Where Do Bed Bugs Hide

Bed bugs are pesky little parasites that are notorious for their blood sucking bite that leaves you itchy and filled with bite marks on your body when you wake up. Bed bugs survive by drinking blood and can move quickly in search of food. Bed bugs become active at night, they prefer to hide during the daytime in certain areas of your home or bedroom. These tiny insects can cause a lot of trouble wherever they go and hide so good that some people don't even realize they have a bed bug infestation until there is a real problem. In this article we are going to answer the question, where do bed bugs hide.

Where do Bed bugs hide?

The bed bugs can hide in many different places as they can fit into the tiniest holes, gaps or corners. These bugs do not like moist environments like other insects. Instead, bed bugs prefer to hide in dark, cool and dry spaces in the house. Before checking the hiding places of bed bugs it is important to understand a few things about them.

• Bed bugs are very small in size and they can hide in any tiny gaps or holes in your home.
• Bed bugs do not prefer damp or moist environments, unlike other insects and bugs.
• Bed bugs are nocturnal. They hide during the day and become active for feeding at night time.
• Bed bugs move very quickly and can hide in many different spots in the home.
• Spotting bed bugs during daytime is a difficult task as they remain hidden during the day.

Bed bugs can hide in different spots around your home. They can move from one hiding place to another very quickly to avoid being detected. If you suspect a bed bug infestation then you should do a thorough check all through your home. A few bed bug hiding spots in your home are

Bed Bugs Hide In the Bedroom

People who suspect a bed bug infestation usually notice the first signs in the bedroom. This is because the bed bugs like to stay close to their food source i.e, people. There are many different hiding places for the bed bugs in the bedroom that include

• Bed frames - Bed frames can become a good hiding space for bed bugs. These bugs can hide in the cracks or corners of the bed frame during the day. The underside of the bed frame with the supporting boards and beams is also an ideal hiding space for the bugs. This is because the place remains undisturbed and is dark at all times. This environment makes the underside of the bed frames an ideal hiding place for the bed bugs.

• Mattresses - Bed bugs love to live inside mattresses as they can remain undetected for a long time. Mattresses also allow the bugs to hide in close proximity to people making it easy for them to feed. The corners and seams of the mattresses are popular spots for bed bugs to hide in. These bugs can also burrow into the holes of the mattress and lay eggs causing more infestation. The tiny spaces between the mattress and the bed frame can also become a good hiding place for bed bugs.

• Pillows - Pillows are good hiding places for bed bugs as they help them to stay on the bed. Bed bugs like to hide inside the folds of the pillowcases as they can remain concealed there. The seams of the pillows, folds of the covers and the filling inside are also great hiding places for bed bugs.

• Box Springs - Beds that have box springs are a haven for bed bugs as they offer additional hiding spots for them. The corners of the flatbed create small spaces between the mattress and it. Bed bugs can move into this space for hiding and laying eggs. Box springs also allow the bed bugs to move from the pillows to the mattress and to the flatbed with ease. The bed bugs can hide for a long time on box spring beds as they can move across all the layers quickly.

• Headboard - The small space between the headboard, mattress, and the bed frame is also a place where bed bugs can hide. This small space is preferred by the bugs as they can move quickly from there to the bed at night. Headboards whose base touch the ground give extra hiding space for insects. The corners created between the headboard, the floor and the bed frame are ideal for bed bugs.

• Footboard - The footboard offers many spaces in the front and back for bed bugs to hide in. Most footboards reach the floor creating a dark enclosed space behind them. This space attracts bed bugs as they can remain undisturbed for a long time.

• Nightstands - Most nightstands are placed close to the beds for convenience of the user. These nightstands can harbor bed bugs as they have ample hiding places. The back panel of the nightstand is a good hiding spot for bed bugs. The tiny gap between the nightstand and the wall/bed is an ideal environment for hiding. The corners of the drawers in the nightstand are good breeding areas for bed bugs. The bugs can also hide in the intricate designs on the nightstand or behind the legs of the nightstand. The bottom panels of the nightstand can also become a hiding/breeding ground for bed bugs.

• Wardrobes - Wardrobes are closed, dry and dark places filled with clothes and accessories. These wardrobes provide extra hiding places for bed bugs. Most wardrobes are placed in the bedrooms which make them vulnerable to bed bug infestations. Some good hiding places for bed bugs in the wardrobe are.

• Shelves - Bed bugs can hide in the corners of the shelves in the wardrobe. The dark and dry corners and sides of the shelves provide an ideal environment for bed bugs.

• Clothes - Closely packed clothes in the wardrobe allow the bed bugs to hide in between the folds of the clothes. The bugs can also slip through any holes in the protective garment covers.

• Wardrobe doors - Bed bugs can also hide along the inside of the door hinges. The gap between the door and the wall of the wardrobe can also become a good hiding/breeding spot for bed bugs.

• Storage boxes - Storage boxes kept in the wardrobe can become hiding spots for bed bugs. The corners of the boxes can become infested with bed bugs.

• Outer panels - Standalone wardrobes that are set up against a wall create extra hiding spots for bugs. The bed bugs can hide in the small gap between the back panel of the wardrobe and the wall.

Bed Bugs Hide In the Kitchen

Bed bugs can hide in your kitchens as there is a lot of storage space there. Some good hiding places for bed bugs in the kitchen include

• Storage cabinets - The shelves in the storage cabinets have nice dry corners that are ideal hiding places for bed bugs. The gaps between the doors and the sides of the cabinet can also become infested with bugs. Appliances - Large kitchen appliances like stand mixers have ample hiding spots around them. Bed bugs can hide in between the power cables of the appliances. Tiny gaps in the design can also become ideal hiding spots for bugs as they can remain undisturbed there.

• Countertops - The edges of the countertop can create a dry hiding spot between the surface and the base. This space is an ideal hiding/breeding spot for bed bugs in the kitchen. Kitchen islands offer more opportunities for the bed bugs to hide in as they have more open corners on them. Sink - Any holes or gaps in the skirting around the kitchen sink can become an ideal hiding spot for the bugs. Bed bugs can also hide below the sink along the walls or pipes to remain unseen.

Bed Bugs Hide In the Bathroom

Bed bugs can also hide in your bathroom as long as they find a place that is not damp. Common places where bed bugs are usually found hiding in the bathrooms are

• Mirrors - Bed bugs can also hide behind the bathroom mirror in the gap between its back panel and the wall. The bugs can also get into the frame if there is any break or hole in it.

• Electric outlets - The open sockets of electric outlets are a great hiding place for bed bugs. These bugs can hide and lay eggs in any open, dark space that they find. Holes or gaps between the electric outlet and the wall will become a potential hiding place for the bed bugs.

• Laundry baskets - Laundry baskets stacked up in a corner against a wall help to create a dark and cool environment for the bugs to hide in. The bugs can hide in the corner behind the laundry basket or on the sides of the basket itself.

Bed Bugs Hide in Furniture

All furniture items in the home are at risk of bed bug infestation as they can be used as hiding spots. Bed bugs are very efficient at finding new hiding spots for themselves. Since the bugs do not have a preference for old furniture they can easily hide in new furniture as well. Some furniture items that bed bugs can hide in easily are

• Sofas and Recliners - Sofas and recliners have many tight spaces in their design that are used by bed bugs as hiding spaces. The tiny gap between the armrests and the seating area can become a good hiding spot for bed bugs. Bed bugs can also hide in the underside of the sofas/recliners easily. The legs and underside fabric of the sofa creates a dark, dry hiding space that is ideal for breeding.

• Chairs - Any type of chair being used in the home can be used by bed bugs for a hiding place. The underside of the chairs crevices and corners created by the legs and the seating area. These are ideal spaces for bugs and insects as they can remain unseen there. Fabric chairs have folds and corners which can become ideal hiding spaces for small bed bugs.

• Tables - The underside of a table can become a good hiding spot for bed bugs. The dark corners on the underside of the table are ideal hiding places for bed bugs. Tablecloths can create extra hiding places for the bed bugs as they can hide in the folds of the fabric.

Bed Bug Hiding Spots Around Kids and Pets

Bed bugs can choose to hide in the most unexpected places in the home. Every tiny nook and corner is at risk as bed bugs can hide there. Kids and pets are most vulnerable to bed bugs as they do not notice the presence of bugs around them. Bed bugs can harm your kids and pets by hiding in places like

• Pet cages - Bed bugs can bite and live off on your pets by hiding close to your pet's cage or kennel. These bugs can hide in the corners of the cage itself or in the tiny gap between the cage and the floor/wall. Sometimes the bed bugs will hide in the corners of the cage/kennel and trouble your pet endlessly. If there is any bedding in the cage/kennel then the bed bugs can hide in its folds/seams. Pet cages that are put on tables or against walls have small spaces between them. These bugs can hide within such gaps without being noticed for a long time. To prevent infections, check your pet's cage/kennel if your see bite marks or welts on them.

• Stuffed toys - Children's stuffed toys often become a perfect hiding spot for bed bugs. This is because these toys are made with fabrics that give them different textures. Bed bugs can hide in the thick fabrics and weaves of the stuffed toys easily. Some stuffed toys have unique shapes and designs which create folds and corners. The bed bugs can hide in the folds of the dresses or in the hair of the dolls without being noticed. Stuffed toys have different layers that provide ample space for the bed bugs to move, hide or lay eggs in.

• Toy boxes - Children often like to store their toys and games in toy boxes. These boxes can also turn into good hiding places for bed bugs as they have dry, dark corners. Bed bugs can hide in any kind of toy box made out of any material like plastic, wood or cardboard.

Common Hiding Spots for Bed Bugs In Your Home

Bed bugs can hide in different places as they often move from one hiding place to another. Where they choose to hide depends upon the availability of hiding spaces and food. These bugs can turn up and hide at the least expected places such as

• Baseboards - Improper sealing of the baseboards creates gaps between them and the wall. These gaps can become a good hiding space for different types of bugs. Bed bugs can hide in the small gaps between the baseboard and the floor or wall.

• Carpets - Floor coverings like mats and carpets can become good hiding spots for bed bugs. Bed bugs can hide in the seams and the intricate weaves of the carpets. Carpets that are laid down wall to wall in the room often have small gaps at the sides and corners. These gaps create a hiding spot below the carpet, in between the wall and the floor. The bed bugs can hide in such small spaces to avoid being detected. Rooms with textured carpets like Berber are more at risk for bed bug infestation. These carpets offer more protection to the bed bugs as they can easily hide among its threads.

• Wallpaper - Bed bugs can hide behind the wallpaper if it is peeling or has holes in it. This is because the peeling wallpaper opens up new spaces between itself and the wall. These open spaces when formed near the floor or at the corners of the room become a good hiding spot for bed bugs.

• Books - Books can also become ideal hiding spots for the tiny bedbugs. They can hide in the small space between the pages and the spine of the book. Books that are left untouched for a long time on a bookshelf can also get infested with bed bugs. The small spaces between the books and the shelves are an ideal dark hiding spot for bed bugs. Bed bugs can also hide in between the pages of books without getting crushed. Bookshelves offer the ideal dry and dark environment for the bed bugs to hide and thrive in.

• Curtains - Bed bugs can also hide in the seams and folds of curtains in any room. This usually occurs when the infestation is more. These bugs can also easily climb up the curtains to reach the curtain rods and hide there. The closed space between the top of the curtain and its rod is a perfect hiding spot. Bed bugs can also hide in the lining material of the curtains if they have holes in them. Doors and Windows - All doors and window frames in the home can become potential hiding places for bed bugs. Bed bugs can hide in the tiny space between the door hinges. Holes or gaps between the window frame and wall can become a hiding place for bed bugs. Wall Decor - Photo frames and other wall decor items in the home can also become hiding spots for bed bugs. The bugs can hide in the tiny space between the wall and the object. Wall decor which has intricate designs or corners can become a popular hiding spot for bugs.

• Corners - The corners of any room can become an effective hiding spot for bed bugs. The small size of the bed bugs makes it easy for them to hide in the corners near the floor. Bed bugs can also climb up the walls and hide in the top corner of the walls near to the ceiling to avoid detection.

• Open holes in the walls - If there are any open holes in the walls in your home then there is a good chance that bed bugs can hide in there. If the bed bugs start hiding in the walls then they can move easily throughout the home.

• Gaps in the flooring - Bed bugs can hide in the tiny gaps in the flooring in your home. Open gaps in the floor or skirting boards will become a hiding spot for bed bugs.

Where Else Do Bed Bugs Hide

Bed bugs can survive in almost any environment if they have access to a food source. These bugs are pretty resilient and are known to be quick travelers. In the case of a bed bug sighting, it is a good idea to check your home and belongings thoroughly. This will help you to avoid injuries and the risk of a serious infestation. Some places that you should check for bed bugs are

• Cars - Bed bugs can also get into and hide in different places in the cars. Bed bugs can hide below the floor mats or in the tight spaces between the seats. Suitcases - Suitcases and travel bags are another popular hiding spot for bed bugs. Bed bugs move from one place to another by traveling in bags and suitcases. Bed bugs from hotels often end up in homes by hiding in the traveler's bags.

• Shoes - The dark, cool space inside the shoes is an ideal environment for the bed bugs to hide and lay eggs. Shoes and shoeboxes that have been left unused can become a hiding spot for bed bugs. Attic - In most homes, the attic area is used for storage and it is often cluttered with unwanted stuff. Bed bugs have a wonderful time hiding in the attic as they are spoilt for choice. These bugs can hide in any corner of the attic or in any of the storage boxes kept there. The cables of the HVAC unit can also become a good hiding spot for these tiny bugs.

• Garage - Your garage can also have good hiding spots for bed bugs as it is a huge dry space that is often left unused. Bed bugs can easily hide in the corners of your garage walls without being found.

• At Work - You could be exposed to bed bugs in your workplace.

Conclusion

Bed bugs hide almost anywhere in a home. Your home is the perfect and most comfortable place for bed bugs to thrive. They have their host (food) which is you, the environment which is warm and cozy to them just the same as us humans, and they have places to hide or sleep while they wait for their next meal.

Where do bed bugs hide? Are bed bugs infesting your home? Look throughout your own home in the above-mentioned locations to see if you have bed bugs in your home. It is best to search at night when they are most interested in feeding.