Human bedbugs are found around the world and can infest any structure or site
where people may rest. Bedbugs tend to be more common in apartment buildings,
other multi-family facilities (eg, homeless shelters), and hotels. Historically,
they have also been found in public transportation systems and entertainment
venues.
Bedbugs from tropical areas can be transported to non-tropical locations by
international travelers, who unknowingly carry the insects on their clothing or
luggage. If bedbugs are seen during travel, clothing and luggage should be
inspected and cleaned before re-entering one's own home. Washing clothing and
then drying it in an electric clothes dryer on the hot setting is adequate to
kill bedbugs.
Bedbugs feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, including humans; they are
attracted by warmth and carbon dioxide, and tend to bite when a person is asleep
or still for a period of time. They favor cracks and crevices in mattresses,
cushions, bed frames, in the folds of curtains, behind loose wallpaper or
baseboards, and in clothing or other items on the floor. During a heavy
infestation, bedbugs may spread to other items in the room, as well as to
adjacent rooms.
The females also lay eggs in these locations, which hatch after four to 10
days. Because bedbugs typically hide during the day, they are often not seen or
suspected until bites to the skin are observed.
