Bed bugs are a persistent insect that can infest a clean house. They do not like dirt or food crumbs as is often believed, but rather blood, heat, and carbon dioxide. These reddish-brown, small insects live in crevices and cracks and are therefore difficult to spot. Having knowledge about what bed bugs are drawn to and how to prevent an infestation can save your loved ones and your home from unwanted guests. If you’re dealing with an infestation, seeking pest control in New York can help ensure effective treatment and prevention.

Bed bugs are reddish-brown, flat, and small

Bed bugs are great hitchhikers and will infest furniture, bags, and clothing. They can be found in many public places, for example:

• Hotels and motels
• Airports and public transport
• Schools and daycare centers
• Nursing homes and hospitals
• Retail centers and office complexes

Once bed bugs infest your home, they travel quickly from one spot to another, nesting in furniture and mattresses and even in outlets. They are nocturnal and thus are not easily visible until their bite is a problem.

Popular Misconceptions About What Attracts Bed Bugs

There are a number of myths about what bed bugs are attracted to. Let’s debunk a few:

Bed Bugs are attracted to Wood – Myth

While bed bugs will seek shelter in crevices in wood furniture, they do not prefer wood. They will instead seek shelter in any crevice, whether in material or not.

Bed Bugs are drawn to dirt and filth – Myth

Unlike other pests, bed bugs don’t have a preference for dirty surroundings. All they need is a bloodmeal, and they will infest both clean and dirty homes.

Bed bugs are attracted to food – Myth

Is food a bed bug attractant? No, bed bugs don’t eat crumbs, leftovers, or garbage. They eat blood and their preferred target is humans.

Bed Bugs are attracted to Period Blood – Myth

No scientific evidence exists to show that period blood is a bed bug magnet. They are drawn to body heat and to a gas known as carbon dioxide, and not to body fluids.

What Actually Attracts Bed Bugs

Body Heat

Bed bugs are highly susceptible to heat, and for this reason, they seek warm-blooded hosts. Your body heat is their best cue to locate and bite you.

Carbon dioxide

When people exhale, they release carbon dioxide, a very effective bed bug attractant. The more CO₂ present in a space, the more likely bed bugs will be drawn to it.

Dirty Laundry

What is bed bug attractant in odor terms? Research has shown that bed bugs are drawn to worn clothing and used bedding. This is because such objects have carried body odor from a nearby host.

Dark-colored sheets

Research has established that bed bugs like to hide in dark-colored fabrics and specifically in black and red, as these colors camouflage them better.

How Do Bed Bugs Find You?

Bed bugs have specialized sensory organs to locate their next blood source. They can detect body heat and CO₂ from a distance of a few feet and thereby direct themselves to their host. After detecting a human, bed bugs bite and consume blood with their small piercing mouth parts.

If you are curious to know what bed bugs are attracted to in order to bite you, then it is largely heat and CO₂. Bed bugs don’t have a preference for a certain blood type or gender and will bite any human being in reach.

Bed bugs can hide in many places.

Bed bugs are masters of hideaways and can be difficult to locate. They prefer to hide in:

• Mattress seams and bed bases
• In headboards and box springs
• Behind wallpaper and baseboards
• In walls and within electrical outlets
• Under carpets and upholstered furniture

How to Encourage Bed Bugs to Emerge from Their Hiding Spots

In the event you think you have a bed bug infestation, you can lure them out. Using a steamer or a blow dryer, you can trick them into thinking a human host is nearby. Alternatively, you can use bed bug interceptors, which you place under furniture legs to trap bugs as they move.

How to Avoid Getting Bed Bugs

Inspect Used Items

Prior to moving used furniture, clothes, or bedding into your home, carefully inspect them for any indication of bed bugs.

Wash and Heat-Treat Garments

Wash all clothes in hot water and dry on a hot heat setting when you arrive back from traveling. Heat will eliminate bed bugs in all life stages.

Employ protective coverings

Bed bug-proof cases covering mattresses and pillows prevent them from having a place to hide.

Eliminate Clutter

A clean and neat house eliminates areas for bed bugs to hide.

Vacuum regularly

Vacuuming regularly, and specifically in and around furniture and bed areas, can eliminate bed bugs before infestation.

Be cautious while traveling

Always check for signs of bed bugs in a hotel room before you move in. Put your bags off the ground and away from the bed.

What Do Attract Bed Bugs

What is most attractive to bed bugs in terms of scent? Bed bugs are most attracted to human scent, most specifically dirty clothes. However, food odors, perfumes, and detergents do not entice bed bugs.

Conversely, what do bed bugs dislike most? Among their worst enemies are:

• Lavender oil
• Peppermint oil
• Tea tree oil
• Citron

Fragrances have been found to repel bed bugs but cannot be depended on to keep them away.

What to Do If You Get Bed Bugs

When you see bed bug bites or notice signs that you have an infestation, quick action is important. Follow these steps:

• Deep Clean Your Home – Wash clothes, bedding, and cloth items in hot water. Vacuum all surfaces and dispose vacuum bag outside.
• Use bed bug traps. Bed bug interceptors can be utilized to evaluate how extensive an infestation is.
• Apply Heat Treatments – Steaming mattresses and upholstered furniture is an effective bed bug heat treatment that eliminates bed bugs and their eggs.
• Call a pest control professional – Do-it-yourself treatments may not be enough to fully eliminate bed bugs, so it’s important to call a pest control professional. They can assess the infestation and apply effective treatments to ensure complete eradication.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequent cause for bed bugs is travel. Travel with people and moving infested furniture or clothing is most often how bed bugs are transmitted. They do not develop from dirt or filth but instead hitch a ride from one destination to another.

Bed bugs are drawn to a range of different odors. Dirty clothes scent, body heat from humans, and carbon dioxide draw bed bugs. They are not drawn to food, perfumes, or cleansers.

Bedbugs do not like a range of different things. Bed bugs do not like pungent essential oils such as peppermint, tea tree oil, and lavender. These are not, however, a surefire way to repel bed bugs for good.

Conclusion

Knowing what bed bugs like most can allow you to be more proactive in preventing a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs are drawn to heat, carbon dioxide, and body odor, and not to dirt or food. Keeping your area clean, using protective devices, and being cautious when traveling can reduce bed bug infestations. If you see bed bugs in your area, taking action immediately and calling a Pest Control in New York is best.