Where Do Bed Bugs Hide? How To Find Their 12 Hiding Places
Bed bugs, those tiny nocturnal pests that infest our homes, suck our blood, and cause itchy bites, can be a nightmare to deal with. Their ability to hide and multiply quickly makes eradication challenging. In fact, most of the frustration around bed bugs has more to do with their excellent hiding spots and less with health concerns related to bed bug bites.
To effectively combat them and avoid bed bug bites, it is crucial to understand their preferred hiding spots. This guide will dive deeply into the secretive world of bed bugs, unveiling the top places they hide to ensure you can identify and kill bed bugs.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that belong to the Cimicidae family. They have a flat, oval-shaped body, which enables them to easily hide in narrow crevices and cracks. Adult bed bugs typically measure around 4 to 5 millimeters in length, or roughly the size of an apple seed. However, they can appear larger and more engorged after feeding.
The bed bug is segmented into three distinct parts: the head, thorax, and abdomen. The head features a pair of compound eyes and a short, segmented antennae. They lack wings and have a beak-like mouthpart called a proboscis, which they use to pierce the skin and feed on blood.
Bed bugs undergo various life stages, including egg, nymph, and adult. The eggs are tiny, approximately 1 millimeter in length, and are usually laid in clusters or batches. Nymphs resemble smaller versions of adult bed bugs but are lighter in color and translucent. As they mature, they molt and shed their exoskeletons, gradually developing a darker coloration.
One distinctive feature of bed bugs is their ability to feed on human blood. After feeding, their bodies become engorged and take on a reddish color. However, when unfed, they appear flat and brown, blending well with their surroundings.
Identifying bed bugs can be challenging due to their small size and secretive nature. This guide will detail some of the most common places bed bugs hide so those living with an infestation can find bed bugs and get rid of them.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?
The following are some of the most common bed bug hiding places where these pests hole up. They’ll typically spend the majority of their days in these spaces as they’re primarily active at night when they follow body heat to their next meal. For this reason, places bedbugs hide are usually close to humans in the following areas:
1. Mattresses, Box Springs, and Bed Frames
Mattresses and box springs make excellent bed bug hiding places—even a bed frame can do the trick. These locations provide an ideal habitat for them due to the warmth and ability to hide close to their food source: blood meal from a human host. They are particularly drawn to mattress seams, crevices, and tufts, where they can burrow and hide when they’re not feeding. Inspection will often reveal bed bug eggs in these areas, as well.
When it comes to mattresses, bed bugs tend to seek refuge along the mattress seams and folds, taking advantage of the dark and tight spaces they provide. They can also hide in the tufts and underneath the mattress tags or labels, or even the bedding that covers it all. These bloodsuckers can flatten their bodies and easily slip into tiny crevices.
Box springs are also perfect hiding places for bed bugs for the same reasons. They can tuck away within the seams, folds, and tucks of the fabric covering the box spring or find shelter in the corners, edges, and underneath. They may also take advantage of any cracks or gaps in the wood frame.
Bed frames are hotbeds (pun intended) for bed bug activity, as well. They can hide in cracks, joints, or screw holes in the frame. They may even hole up in the hollow tubes or cavities of metal bed frames, using them as a secure hideout during the day.
2. Hotels Rooms
Hotels serve as prime locations for bed bug infestations, as these pests have a penchant for hiding in the various nooks and crannies provided by these accommodations. Bed bugs can easily find their way into hotel rooms and establish hidden colonies, posing a challenge for both guests and hotel management.
Within hotel suites, bed bugs can hide in the seams, folds, and tufts of mattresses and bedding. They may also take refuge in furniture upholstery, such as chairs and sofas, or behind headboards and picture frames. Electrical outlets, baseboards, plastic corner protectors, and carpet edges are additional common hiding spots for these pests.
Luggage racks, closets, and drawers in a hotel are also susceptible to bed bug infestations. These pests can conceal themselves in the corners, cracks, and seams of such areas, waiting for an opportunity to spread to guests’ belongings.
3. Furniture and Upholstery
Sofas, armchairs, and other upholstered furniture provide ideal hiding spots for bed bugs. They can squeeze into the seams, folds, and cushions, finding a safe haven close to their human hosts.
Additionally, a bed bug infestation can hide within the framework of furniture. They may hide in the gaps, joints, or hardware holes, using these hard-to-find spaces to stay safe. The fabric covering furniture can also provide an ideal hiding spot or place for these pests, as they can blend in and hide from the human eye.
Bed bugs are also known to infest other types of furniture as well, such as dresser drawers, nightstands, and bookshelves. They can hide in cracks, crevices, and even the joints between the drawers, waiting for an opportune time to come out and feed.
For this reason, it’s incredibly important to check for bed bugs before bringing any second-hand furniture home—especially mattresses. Better yet, skip the mattress altogether.
4. Baseboards and Wall Hangings
In their relentless quest for hiding places, bed bugs have been known to seek refuge in areas like baseboards and wall hangings. These crafty hiders take advantage of the dark, tiny spaces that these items provide, allowing them to essentially disappear during the day.
Baseboards in bedrooms, with their small gaps and cracks, offer an ideal hiding spot for bed bugs. They squeeze into the tight spaces along the edges of the walls, remaining hidden during the day and emerging at night to feed. The baseboard’s proximity to their human hosts makes it a convenient hiding place for these bloodsuckers.
Wall hangings, such as picture frames or decorative tapestries, can cause their fair share of bed bug problems. They hide behind or inside the frames, or refuge in the folds and crevices of fabric wall hangings. Their flattened bodies allow them to fit into these super tight places.
5. Luggage and Travel Gear
Bed bugs are essentially hitchhikers. They hook onto luggage and travel gear and tuck away, making them unwelcome travel companions. These pests seize the opportunity to infest suitcases, backpacks, and other travel items, spreading their presence to new locations.
When travelers unknowingly encounter bed bugs in infested hotel rooms, they often crawl onto or into luggage or find their way into the seams and pockets of travel gear. They then cling onto fabric and can easily maneuver into the tiny spaces, making them wonderful bed bug hiding materials.
Luggage provides an ideal environment for bed bugs to hide. They can burrow into the linings, hide in the folds and zippers, or tuck themselves away in the corners and seams. Their presence often goes unnoticed until the luggage is unpacked at a new destination, potentially leading to a new infestation.
6. Electronics
Most folks won’t expect it, but electronics can be heavily-infested areas for these nasty bloodsuckers. Their tiny size and flat bodies enable them to seek refuge in the smallest crevices of electronic devices.
Electronics, such as laptops, gaming consoles, and TVs (even an alarm clock) provide attractive hiding spots for a bed bug due to their warm interiors and numerous tiny openings. These pests can squeeze into the ports, vents, and seams of electronic devices, making finding them impossible.
Bed bugs can hide in the cracks and crevices of keyboards, speakers, or even inside the housing of electronic gadgets. They can also take shelter beneath buttons or in the spaces between components. That retro Super Nintendo you’ve been holding onto could make the perfect townhome for a bedbug infestation.
7. Cluttered Spaces
Bed bugs prefer cluttered spaces, as they’re ideal havens to disappear, lay eggs, and raise a new generation of bed bug nymphs. Clutter provides so many possible hiding spots and makes it easier for these pests to go unnoticed, exacerbating infestations.
In cluttered areas, such as piles of clothing and bed sheets, stacks of papers, or untidy storage spaces, bed bugs can find countless nooks and crannies to conceal themselves. They can burrow deep within the clutter, making it difficult to spot signs of bed bugs during inspections.
Cluttered, messy spaces also provide protection and camouflage for bed bugs, allowing them to remain undisturbed during the day and emerge at night to feed. The slew of hiding places that bugs hide in cluttered spaces also allows these nasty critters to quickly spread throughout a room or even an entire dwelling.
8. Carpets and Rugs
Carpets and rugs, with their intricate fibers and hidden crevices, provide bed bugs with an opportune environment for hiding and multiplying. These resilient pests can easily maneuver within the depths of carpets, making detection and eradication a challenging task.
Bed bugs often seek refuge along the edges and underneath carpets and rugs. They can slip into the tight spaces between the floor and the carpet, utilizing the darkness and warmth to their advantage. Their flat bodies enable them to hide in the gaps and seams of the carpet, remaining undetected.
In addition to the edges and seams, bed bugs can hide within the fibers of the carpet or rug. They may burrow deep into the pile, making it difficult to spot them with the naked eye. The presence of dust, pet hair, and debris in the carpet provides further cover for these pests.
9. Clothing and Personal Belongings
Other places where bed bugs may hide include clothing and personal belongings, live bed bugs taking advantage of their proximity to humans and their ability to move easily from one location to another. These bloodsuckers can find refuge in the folds, seams, hoods, zippers, hems, cuffs, collars, and pockets of clothing, keeping them safe from harm. Their flat bodies allow them to fit into tight spaces and remain concealed amidst the fabric.
Bed bugs also have a knack for hiding in personal belongings such as backpacks, purses, and even stuffed animals. They can burrow into the seams, hide in the pockets, or take shelter in the crevices of these items, using them as public transportation.
10. Wall and Ceiling Voids
Bed bugs often seek refuge in wall and ceiling voids. They sneak into the cracks and gaps within these structures and hunker down. These hidden spaces provide bed bugs with secure and undisturbed environments.
Within wall voids, bed bugs can hide in gaps between walls, electrical outlets and behind electrical switch plates, and plumbing entry points. They can also take shelter in the spaces between wall studs or within insulation materials. Their flattened bodies allow them to move easily through small spaces, enabling them to establish colonies deep within the dark areas inside of walls.
Ceiling voids also provide secluded places for bed bugs to set up shop. They can hide in gaps around light fixtures, ventilation ducts, or any openings in the ceiling structure. Bed bugs can also access ceiling voids from adjacent wall voids, further complicating finding and getting rid of them in an apartment building or similar spaces.
11. Luggage Storage Areas
Bed bugs have a taste for traveling, so hiding in luggage storage areas, such as closets, drawers, or storage compartments is pretty common. These areas offer many places where bed bugs have an opportunity to lay eggs, infest belongings, and hitch a ride to new locations, leading to the spread of infestations.
In closets, a bed bug can hide in the cracks and crevices of shelving units or in between clothing items. They may also take refuge in the corners and seams of the luggage itself, making it easy for them to transfer from one piece of luggage to another.
12. Books and Libraries
Bed bugs are resourceful pests that are capable of adapting to many environments. They can find bed bug hiding places even among the pages of books in libraries. These insects also take advantage of the cracks, crevices, and warm conditions provided by books and library facilities.
In libraries, bed bugs can hide in the seams of upholstered furniture or in the corners and crevices of bookshelves. These pests can also lurk behind baseboards or within gaps in walls, using the library infrastructure to their advantage. Bed bugs may hitch a ride on library patrons’ clothing or belongings and find their way into books that are borrowed or returned.
Within books themselves, bed bugs can hide in the spine, between pages, or in the binding. Their flat bodies and ability to squeeze into tight spaces allow them to go unnoticed until the infestation becomes evident. Once these books make their ways to nightstands next to beds, it won’t be long until those bugs are following the body heat to a blood meal.
How To Find Bed Bugs
To effectively spot bed bugs and protect yourself from infestations, you need to understand their hiding behavior. Bed bugs tend to hide near sleeping areas, particularly in and around beds.
- Check mattress seams, folds, tufts, and behind headboards for small reddish-brown insects, bed bug eggs, or dark spots of excrement. Use a flashlight to inspect the entire mattress, including edges, corners, and underneath the bed. Don’t forget to examine other furniture near the bed, such as nightstands and chairs.
- Active detection methods can also be helpful. Place bed bug traps or interceptors under bed legs to capture any climbing bugs. Bed bug detection dogs are trained to sniff out these pests accurately.
- Protective covers are essential for safeguarding your bedding. Encase your mattress and box spring with a bed bug-proof protective cover that seals them completely. Regularly inspect the covers for signs of bed bugs and keep them sealed for at least a year to ensure trapped bugs perish.
- Bed bugs can also hide in other furniture and sheltered areas. Check dressers, closets, and wall voids for cracks and crevices where they may hide. Decluttering your living space minimizes hiding spots.
If you can’t find signs of a bed bug infestation but suspect hidden bed bugs, professional assistance may be necessary. Pest control experts can perform thorough inspections and employ targeted treatments for hidden infestations in wall voids or electrical outlets. Or, you can tough the job out yourself with a trusty bed bug steamer and a quality bed bug spray, save lots of money, and kill those bed bugs before they can continue their infestation.
