Where do bed bugs live and what are their bites like? - briefly
Bed bugs reside in cracks and crevices close to where people sleep, including mattress seams, box springs, headboards, and upholstered furniture. Their bites manifest as tiny, red, itchy welts that may appear singly, in a line, or clustered together.
Where do bed bugs live and what are their bites like? - in detail
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) inhabit environments that provide regular access to a human host. Common residential sites include:
- Mattress seams, box‑spring folds, and headboards.
- Bed frames, nightstands, and upholstered furniture.
- Wall cracks, baseboards, and electrical outlets near sleeping areas.
- Luggage, backpacks, and clothing that have been in infested rooms.
- Hotels, dormitories, shelters, and other transient accommodations where turnover is high.
In non‑residential settings they may be found in office chairs, conference rooms, and public transport seating when these locations are used for extended periods of rest.
The insects prefer temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C and humidity levels of 50‑70 %, conditions typical of indoor sleeping spaces. They are nocturnal, emerging at night to feed and retreat to concealed harborages during daylight.
A bite is a painless puncture that often goes unnoticed at the moment of feeding. Within minutes to hours, the following reactions may appear:
- Small, raised welts (≈2‑5 mm) that are red or pink.
- Itching that can range from mild to intense, sometimes persisting for several days.
- A linear or clustered pattern, reflecting the bug’s habit of probing multiple adjacent sites.
- Occasionally, a central punctum where the proboscis entered, surrounded by a halo of erythema.
Reactions vary with individual sensitivity; some people exhibit no visible signs, while others develop pronounced swelling or secondary infection from scratching. The bites do not transmit disease, but they can cause discomfort and psychological distress.