How to transfer bedbugs? - briefly
Bedbugs spread by hitchhiking on clothing, luggage, used furniture, or other personal items that are moved between locations. They also migrate through cracks and crevices when an infested area is disturbed.
How to transfer bedbugs? - in detail
Bedbugs spread primarily through human activity and the movement of infested items.
When a person leaves a contaminated room, insects cling to clothing, shoes, and personal belongings. The insects attach to fabric fibers and can survive several days without a blood meal, allowing them to be transported to new locations.
Infested furniture, especially beds, mattresses, and nightstands, serves as a major vector. Removing a piece of furniture from an affected dwelling without proper treatment enables the insects to crawl onto adjacent surfaces and be carried to another residence or hotel room.
Luggage is another common carrier. Travelers who stay in an infested accommodation often return home with bedbugs hidden in suitcase seams, pockets, or travel bags. The insects emerge when the luggage is opened and can quickly colonize bedroom furniture.
Public transportation and shared spaces contribute to dispersion. Seats, armrests, and floor mats in buses, trains, and airplanes provide temporary hosts. Insects drop off onto these surfaces and are later picked up by other passengers.
Key mechanisms of transfer include:
- Direct contact with infested surfaces (mattresses, sofas, curtains).
- Attachment to clothing, personal items, and luggage.
- Migration through cracks, wall voids, and plumbing pathways connecting adjacent units.
To control spread, the following steps are essential:
- Inspect all items before moving them out of a known infestation zone.
- Seal clothing, linens, and small objects in airtight bags for at least 72 hours to starve the insects.
- Treat furniture with heat (≥ 50 °C for 30 minutes) or approved insecticides before relocation.
- Clean and vacuum luggage interiors, then store them in sealed containers.
- Conduct thorough examinations of shared areas and report any sightings immediately.
Understanding these pathways enables targeted interventions that limit the relocation of bedbugs and reduce the risk of new infestations.