Bed Bugs On The Ceiling, Why?

Why are bed bugs on my ceiling? You may see a bed bug on your ceiling for many reasons. Bed bugs have a knack for finding their way into places we least expect them, including our ceilings and crown moldings. But how did they get there, and what can you do about it?

Read on to learn more about why bed bugs could be on your ceiling and how to go about getting rid of them.

Why Do Bed Bugs Crawl on Walls and Ceilings? (Most Common Reasons)

We see bed bugs on ceilings during our pest inspections for many reasons. When you see a bed bug on your ceiling, trying to capture it for an ID is essential. In some cases, you may have a bat bug instead.

Bed Bugs on Ceiling After Treatment

If you recently had treatment, it may cause some bugs to move away from the bed. We have many cases where we perform a K9 inspection after heat treatment. In some cases, the resident tells us that they see bed bugs on the ceiling.

If the heat treatment is not done correctly, a few bed bugs may escape the high heat and find somewhere cool enough to survive. During these improper heat treatments, you may see bed bugs crawling in unusual places like a ceiling.

It’s important to realize that bed bugs can develop a toughened cuticle and pass that gene on to the next generations. This harder outer cuticle will make it more difficult to kill them. These are also cases where bed bugs are resistant to chemical treatments.

In these cases, you may see bed bugs on the ceiling. They are running away from the chemical treatment that is not strong enough to kill them, and they migrate to a safer non-treated place like a ceiling.

The Bed Bugs are Actually Bat Bugs

If you live in an area with bats, then you may, in fact, get some bat bugs coming into your home. You’ll often see bat bugs on ceilings, walls, and near vents. Learn more about the differences between a bat bug vs bed bug here.

You Put A Bed Bug Repellant Near the Bed – (Bed Bugs on the Ceiling)

If you use essential oils to keep bed bugs away from your bed, they may migrate to your ceiling, crown moldings, outlets, and furniture. Using repellents will only make the bed bug situation worse.

Hence, we only recommend using these products if you are a professional who understands how and when to use them strategically.

The Bed Bugs Are Migrating Through The Floor Boards Above You

Sometimes you may live below someone who has a significant bed bug infestation (see photo below). Bugs can find their way into your apartment if this is the case.

bed bugs and fecal stains on ceiling
The person who lived above this apartment kept getting bed bugs migrating in. This was a serious infestation.

Once they get in, you may see them on the ceiling before they go to your bed, couch, or chairs. Eventually, the bed bugs will cluster around areas where you spend a lot of time.

Your Neighbor is Self-Treating and Causing Some Bed Bugs to Migrate

If you live in an apartment building, an attached brownstone, or a townhouse, and a neighbor is self-treating, a bed bug may come wandering into your home. You may find it in unusual areas like the ceiling or bathroom if one comes in.

Please read our article to learn why you might find bed bugs in the bathroom.

Stragglers (Bed Bugs on the Ceiling)

Single bed bugs can enter your apartment by hitchhiking their way in on your belongings. When the bug enters your home, it will NOT march straight into a bed and begin biting you.

bed bugs on the ceiling
Stragglers can migrate in on your belongings.

The bed bug may wander around and get caught somewhere, like a closet or outlet, before reaching your sleeping area. Furthermore, this scenario is a prime reason you may see bed bugs on the ceiling.

The Bugs are Coming Through The Air Vents From A Neighboring Infestation

Air ducts can allow bed bugs to travel between apartments or townhouses. Not only that, but they are a way for the bugs to get from room to room within a single-family home.

In addition, if a neighbor has an infestation and is spraying repellants, you may see bed bugs on your ceiling.

Can Bed Bugs Drop From A Ceiling?

Bed bugs can lose their grip and drop from a ceiling. This is especially true if you have puffed dust like diatomaceous earth powder or Cimexa onto your ceiling. The dust can cause the bed bugs to lose grip and drop quickly.

Another potential reason why bed bugs can drop from a ceiling is that they are highly motivated by hunger. Keep in mind that releasing their grip to fall into the air is not natural behavior for these creatures. However, they may do it if they haven’t had a blood meal in a while.

Why is There a Cluster of Bed Bugs on a Crown Molding?

Clusters of bed bugs can hang out on the crown molding; you repel them from the bed. Additionally, they will come down to feed and then crawl on the wall to return to the harborage point.

Before we begin our inspection, we often shine a flashlight on the crown moldings of our client’s home. The reason is that we may see bed bug poop on the ceiling.

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What to Do About Bed Bugs on Your Ceiling

First, you’ll need to determine if the bed bugs on your ceiling have migrated there from your bed or if they came in from a neighboring apartment.

Tips on figuring this out:

  • – Flip your mattress, box spring, and bed frame. Use a bright flashlight (the rechargeable ones are more expensive, but you don’t have to buy batteries) and look in and on every seam, crevice, screw hole, or wood joint. Learn and study the article “where do bed bugs hide?” for pro tips on where to find these creatures.

  • – Talk to your neighbors above your apartment. Gently and kindly ask them if they have a bed bug issue. Although keep in mind that some people don’t react to bed bug bites, so they may not know they have a problem.

  • – Let your landlord or management company know that you are seeing bed bugs on the ceiling. They can hire a bed bug inspection company to search the adjacent apartments.

Final Thoughts for Bed Bugs on the Ceiling

All in all, the presence of bed bugs on your ceiling can be a difficult situation to contend with. Thankfully, there are some measures you can take to deter or eliminate them from your home and business.

In addition, if one of your neighbors has an infestation with bedbugs migrating into your home, it might help to speak with the landlord to discuss the issue. Alternatively, if you’ve recently undergone a heat treatment for bed bugs, they can end up on your ceiling. As a result, contact a pest control specialist who can assess the area further and provide management advice accordingly.

Taking proper steps towards prevention will remain essential for keeping them away from your living space!


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