Highlights
Bed bugs are typically nocturnal and can hide in nearly any small space.
You can find bed bugs in your bed, but also in places like curtains and couches.
They will hide during the day, so the infestation has likely increased if you see them in the light.
They may give you the heebie-jeebies, but bed bugs are common household bugs. So, it helps to know what to do if you suspect they’ve made your home theirs. One of the biggest things people wonder about is where bed bugs hide, since the only indication they’re present may be some itchy bites. We break down some of bed bugs’ common hiding places so you can do some inspecting and alert a pro for help.
5 Places Bed Bugs Hide
Bed bugs are tricky because they have a flattened shape which provides them the ability to hide in small cracks and spaces. Here are some of their most common hiding spots.
1. Mattress and Bed
True to their name, one of the most common places for a bed bug to reside is in your mattress and box spring. (We know, we know, it’s not a lovely thought.) Your bed offers many accessible hiding places for them, including all the fabric folds under which they can hide.
The cracks within bed frames are also very appealing to bed bugs. Plus, it’s usually dark underneath, which is quite alluring to the pests. Also, you’re there, and since they’re drawn to their host, they want to be close.
2. Couches and Chair Seams
Bed bugs can move between the furniture in your home, often residing between couch pillows and within chair seams. Be sure to check these and other soft surfaces if you suspect a bed bug infestation.
3. Curtain Folds
Because they like to hang out in fabric, bed bugs can also make a home in your curtains and drapes. They can climb up the wall and find a nice cozy place in curtain folds, where you may not even see them. However, once they wind up here, you’re likely to have already seen some signs of a bed bug infestation in other places like your bed. Still, a local bed bug exterminator will check these types of surfaces for bugs.
4. Wallpaper
Bed bugs can squeeze into tiny areas, so it makes sense that they’d slip under the wallpaper. They may also find their way under wall hangings or decor, as they are drawn toward dark, warm spots.
Bed bugs also like to squeeze into the crack where the wall and ceiling meets, so this is another good spot to check.
5. Laundry
Bed bugs often hang out in mattresses and couches, but they can also live in piles of clothing and linens.
These bugs may hide in your dirty laundry since they’re attracted to the smell of humans. Bed bugs also tend to like darker fabrics since they can camouflage and thus be more protected from predators (aka, us). Keep your clothes off the floor as much as you can.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide During The Day?
Bed bugs will usually take cover during the day due to their nocturnal nature. They are also photophobic, meaning they’re afraid of the light. They won’t go far, though, as again, they like to hide near their host, which is you. They may hide in the crevices within your bed, couch, and other furniture.
However, if you do happen to come across one of these bugs in the light of day, it’s cause for concern. A good rule of thumb is that as the bed bugs in your home increase, the more they’ll be active in the daytime.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide at Night?
They don’t normally—night time for bed bugs is feeding hour. Since bed bugs are mainly nocturnal, they are most active throughout the night when they travel across carpets or within pieces of furniture. That’s why if you suspect a bed bug infestation because of bites, you probably woke up with them.
Where Can You Find Bed Bug Eggs?
Unfortunately, the bed bugs you see are probably not the only ones hiding in your home. Female bed bugs will lay and hide their eggs, which will obviously result in more pests. Usually, you can find bed bug eggs in cracks and crevices, such as mattress seams and other hard-to-reach areas.
Bed bug eggs look white and are very tiny, so it can be difficult to observe them without magnification.
How to Check For Bed Bugs
Start by checking inside your bedding. Remove all sheets, air them out, and then check on top of the mattress. Evaluate the folds within the mattress. Make sure you check underneath any dust cover in the box spring and within the bed frame itself.
After inspecting the bed, check under each piece of furniture. Make sure you specifically target the corners of any drawers. Check all corners, under and within the carpet, and near any electrical outlet.
No matter what you find, it never hurts to call in a local bed bug exterminator for a thorough inspection.
