The appearance of bed bugs is not related to the cleanliness level of the housing. These insects have existed alongside warm-blooded animals for a very long time and have adapted to living near humans over time, turning into a persistent household problem.
Experts believe their historical homeland is the Middle East. The most well-known "apartment" species is Cimex lectularius. Initially, it fed on the blood of bats and other warm-blooded animals, but later switched to humans.
Bed bugs spread along with humans. With the development of trade and active travel, they moved within infested items. Today, public transport, hotels, airplanes, stores, and even movie theaters help them change their "address."
In housing, insects tend to stay close to sleeping people. The bed creates suitable conditions for them: warmth, carbon dioxide released during breathing, and easy access to skin. Adult individuals hide in the folds of the mattress, in the spring blocks, structural elements, as well as in cracks and crevices near the sleeping area.
Often, it all starts with a single insect. Common sources include used furniture and luggage brought from places where infestations already exist. In the premises, bed bugs lay eggs, shed their exoskeletons as they grow, and gradually form a whole population.
Signs of bed bug presence may include dark traces of their activity, blood stains on bed linens, shed skins, and itchy bite marks. Checking the seams of the mattress, the bed frame, and nearby crevices helps identify the problem. The sooner an infestation is detected, the easier it is to deal with it.
