Bed bugs can come in from the outside if there is an infested piece of furniture near your home. Otherwise, bed bugs are indoor pests that live close to humans.
So if someone tosses out an infested couch without wrapping it, the bed bugs can crawl away and find their way into your home. Bed bugs are attracted to humans, so they may be more likely to wander in if your house or building is close to the infested object.
Additionally, bed bugs can come in through windows (extremely rare) along pipes, vents, and other openings that are large enough for them to squeeze through. Bed bugs are very tiny and can fit through small cracks in walls or baseboards, so even if you don’t see any gaps, they may still find a way to get inside.
Real-Life Story of Bed Bugs Coming in Through A Window
Have you ever wondered how bed bugs could enter your home through a window? One of our clients had this happen. Their window was right on the ground floor, and another resident in their building placed some infested mattresses and furniture up against their windows.
Check out: “how do bed bugs start?” for a list of potential ideas.
Then, about a week later, they saw 2-bed bugs crawling on their wall near the window where the infested furniture was placed. The day they saw a bed bug outside their window was when they felt it was time to move.
For this client, they did wind up moving because every time someone in their building threw out furniture, they set it near our clients’ windows. It turns out that the building has a major bed bug issue.
Every few months, they would find a bed bug on the wall. Until one eventually made its way to their bed. That’s when they decided to break their lease and move.
Can You Get Bed Bugs From Outside?
You can get bed bugs from outside if you walk by an infested mattress and a nymph hitches a ride on your shoe. However, bed bugs do not usually live outside. Let’s discuss “can bed bugs live in freezing temperatures?” If your climate has freezing temperatures, you might be safe from these pests. Bed bugs cannot survive extreme cold because they can’t regulate their body temperature and will freeze.
However, bed bugs can still enter your home if brought in by visiting family members or friends who have been to an infested area. Bed bugs can enter your home from the outside if one hitches a ride in or there are infested items outside your home.
Top 5 Reasons How Bed Bugs Can Travel in From the Outside
- Your neighbor throws out an untreated, infested mattress next to your building. The bed bugs will begin crawling around, looking for a blood source.
- If you walk by an unwrapped infested bed and there are bed bug nymphs on the sidewalk, they can crawl onto your clothing and hitch a ride back home.
- Perhaps you sit on a park bench with bed bugs on it; well, more than likely, one will crawl onto you and make its way back to your home.
- If your neighbor does a heat treatment and some bugs escape, they may find their way into your home.
- Lastly, if you live in an apartment building and one of your neighbors shakes their bug-infested sheets out the window. One may land on the structure and find its way through your window. One of my clients did this in front of me, despite my strong advice not to do so.
Can Bed Bugs Survive Outside?
Bed bugs can survive outside because plenty of blood sources are available, like rats, mice, possums, and squirrels. Although bed bugs do not prefer to crawl through fur or hair to bite, so without human skin, the bed bug will have a more challenging time feeding.
Plus, if you live in an area with extreme temperatures, they’ll die faster outside.
Furthermore, if you were hoping they would get eaten by predators, well, there aren’t many natural predators of bed bugs outside. Some spiders eat bed bugs, plus Pharoah ants and roaches, but they aren’t guaranteed to get rid of them.
Can Bed Bugs Survive Outside in the Rain?
Yes, if a bed bug gets caught outside in the rain, it will probably crawl into a crack or crevice. The rain will not bother the bed bugs since they are so small and can easily hide just about anywhere.
How Long Can Bed Bugs Live Outside?
On average, bed bugs can live outside for 4-6 months. However, most will die sooner due to environmental conditions. If they feed regularly, they can live up to a year. How long bed bugs live without food depends on environmental factors like temperature, predators, and how far they need to travel.
How Far Can Bed Bugs Travel Outside?
Since bed bugs have legs and can walk and crawl, they can travel far. Bed bugs will not travel for miles because they won’t need to. As soon as a bed bug gets hungry, it searches for a blood meal. Therefore as long as there are humans close by, a bed bug will travel until they reach a human to feed on.
Can Bed Bugs Travel Across the Yard?
Yes, a bed bug can travel across a yard to find a human to feed on. Although if the yard has tall grass, they won’t be as likely to succeed on the journey. Bed bugs prefer to crawl on smooth surfaces with textures like wood, metal, and fabric.
So if your yard has these types of surfaces, they may be more likely to travel across it. The more bed bugs have to crawl and move, the more energy they expend, ultimately weakening them. They will be more likely to survive if they stay close to a blood source.
In conclusion, bed bugs can come in from the outside, so it is essential to remain vigilant and watch for any signs of an infestation. Pay attention to what is happening around your home; stay away from discarded furniture or mattresses. More importantly, heat treat your clothing when you come back from outside.
If you notice any bed bug activity, immediately contact a professional pest control company for help. A professional can identify the issue and provide an effective treatment plan to eliminate bed bugs. Taking these steps can help reduce the chance of having a severe infestation.
Can Bed Bugs Go From House to House on their Own?
Bed bugs are not likely to travel independently from one house to another. Once they have a blood source, they usually stay close to it. However, there are a few scenarios that might make it possible.
- If your neighbor’s house has such a significant infestation, it may cause some bed bugs to go off wandering. If you live close by, they can travel between the two houses. But it is not likely for them to move in between detached dwellings. This is why sharing your concerns with your neighbors if you suspect a bed bug infestation in their homes is essential.
- One study in 2015 captured and marked bed bugs and released them back into the apartment building (Mark-Release-Recapture Reveals Extensive Movement of Bed Bugs). The study showed bed bugs turning up in other apartments. The study tells us that bed bugs can move away from their primary feeding source but usually stay nearby. It explains why neighboring flats are more likely to become infested than those further away.
In summary, bed bugs can travel from one house to another, but it only happens sometimes. Bed bugs will typically stay close to their primary food source and only move when they want to look for a new mate, or females may leave to get away from males wanting to mate. Learn the answer to “how do bed bugs reproduce?” and “are bed bugs asexual?”.
Do Bed Bugs Live in the Woods?
No bed bugs do not typically live in the woods. Unless someone threw some infested furniture into the woods, it is improbable to find bed bugs in this environment. Bed bugs are not adapted to live outdoors; they prefer dark and quiet places such as bedrooms or living rooms for easy access to feeding.
If you see signs of bed bug activity in the woods, someone may have brought them there from somewhere else. Or the bugs you see could be bat bugs. Bat bugs live amongst bats, and if bats are living in the woods, then more than likely, these are the bugs you are seeing. Learn more about the differences between bat bugs vs bed bugs in our guide.
Final Thoughts for Can Bed Bugs Come in From Outside?
Yes, bedbugs can come in from outside. They hitchhike on clothing, luggage, used furniture, and other objects brought into your home. Bed bugs don’t care if your home is dirty or clean—they need a meal of blood to survive.
While you should be vigilant about keeping these pests out of your house, don’t panic if you find yourself with an infestation. There are many effective treatments available to get rid of bedbugs for good. If you have bed bugs, call a pest control professional to get started on getting rid of them before they take over your home!