Nationwide, the states with the highest rates of bed bug infestations are Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, California, Florida, and Texas. These rankings are heavily driven by warm, humid climates, high urban density, and major travel hubs.
In 2025, the top five bed bug states were Ohio, Texas, Florida, California, and Pennsylvania. Bed bug populations are tied to climate, housing trends, and travel hubs. The best way to avoid bringing bed bugs home while traveling is knowing how to identify signs of their presence in the areas where you rest or sleep.
Bed bugs ex- posed to 113°F will die if they receive constant exposure to that temperature for 90 minutes or more. However, they will die within 20 minutes if exposed to 118°F. Interestingly, bed bug eggs must be exposed to 118°F for 90 minutes to reach 100% mortality.
But there are a few ways to tell the difference. Pattern: Bed bug bites may appear in a linear pattern, as a series of multiple bites in a row or a zigzag. Flea bites often show up in clusters of three (sometimes also in a straight line).
Bed bugs hate strong, volatile aromas like lavender, peppermint, tea tree oil, eucalyptus, and cinnamon.
Bed bugs are primarily drawn out of hiding by carbon dioxide (CO2cap C cap O sub 2𝑪𝑶𝟐) from human breath and body heat (70−80∘F). They are nocturnal feeders attracted to the chemical signals, such as pheromones and skin odor, that sleepers emit, drawing them out to feed.
No, bed bugs cannot live in your hair on your head. They lack the specialized claws that insects like lice or ticks use to grip hair shafts. Bed bugs are also not parasitic and prefer to hide in static, dark crevices—like mattress seams and furniture.
Yes, bed bugs can absolutely live on, in, or under your pillow. Because they seek out dark crevices and places close to their human host to feed, the seams, pillowcases, and zippers of pillows are common hiding spots.
Bed bugs bite wherever skin is exposed while you sleep. The most common areas are the face, neck, hands, arms, shoulders, and legs. Because they rarely bite through fabric, covered areas are usually spared unless your pajamas are loose enough for them to crawl underneath.
No, bed bugs cannot go inside your private parts. They do not live on the human body or burrow into the skin like some other parasites. However, they can and will bite exposed skin in the groin and genital area while you are sleeping.
When dealing with a bed bug infestation on a tight budget, the most effective strategy relies on consistent, physical removal and heat treatment rather than expensive chemical sprays. The process requires immense patience and a step-by-step approach.
Exterminators use a combination of methods—such as heat treatments, professional-grade chemical insecticides, and desiccant dusts—to fully eliminate bed bugs. Rather than relying on a single product, they use a strategic approach targeting all life stages (eggs, nymphs, and adults) to bypass the bugs' natural defenses.
Bed bugs are most active at night, specifically between midnight and 5:00 a.m.. They prefer to feed when their human host is in deep sleep, as they are drawn out by the warmth of a body and the carbon dioxide exhaled while breathing.
The 10 Hotel Chains With the Worst Bed Bug Infestations
African American residents had a proportionally higher number of bed bug infestations than white residents. Women were more likely to report bed bug bite symptoms than men. Only 68% of the residents who experienced bed bug infestations reported symptoms after being bitten ( n = 475).
The chances of having only one bed bug are rare, estimated in less than 5% of sightings. While it is physically possible to bring home a single "stray" hitchhiker (e.g., from a recent hotel stay or transit), spotting one is almost always the tip of the iceberg.
If the bedbug is disturbed during feeding it will fall off your skin. Bedbugs are attracted to carbon dioxide (what we breath out) and warmth, and they tend to feed mainly at night as that is when they are less likely to be disturbed. Typical skin-exposed areas that bedbugs target include neck, arms, hands and legs.
Yes, bed bugs can live on and hide in clothes. While they don't live on your body like lice, they will tuck themselves into fabric folds, seams, and cuffs, making clothing a common way for these pests to travel into your home or spread between rooms.
Most people cannot feel bed bugs crawling on them, especially while asleep. Bed bugs are tiny (about 5mm) and move quickly and quietly. Additionally, they inject a mild anesthetic before feeding so you do not feel the bite itself.
Yes, bed bugs can technically survive a washing machine cycle. While the water submersion, agitation, and detergent will kill some bugs, the water temperature rarely stays high enough to eliminate all the adults, nymphs, and eggs. The crucial step that actually kills them is placing the items in the dryer on high heat.
Bed bugs are driven out of hiding primarily by carbon dioxide from human breath and body heat. As they detect these biological cues, they emerge from their harborages—typically cracks, crevices, and mattress seams—to seek a host and feed.
Bed bugs are surprisingly fast, capable of covering several feet in just a few minutes. This speed, combined with their ability to hitch rides on luggage, clothing, and furniture, allows them to travel significant distances, infesting new areas as they go. Even without wings, bed bugs are agile and quick to move.
Even though bed bugs don't live in hair, you can take quick steps for peace of mind: Shower and wash hair: Use regular shampoo and a thorough rinse; no special lice treatment is needed for bed bugs. Launder bedding and sleepwear: Wash hot (≥130°F) and dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
Frequent Laundering and Hot Drying.
Frequent washing or hot dyring is essential for eradicating bed bugs that are hiding in clothing, bed sheets, pillow cases, blankets, and other washable fabric materials. These items usually cannot be treated with insecticides.
No, bed bug eggs cannot live on your skin. Bed bugs and their eggs require warm, dark, and stationary environments like mattress seams, bed frames, or furniture cracks to survive. They only use your skin to feed and will retreat to their hiding spots immediately afterward.