Do bed bugs bite every night?

Bed bug bites

A bed bug can bite every night and even up to several times in one night, however, they only feed around one or two weeks. If the bed bug Infestation isn’t large, then people may not have to experience bed bug bites every night. 

A bed bug generally bites in areas that are easy for the gain access to whilst the person is asleep. Areas of the body such as the shoulders, arms and legs are the most common areas to be bitten as they are uncovered whilst sleeping. The bed bug bites are red bumps that resemble mosquito or flea bites. A common feature of bed bug bites is that they can be found in straight lines or three or four welts in a cluster. 

Bed bug feeding

Even though majority of bed bugs are nocturnal, they feed in a way that is convenient for themselves. For example, a person who works the night shift and sleeps throughout the day can still be bitten during day light hours. Bed bugs can bite up to several times in one night but only around one or two weeks and If you are not suffering with a great deal of bed bugs then you might be lucky enough to experience a lesser number of bites. 

A bed bug can locate a person through their body heat as bed bugs are drawn to heat as well as to the carbon dioxide that is present in exhaled air. Carbon dioxide is a sign of a living creature, this is because it entices parasitic insects that are looking for a feed.  

The bed bug finds a target and then places itself on the exposed skin and jabs through the skin with its beak. The bed bug will feed roughly for 3-12 minutes. If the target starts to fidget and move around then the bed bug will stop, move slightly forward, and start to feed again. This is one of the main reasons to why bed bug bits appear in a line or a cluster. 

Carbon dioxide has tempted bed bugs on many occasions and bought them into DIY tramps. The homemade traps, generally include a yeast mixture but are not strong enough to entice the bed bug because it doesn’t release more carbon dioxide than a human would. If a room is vacant, it may be enough to end a small infestation if the bed bugs do hang on to the person that is putting down and checking the traps, they will then travel with them to a more populated area in the home.

Favourable conditions for bed bugs

Bed bugs typically thrive in room temperatures, around 70-degrees Fahrenheit, however, they can survive a variety of temperature extremes. High temperatures such as 118 degrees or even higher can kill adult bed bugs and nymphs and damage the eggs too. The heat must be continuous for around 20 minutes for the adult bed bugs and around at least 90 minuets to destroy the eggs. Temperatures that are under 0 degrees Fahrenheit can also destroy bed bugs. 

Even though, bed bugs enjoy cluttered spaces as they provide many hiding spaces, the company of a bed bug is not a sign of a dirty or unkempt home. Even very clean homes can turn into hiding places for bed bugs. Getting rid of bed bugs can be difficult and techniques of removal can be unsuccessful such as buying a new mattress. Professional pest control is the only effective way to get rid of bed bugs for good as at home removals are never through and bed bugs can be missed and then multiply creating a new infestation.