The bed bug is not a nocturnal insect but does replica the nocturnal insect behavior. Basically, the bed bug stays away at night to feed discretely and remains in hiding throughout the day. For this reason, visual detection is extremely difficult if not impossible.
The adult is about seven millimeters in length, another reason why visual detection is difficult.
When signs of a bed bug infestation are noted, it is crucial to initiate a visual inspection. We suggest starting in the host’s bedroom because bed bugs are known to not stir too far from their main food source. In this case, the food source is human blood.
If your DIY visual inspection does not render a live bed bug, we suggest driving the insects out of their hiding places. Below, you will discover a list of tips to drive bed bugs out of hiding with little to no effort.
Where Are Bed Bugs Hiding? Drive Them Out Of Hiding!
There are several effective methods that have been shown to be effective in enticing bed bugs to emerge from their hiding places.- Replicate the bed bug’s nocturnal schedule. Stay away at night to catch the bed bug(s) in action
- Place bed in the center of the room to make space for carbon dioxide (CO2) traps. Place the traps on the right and left sides of the bed on the floor, directing the anterior toward the wall. It will take at least 15 minutes for the CO2 to permeate the wall that is responsible for hiding the insect
- Install adhesive traps around the CO2 traps to capture the bed bugs as they come out of hiding. The traps have a gluey substance that will capture and trap the bed bugs. Each adhesive trap will hold several dozen bed bugs to ensure the most cost-effective application
- A floor steamer can be utilized to drive bed bugs out of hiding. Place the front of the steamer in front of a wall, keep a safe distance to not create a fire hazard. Again, it will take about 15 minutes for the hot steam to permeate deep into the wall materials where the bed bug is hiding
- Place floor heaters around the bed in the direction of suspicious areas. Wait about 15 minutes for the heat to penetrate the surface and eventually reach the bed bug’s hiding place
- Remove infested bedding from bed, place carefully in a plastic garbage bag, secure the top, and transport to the laundry. Select the maximum temperature setting and 15 minutes on the timer. Temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 15 minutes is required to eradicate live bed bugs, bed bug eggs, and bed bug larvae
