carried away. This is why many travel experts and pest control specialists – including Pointe – recommend keeping all luggage and clothing off of the floor when staying in a hotel or vacation rental. This is one of the most common ways that bed bugs get inside a home, as they can easily crawl into an idle suitcase and travel back with the owner. Since bed bugs can go over a year without food, they are not in any hurry to leave whatever hiding spot they are in until they find a reliable food source that they can feed upon at night. That food source just so happens to be our blood, and bed bugs attack when we are sleeping and at our most defenseless. 

There are two main ways that bed bugs find mammals when they are searching for a blood source. One is by detecting carbon dioxide, which we exhale more consistently while asleep. Bed bugs use this output as a direct trail to us, then spend the rest of the night feeding until they cannot anymore and retreat back into hiding. The other way that bed bugs find their next meal is by feeling our body heat. Mammals are warm-blooded, so we constantly emit body heat. Bed bugs naturally know to go towards the heat in order to find their next meal, so a sleeping person, all warm in bed, who is breathing in a steady rhythm is the prime target for a group of hungry bed bugs. 

The one positive fact about these pests is that they do not spread diseases through their bites. But that does not mean having those red, itchy welts is a good time either. If you or anyone in your home finds clusters of little bites in the morning, it is important to call Pointe Pest Control as soon as possible. Our bed bug specialists will visit as soon as possible and begin inspecting your home for all signs of bed bug activity. Our treatments are all safe for your family and pets, while still being hard on bed bugs. Contact us to learn more about our efficient treatment methods and how our thorough services have been keeping St. Peters residents bed bug-free for years!