How to Prevent Bed Bugs from Getting Into Your Bed and Home – Healthline

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus) are insects that feed every 5 to 10 days, primarily on the blood of humans. Theyre typically active at night and their bites often result in itchy bumps on your skin.

Although theyre not known to spread disease, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) consider them to be a public health pest.

Heres how to keep bed bugs out of your bed and home.

Bed bugs will get into your home by traveling in on:

The EPA suggests a number of precautions you can take to help prevent bed bugs from infesting your home, including:

You dont want to bring bed bugs home from a trip. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests some precautions to consider when traveling, including:

If you spot the signs of bed bugs, immediately inform your host or hotel management.

Upon your return:

Beyond seeing the bugs themselves, the signs of a bed bug infestation include:

Adult bed bugs:

Young bed bugs (nymphs):

Bed bugs arent large and can fit in small hiding spots. To give you an idea of their size, the EPA indicates that if you can fit a credit card in a crack, theres room for a bed bug.

Bed bugs will commonly hide around your bed:

If you have a heavy infestation, they can be found away from the bed:

Bed bugs will travel up to 20 feet from hiding places to feed.

There are a number of ways to try to prevent bed bugs. These include:

If, even after being careful, you discover bed bugs in your home, act quickly. You want to get rid of the bed bugs in the early stages of infestation. The longer theyre in your home, the more difficult it will be to clear them out.

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How to Prevent Bed Bugs from Getting Into Your Bed and Home - Healthline