Why do bedbugs infest beds? - briefly
Bedbugs target sleeping surfaces because they offer a reliable source of blood meals and concealed crevices close to their hosts. Their attraction is driven by body heat, carbon‑dioxide emissions, and the darkness of mattress seams.
Why do bedbugs infest beds? - in detail
Bedbugs locate sleeping surfaces because the environment meets their physiological needs and provides easy access to a blood meal. The insects are attracted to the carbon‑dioxide and heat emitted by a resting person; these cues guide them to the mattress, headboard, and surrounding fabric. Once on the bed, they find numerous protected niches—seams, folds, and tufts of fabric—where they can hide during daylight hours.
Key factors that promote colonization of beds include:
- Proximity to hosts – the short distance between the bug’s hiding spot and a sleeping person minimizes the time required to feed.
- Stable temperature – typical bedroom temperatures (20‑25 °C) fall within the optimal range for development and reproduction.
- Humidity – the moderate moisture level in bedding prevents desiccation, supporting survival.
- Availability of shelter – mattress tags, box‑spring crevices, and pillowcases offer tight, dark spaces that protect bugs from disturbance.
- Human activity – frequent travel, luggage handling, and the movement of used furniture transport eggs and adults into new sleeping areas.
- Clutter – excess items create additional refuges, making eradication more difficult and allowing populations to expand unnoticed.
The reproductive cycle intensifies the problem. After a blood meal, a female lays 200–500 eggs over several weeks, depositing them in the aforementioned concealed locations. Eggs hatch in 6–10 days, and nymphs mature through five molts, each requiring a blood meal. This rapid turnover can generate a large population within a few months if the bed remains undisturbed.
Control measures must target all three components: eliminating hiding places, disrupting the temperature and humidity conditions that favor development, and removing the blood source by treating the sleeping surface and surrounding area. Thorough inspection, laundering of bedding at high temperatures, vacuuming of seams, and, when necessary, professional insecticide application constitute an effective strategy.