Bed Bugs | Can Bed Bugs Live in An Air Mattress
Whether you rent or own your home, having a bed bug infestation is many people’s worst nightmare. Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that belong to the family Cimicidae. The most common species of bed bug that infests human dwellings is known as Cimex lectularius. These insects have been a nuisance to humans for thousands of years and are found worldwide. In fact the only continent on earth without these nuisances is Antarctica, which coincidentally also has no people living there.
A common misconception is that bed bugs only exist in filthy conditions. It leads to embarrassment – people don’t want to admit that their place is dirty enough to attract bed bugs. However, everyone should be comforted by the facts: bed bugs are not attracted to a dirty living space. They are just as likely to infiltrate a clean house as much as a dirty one. The only thing bed bugs need to live anywhere is proximity to their primary food source – human blood.
Where Do Bed Bugs Live?
An understanding of where bed bugs live and how they feed is necessary to understand if bed bugs can live in an air mattress. Bed bugs get their common name from the fact that they are often found on a bed, but that’s not actually where they live. They crawl up onto beds in order to bite people while they sleep in order to feed. People will likely find evidence of their feeding: rust colored dots on the bedding – remnants of their blood meal.
People who wake up at night, may see live bugs crawling on their bed, but not because they are living on the bed. After they feed, the bed bugs will go to where they can hide to digest their meal. Other than the occasional live bed bug, people may find what appears to be dead bugs, but are most likely the molted exoskeletons of the bed bugs. As the bugs grow, they will shed their exterior, and people will likely find these exoskeletons not just on their bed, but around baseboards, in corners of rooms to name a few.
Bed Bugs | Bed Bugs Can Be Found On Air Mattresses
Since the bed bugs may be on the bed while they molt, and the exoskeletons can get stuck in the cracks and crevices of the bedding and mattress, including an air mattress. As well, bed bugs typically will lay their eggs around their feeding area. This will help their young find food easily after they hatch. People can find bed bug eggs – small, white ovals – in the mattress cracks, whether it’s a traditional mattress or an air mattress.
Air mattresses are similar enough to regular mattresses, and they have hiding places for bed bugs. The seams and folds in an air mattress provide hiding spots for the bugs. In a regular mattress, bed bugs will hide in the seams and folds, in addition to bedding and nearby furniture.
Steps To Protect Against Bed Bugs
If you suspect a bed bug infestation, and you are using an air mattress, act quickly to address the problem. Start by inspecting the mattress thoroughly, vacuuming it or wiping it down with a soapy cloth, getting into all the crevices. Wash all your bedding on the hottest water setting, and dry it on the hottest heat setting. Next, contact the experts at a professional pest control company.
An effective way to minimize the number of bugs that can reach you, is to first encase your mattress in a special cover to ensure any bugs or eggs that are on the mattress can’t escape. The next step is to lift your air mattress off the ground. If you can get a bed frame that holds an air mattress, and then move it six inches away from walls or other furniture. This will help prevent bugs from climbing up to you.
Contact Professional Pest Control Companies for Help
Lastly, if you suspect a bed bug infestation, don’t delay in contacting the experts, like Major Pest Control. They have entomologists on staff, who know exactly how to eliminate bed bugs, without spreading the infestation around. They have expert knowledge, professional tools as well as various to eliminate bed bugs – guaranteed. Don’t live one more day with bugs – call today!