As the holiday season approaches and families prepare to gather around the table, there’s more than just turkey and stuffing to be mindful of. While Thanksgiving is a time for warmth, togetherness, and gratitude, it’s also a time when bed bugs may find their way into your home. If you’re wondering what’s attracting bed bugs to your home this time of year, you’re not alone. We’ve covered this topic before, but with holiday travel and houseguests on the rise, now’s a great time for a refresher.
What Attracts Bed Bugs to Your Home?
Bed bugs aren’t lured in by dirty homes or food scraps. What attracts them is you, or more specifically, your body heat and the carbon dioxide you exhale while sleeping. During Thanksgiving, your home may offer everything a bed bug could want:
- More People, More Opportunity: A house full of guests means more potential hosts for bed bugs. If even one person unknowingly brings bed bugs in their luggage or clothing, an infestation can spread quickly.
- Holiday Travel: Whether you’re the one visiting family or you’re hosting out of town guests, suitcases and overnight bags are common ways bed bugs hitch a ride. Hotels, buses, and even airports can be sources of accidental exposure.
- Cozy Conditions: Bed bugs prefer warm, quiet environments. As the weather cools and families spend more time indoors, those cozy bedrooms and heated living spaces become even more inviting, for pests too.
Bed Bugs Don’t Take a Holiday
Unlike other pests that go dormant during colder months, bed bugs remain active year round. So while you may not see as many ants or mosquitoes in November, bed bugs are still just as likely to make an appearance. That’s why understanding what’s attracting bed bugs to your home this Thanksgiving is critical.
Signs You May Have Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are sneaky and small, but they do leave signs. Keep an eye out for:
- Small reddish brown spots on sheets or mattresses
- Tiny, pale yellow shed skins in mattress seams or cracks
- A sweet, musty odor in infested rooms
- Itchy bites, often in a line or cluster, usually found on arms, legs, or back
And remember, bed bugs don’t just hide in beds. They can also be found in couches, luggage, behind baseboards, in carpet edges, and even inside electrical outlets.
Reduce Your Risk This Thanksgiving
While you can’t guarantee a bed bug free holiday, you can reduce your risk:
- Ask guests to inspect luggage before arriving and store bags away from sleeping areas.
- Wash and dry all bedding on high heat after guests leave.
- Vacuum guest rooms thoroughly, especially around beds and furniture.
- If you’re traveling, inspect hotel mattresses, headboards, and luggage racks before settling in.
Keep the Holiday Cheer, Not the Bed Bugs
If you’re concerned about what’s attracting bed bugs to your home or you’ve noticed any warning signs, it’s best not to wait. Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to eliminate without professional help, and they multiply quickly.
Delving Pest Control provides discreet and effective bed bug treatments for homeowners throughout Northern Ohio and Southeast Michigan. We offer free consultations and no contract treatment plans to give you peace of mind without the pressure.
This Thanksgiving, protect your home, and your guests, from unwanted visitors. Contact Delving Pest Control today.
