How Bed Bugs Get Into Your Home

Bed Bug close-up

Bed bugs re-emerged as a serious pest problem in Michigan and the rest of the US relatively recently. After they suddenly reappeared, the bloodsuckers started spreading like they were making up for lost time! Today, bed bugs are considered one of the worst pest problems facing Michigan’s cities.

One reason why bed bugs were able to spread so quickly is that people don’t understand how they spread. No matter how far they spread, however, it’s not too late for you to keep them away! That’s why we put together this video on how the annoying pests spread, and how you can stop them.

Obviously, there’s a reason why these bugs spread so successfully. They’re very good at sneaking into traveler’s bags and making themselves at home. Whether you brought them inside or a visitor did, it’s all-too-easy to end up with a bed bug infestation, despite your best efforts.

If you’re worried you have an infestation, don’t hesitate to call Griffin Pest Solutions right away. Our experts have the tools, experience, and knowhow to wipe out your pests quickly and effectively. If you’re having troubling sleeping tight, just get in touch right away. We’ll make sure the bed bugs don’t bite.

Bed Bugs in Michigan This Summer

Bed Bug close-up

This January, we updated you on the situation concerning bed bugs in Michigan. We predicted back then that the problem wouldn’t go away anytime soon, and unfortunately, we were right. In fact, it’s only become worse. This summer has been a banner season for bed bugs all over the US. We’ve answered the calls to prove it.

If you’re worried about bed bugs this summer, we can’t say we blame you. The best way to assuage those worries is to make your home bed bug-proof as best you can. The best way to do that is to understand how bed bugs work and how to counteract them. Here’s everything you need to know about this summer’s bed bug infestation, so you can do just that.

The Situation

It’s not just us–half the pest control companies in the US report that summer is their busiest bed bug season. The National Pest Management Association declared June 3rd to June 9th “National Bed Bug Awareness Week,” largely to get the word out. For our part, we’ve continued to take calls about bed bug infestations all over Michigan throughout summer. These calls from all kinds of places and people. Bed bug infestations can happen to anyone.

Why Summer?

Bed bugs often hide in luggage and other commonly-transported articlesThe big question: why are bed bugs more active in summer than other times of year, any way? There are two main reasons:

1. Heat

Bed bugs love heat. The hotter their environment, the more active they are, and the longer they remain active. That’s actually part of why bed bugs hunker down in mattress and sheets. When they move around more, they spread more. They can access more hiding places, including hiding places they might not otherwise find. The more diverse their hiding places, the greater the chance someone will accidentally transport them into a new home.

Heat also dehydrates bed bugs (just like it does to everything else). When bed bugs get thirsty, they’re more motivated to get moisture. Unfortunately, for them, moisture often means you. As if all that isn’t bad enough, heat also helps the bugs molt and grow faster. When they grow faster, they feed, reproduce, and spread faster, too. Heat weather accelerates bed bugs’ entire life cycle, which means they spread out more and infest more homes.

2. Travel

Overall, summer is easily the busiest travel time of year. Even the holiday seasons don’t come close, because they don’t last for months. You’re probably already tired of learning this, but bed bugs are consummate travelers. In fact, hitchhiking along with unsuspecting travelers is their primary means of spreading. They tag along inside your bag, luggage, sheets, or whatever else you’re transporting. Then, when you get unpacked, you’ve helped them move in without even noticing!

Unfortunately, we’re not exclusively referring to out-of-town travel, either. It doesn’t matter if your bed bugs came from a hotel 300 miles away or your neighbor’s house 5 miles away. Obviously, people move in and out of your home far more often during summer than other times of year. Often, they’re also carrying something in or out, too. Bed bugs are uncannily good at seizing on opportunities just like those to find a new place to live.

What Can You Do?

Carefully inspect your bed and the room around it for bed bugs whenever you're worried about infestationsFirst and foremost, figure out if you already have bed bugs. Strip your bed as bare as possible and check each component thoroughly. Don’t forget about the zippers, folds, and underside. Check around the bed too, in places like the headboard, frame, nightstand, and siding. If you find signs of an infestation, give us a call right away. Repeat the process with every bed in your home. Bed bugs are very small and flat, so we recommend using a flashlight to look for them.

After you’ve made sure you don’t have bed bugs, you just have to keep it that way. The best way to do that is to pay close attention to what’s coming into and out of your home. Bed bugs enter homes by hiding inside transported items. Whenever you bring in a piece of luggage from outside, inspect it thoroughly. Consider throwing anything you can into the dryer for 20 minutes after you bring it in. It sounds like a hassle, but it’s the best way to prevent bed bug infestations.

 

We expect to continue to receive all kinds of bed bug calls for the rest of summer, and beyond. Unfortunately, the upsetting insect is as tenacious as it is distressing. Bed bugs can come from just about anywhere and they can happen to just about anyone.

If you have a bed bug infestation, feel free to give Griffin a call. Like we said, we’ve fielded plenty of bed bug calls in the past. We’ve got all the tools, know-how, and experience we need to wipe yours out for good. Don’t let the bed bugs bite out of embarrassment; just give us a call and reclaim your summer!

Bed Bugs in Michigan: a Report

Michigan Bed Bug Report

Up until relatively recently, Michigan and most of the rest of the US were almost entirely bed bug-free. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case. All of a sudden, the beauty sleep-wreckers re-emerged, hardier–and hungrier!–than ever. In just a few short years, bed bugs proliferated all over the US and reclaimed their status as major pests.

Unfortunately, Michigan was not spared from the bed bug’s resurgence. In fact, we got hit worse than most of the rest of the US! If we’re going to combat the new bed bug menace infiltrating our state, we have to get organized. That’s why Griffin put together this bed bug situation report for residents of Michigan and the rest of the Midwest. This is everything you need to know about why bed bugs are back and why they’re a problem.

How Bad It Is

Michigan and the rest of the midwest have a serious bed bug problemAs of 2015, 99.6% of all pest control companies in the US reported treating bed bug infestations. 95% of the pest professionals who treated for bed bugs reported infestations in apartments and condos. According to the same report, 1 in 5 Americans have either encountered bed bugs themselves or know someone who has. In 2013, Americans spent around $446 million treating bed bug infestations.

Michigan’s bed bug problem is particularly severe. As of 2017, 605 bed bug infestations have been reported in commercial properties in Michigan on The Bedbug Registry. Detroit ranked #3 on a 2017 list of the top 50 worst cities for bed bugs in the US. In a different 2015 report, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and Detroit all ranked in the top 20. Griffin gets calls about residential and commercial bed bug infestations almost every single day.

Why They’re Back

Bed bugs have recently become a major problem againThere are a couple theories about why bed bugs are back with a vengeance after their prolonged absence. Most disturbingly, recent studies show that bed bugs have developed resistances to the pesticides commonly used to control them. Resisting these common chemicals means bed bugs survive in much greater numbers, even in controlled environments. The more bed bugs survive, the more they grow, reproduce, and spread out.

Unfortunately, this rapid expansion is facilitated by our commuter and travel-based society. Bed bugs are consummate hitchhikers. Travelers inadvertently transport them from place to place on bags, luggage, clothing, and other commonly transported items. Finally, because they hadn’t been a problem for so long, the public doesn’t quite know how to handle them. Most of the thousands of bed bed infestations that occur every year could have been prevented relatively easily. When it comes to fighting the bed bug menace, knowing is more than half the battle!

Where They Came From

Bed bugs spread by traveling with unwitting commuters and touristsAlright, we’re not going to try to pass the blame onto someone else. The fact of the matter is, bed bugs are everyone’s responsibility. Buuuut… Ok, remember how Detroit was #3 on the list of worst cities for bed bugs? Well, Ohio cities Cleveland and Cincinnati ranked at #1 and #2, respectively. As major urban centers, thousands of people travel between each of these three cities every single day. They bring all their cargo and luggage with them–and often, their bed bugs, too!

Like we said above, the number one way bed bugs spread is by hitchhiking with travelers. Bed bugs smuggle themselves from place-to-place on cargo and luggage. When they reach a new destination, they spread out in search of food and hiding places. If they find either of these in a home or business, they’ll stick around to hunt and reproduce. When the next generation is born, they’ll spread out to find new homes, and the process begins again.

Who’s At Risk

Travelers are at increased risk of bed bug infestationBed bugs spread with travelers, so anywhere that sees lots of traffic is going to see more bed bugs. That means places like hotels are more likely to contend with bed bugs. They’re not the only ones, however. Any frequent traveler should be particularly careful about bed bugs, especially if they frequent hotels or travel with bags. This counts for people expecting company, too.

Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are not a sign of a dirty home or bad hygiene. Any traveller can carry them, and they can end up anywhere. Bed bugs can hitchhike on virtually any transported item, including furniture, suitcases, bags, laundry, and (of course) bedding. The more opportunities they have to enter a structure, the more likely it is that they will. That means recent movers are at high risk of bed bug infestation.

The situation we’ve painted here looks dire, but remember: you’re not fighting this battle alone. Griffin is here to help. We’ve taught you how to identify bed bugs. We’ve helped you protect yourself when traveling or commuting. All the info on bed bugs you need, we have.

And if you ever need more than info, all you have to do is call. Our treatments will guarantee that the bed bugs don’t bite ever again.