Bed Bugs: How Fast Can They Spread

The medieval saying, “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite!” gives evidence that bed bugs are not a new problem. Even though ants, cockroaches, and mice are never welcome guests, bed bugs are by far one of the hardest ones to irradiate. Below is some information on how fast these insects spread.

More on Bed Bugs

Before we get into the rate at which bed bugs invade your home, you must understand the environment these little insects prefer. An ideal environment would need to be warm and a location where they have access to blood, their main food source. Other than that, they can live anywhere. Bed bugs are so hardy that they can go without food for a year.

If you would like more information about bed bugs and their life cycle, visit our Pest Library page.

Invade Your Home

If your home provides bed bugs with the minimum level of circumstances to survive, bed bugs are more likely to stay in your home. The number one way bed bugs invade your home is linked to traveling. When you stay somewhere, bed bugs can hitch a ride to your house through your suitcase. Because these creatures are only ?’’ long, you may not see them among your clothes and toiletries.

Spread from Person to Person

The most likely hiding place for a bed bug is, of course in mattresses. When many different people sleep in the same bed, like at a hotel or BnB, the chance of bed bugs spreading from person to person increases substantially.

Bed bugs can spread fast due to the speed at which they procreate. For example, female bugs lay up to 113 eggs in their lifetime. Of those eggs, 97 percent of them hatch successfully. With that being said, bed bugs can spread at an alarming rate, even with one female.

Pests multiply quickly, so take preventative action or when you notice an infestation. If you fear that you have bed bugs, then contact Eden Spokane to exterminate them. Even though these pests do not transfer diseases to humans, their bites cause swelling and painful sores. Unlike ants, cockroaches and other pests, bed bugs can remain in your home for years if professional action is not taken.