How common are bed bugs in NC? What to know, and how to rid them from your home
Bed bugs are a common nuisance during the summer, and data show they are especially prevalent in North Carolina.
In a 2023 ranking of the top 50 worst cities for bed bugs from Orkin, pest control company, Charlotte came in at No. 14, Raleigh ranked 20th and Greensboro slid in at No. 40. The list is based on the number of bed bug treatments Orkin performed in each metro area from Dec. 1, 2021-Nov. 30, 2022.
Though bed bugs are commonly found in single-family homes and apartments after traveling, according to the National Pest Management Association, they can travel easily and multiply rapidly.
The small, oval-shaped insects were eradicated from a Belk department store in Wilmington earlier this week, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Here’s where bed bugs could be hiding in your home, signs to look for and how to get rid of them.
Where do bed bugs hide?
Bed bugs are only about the width of a credit card, meaning they can squeeze into small hiding spots, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The insects can hide around your bed: near mattress piping, on seams and tags of your mattress and box spring, and in cracks in your bed frame and headboard, the EPA says.
According to the EPA, if a room is heavily infested with bed bugs, you may find them:
In the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains
In drawer joints
In appliances
Under loose wallpaper and wall hangings
At the junction where the wall and the ceiling meet
What are the signs of a bed bug infestation?
You may think you have bed bugs if you wake up with bites on your skin, but they are not the best indicator of an infestation, the EPA says, since bites can resemble those of other insects, such as mosquitoes or chiggers.
The EPA recommends looking for the following signs when examining your room for bed bugs:
Red stains on bed sheets or mattresses caused by bed bugs being crushed
Dark spots, which are bed bug excrement (spots may bleed on the fabric like a marker would)
Eggs and eggshells, which are tiny and pale yellow skins that bed bugs shed as they grow larger
Live bed bugs
How to get rid of bed bugs
Here are some ways you can get rid of bed bugs in your home, according to A-1 Pest Control, a company based in North Carolina:
Wash your bedding, clothes, curtains and any other fabric in hot water, preferably with temperatures above 140 degrees.
Vacuum all surfaces, including mattresses, box springs and furniture.
Use a bed bug-proof cover to trap the insects.
If none of these methods work, you should contact a licensed pest control company to control the infestation by using heat treatments and insecticides that target bed bugs.
How to prevent bed bugs
To prevent bringing bed bugs into your home after traveling, you should wash all of the clothes you bring home immediately, then dry them using the hot setting, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Using a hand steamer on your luggage can also help kill bed bugs and their eggs.
You should also avoid bringing secondhand furniture into your home, as signs of bed bugs can be hard to spot, since they can survive for up to a year without eating, the AAD says.
