Did you know that the average home in America has over 100 different species of bugs? That might sound gross, but the good news (or not) is that the majority of them are so small, you can’t see them with the naked eye. Or they’re so small, you don’t even notice them.
But maybe you’re feeling a little uneasy now. What’s lurking right around the corner? Or worse yet, what’s snuggling in with you at night when you turn off the lights and go to sleep?
To put your mind at ease, here are 5 types of bugs in beds that might be in your bedroom right now.
1. Bed Bugs
One of the most commonly known types of bugs that can be in your bed is the bed bug. It’s a bug that grows to about 1/4th of an inch and as their name suggests, they love to make a home in your mattress.
Most people think bed bugs are only active at night because they get bitten when they sleep, but the truth is, bed bugs can attack any time you’re in your bed. It only seems like they’re active at night because you spend about 8 hours in bed at that time!
In addition to bites (and resulting red bumps), you’ll know you have bed bugs if you take a look at your mattress. They often leave rusty red or black dots all over your mattress; this is their waste product.
If you’re wondering about how to get rid of bed bugs, the best solution is prevention. Always check hotel mattresses when you travel to avoid bringing unwanted pests back home.
If you already have bed bugs, you’ll need to contact a professional pest control company. They’re extremely tough to get rid of, so you want to make sure they’re properly eliminated the first time around. DIY solutions definitely won’t work effectively.
2. Fleas
If you have pets in the house, then there’s a very likely chance that you’ll have fleas at some point in your house. These little bugs love feasting on the blood of your animals, such as cats, dogs, and even rabbits.
In most cases, your pets will pick fleas up if they’ve been spending time outside. Or they might catch fleas from coming into contact with someone else’s infested pet.
Either way, it’s important that you have a rigorous flea prevention plan in place, such as flea treatments and collars. That way, you can avoid an infestation in your house and potential vet bills.
The good news is, fleas can’t survive on humans. However, they can live in the carpet or your bed.
And fleas will bite people. While it barely even registers for some people, others are so allergic to flea bites that they become unbearably itchy and scratchy. This can lead to open wounds and sores.
3. Dust Mites
No matter which house you look at, it’s almost guaranteed that dust mites hang around. These are small, microscopic bugs that feast on dust. And if you’re a living, breathing person, you’ll always produce dust, as you’re always shedding skin cells.
Dust mites can cause several annoying problems. For one, they don’t bite, but when you come into contact with them, it’s very common to get skin rashes.
Also, more annoyingly, dust mites are one of the biggest triggers for both allergies and asthma. They are one of the most common types of bugs found in beds. So if your nose is extremely runny and you’re always sneezing in bed, dust mites are probably the culprit.
To fight against dust mites, get rid of their food source as best as you can. Vacuum your home (and especially the bedroom) often and switch to anti-dust mite covers if possible. Wash your sheets on a regular basis to keep the dust to a minimum too.
4. Skin Mites
This is another type of mites that love to feast on our dead skin cells. We technically carry them around with us, as they live on human bodies. As soon as we shed our skin cells, they eat them up.
You could say that you find skin mites in the bed since we bring them there with us when we sleep.
Skin mites aren’t as big a deal as the other bugs on this list. This is because in most cases, you won’t even notice them being there.
However, for some people, skin mites can cause rashes and dermatitis. If you get unbearable symptoms, see a doctor. They’ll be able to diagnose you and prescribe medicated ointments.
5. Ticks
Like fleas, ticks may appear in your home if you and/or your pets have been spending time outdoors. When you accidentally come across them outside, ticks will burrow into your skin and latch on. However, there are cases of them dropping onto your bed if you or a pet lies down on it.
If a tick’s been dropped on a bed, they’ll then wait there until they can find another host, usually you or a partner that sleeps in that bed.
Make sure you don’t pick up any hitchhikers by carefully inspecting your body and/or your pet’s when you get home from hiking or camping. Get someone to help you so you can do a thorough inspection of your hair, behind your ears, waist, and ankles.
Know the Types of Bugs in Beds Lurking About
Now you know all about the types of bugs in beds that can be lurking about in your home. While you’ll most likely have to live with most bugs that don’t pay rent, they’re harmless for the most part. But for those who actually are harmful to your health or property, make sure you contact a reputable pest control company so you can be as pest-free as possible!
Did you find this article on the different types of bugs found in beds informative? Then get more interesting reads by browsing our blog section now!
