If you’ve ever had a bed bug infestation, you know how frustrating it can be. These tiny, blood-sucking insects can be difficult to detect and eliminate, and they can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. One of the biggest challenges of dealing with bed bugs is finding them. Most people assume that bed bugs are only active at night, but this is not true. Bed bugs can be active during the day as well, and it’s important to know how to detect them during daylight hours. In this article, we’ll show you how to find bed bugs during the day and keep your home pest-free.
Read natural remedies to kill bed bugs in 2023
Table of Contents
What are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They are about the size of an apple seed and can be found in cracks and crevices in and around beds and furniture. Bed bugs are nocturnal insects, meaning they are most active at night when their hosts are sleeping. However, they can also be active during the day if they are hungry or if they sense the presence of a host.
Why are Bed Bugs Hard to Detect?
Bed bugs are hard to detect for several reasons. First, they are small and can hide in very small spaces. Second, they are nocturnal and often hide during the day. Finally, bed bugs are very good at avoiding detection. They can detect the presence of humans and animals by sensing carbon dioxide and body heat, which allows them to hide when someone is nearby.
HOW TO IDENTIFY BED BUGS?
Before starting to look for bed bugs, you must know what Bed Bugs look like. Bed bugs have three life stages and they are 1 to 5 mm during these stages:
There may be a lot of species of bugs at home and bed bugs can’t be easily differentiated from other bugs. Some physical features of bed bugs are below:
- They have no wings
- They can’t jump
- Body is flatted
- Reddish-brown (Red after recently fed
WHEN DO BED BUGS FEED?
A bed bug normally prefers to feed at night. They keep hiding in their hosts during the day and start feeding after dark.
In some cases, bed bugs can feed in daylight, but this is not an ordinary behavior for them.
HOW OFTEN DO BED BUGS FEED?
This depends on how they fed before. An adult bed bug needs 10 to 15 minutes to feed fully. After a full feed, bed bugs won’t need to feed again for several weeks.
HOW TO FIND BED BUGS IN THE DAYTIME?
Because bed bugs won’t appear around during the day, you will have to find them in their hosts where they hide.
Q quick search at home will not be enough to find bed bugs. You need to make detailed research which includes every single crack at home.
So, where do they keep hiding?
WHERE DO BED BUGS HIDE DURING THE DAY?
Bed bugs need hidden hosts to stay away from humans and control their body temperature. Therefore, they prefer to live under, behind, or inside the stuff.
Here are some possible hosts for bed bugs:
- Cracks
- Holes
- Inside and behind furniture
- Under bed
- Inside mattress and pillow
- Behind pictures
- Under carpet or floor
- Inside clothes
HOW TO SEARCH FOR BED BUGS IN THE DAYTIME?
You will need a flashlight. I know it’s daytime and there will be enough daylight around but places where bed bugs hide are usually behind or under some stuff and darker than the surroundings.
You must lift carpets, floor cracks, or mattresses and remove furniture or pictures. Use your flashlight to search those places carefully.
Bed bugs do not live single and tens of them are together in their host. So, if there are bed bugs at your home and you come across a host, you will recognize them quickly.
BED BUGS SIGNS AT HOME
If you are undecided about where to start searching, you can follow some signs to hit the target. Bed bugs can leave blood behind while they’re turning back to their hosts. You can search for small red blood around.
Bed bug eggs can also be around and where you find them is the closest place to their host. Some of the bed bugs could be dead because of your previous treatments and if you find dead bodies somewhere, this place can be on the way home for bed bugs.
HOW TO FORCE BED BUGS OUT OF HIDING?
When you believe that you find the right place, but can’t get inside there, you can force bed bugs to go out of host by using a blow dryer.
Heat the crack or hole with a blow dryer for a while, and let them leave the crack. Bed bugs are not good with heat and they will die in higher temperatures.
BED BUG CREDIT CARD TEST
While you are looking for bed bugs, a credit card will help you a lot. When you have a crack or a hole that you can’t look inside directly, put a credit card inside and move it towards yourself.
If there are bed bugs inside that hole or cracks, you will be able to get them out with a credit card.
OTHER TOOLS FOR FINDING BED BUGS
You can also use these items for searching for bed bugs:
- Magnifying glass
- A container to collect bed bugs you found
- Tweezer to hold them
- Spatula or putty knife instead of credit card
- Vacuum cleaner
- Flashlight (You can use your phone’s flashlight)
Preventing Bed Bugs
Preventing bed bugs is the best way to avoid an infestation. Here are some tips:
- Inspect secondhand furniture and clothing before bringing them into your home.
- Use mattress and box spring covers to prevent bed bugs from entering or escaping.
- Keep your home clean and clutter-free.
- Seal any cracks and crevices in your walls and baseboards to prevent bed bugs from hiding there.
Conclusion
It’s difficult to find bed bugs during the day. Because they will feed at night and keep staying in their hosts in the daytime.
But it’s not impossible and you just need to know where to look for. First, do a checklist for the places you will search and then start searching. The more places you check, the more bed bugs you can find.
FAQs
- Can bed bugs fly or jump?
No, bed bugs cannot fly or jump. They can only crawl.
- Can I get rid of bed bugs on my own?
It’s possible to get rid of bed bugs on your own, but it can be difficult and time-consuming. Professional treatment may be necessary.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”