Bed bugs are tiny parasitic insects that feed on human blood but do not hide or live on your body. The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is classified as a temporary ectoparasite, meaning it visits the host only for a short feeding period to obtain a blood meal. These nocturnal pests prefer to live in harborage sites close to where a host sleeps, seeking shelter in undisturbed, dark locations rather than on the human body itself.
Bed Bug Biology: Why They Do Not Reside on Humans
Bed bugs are physically unsuited for life on a moving host, unlike true parasites such as lice, which possess specialized claws for gripping hair shafts. The adult bed bug has a relatively large, flat, oval-shaped body, typically measuring about 4 to 5 millimeters long, which makes it difficult for them to navigate through human hair. Studies have shown that even fine human body hair can deter their movement as they search for exposed skin to feed.
Their entire lifestyle revolves around a brief, intermittent feeding schedule, which is fundamentally different from permanent parasites. A bed bug will emerge from its hiding spot, feed for a short duration—usually between five and ten minutes—and then immediately retreat. They are attracted to the carbon dioxide and warmth a sleeping person emits, but once full, they follow chemical trails back to their aggregation site for digestion.
The need to digest their blood meal, which can be up to six times their body weight, necessitates a protected, stationary location. Their flat body shape allows them to hide effectively in cracks and crevices, serving as a design for concealment rather than for maneuvering through clothing or hair. Furthermore, they do not possess the ability to attach their eggs to hair or skin, unlike permanent parasites.
Where Bed Bugs Hide and How They Travel
Bed bugs spend the vast majority of their lives hidden in dark, sheltered environments within a short distance of their host. The most common harborage sites are the seams, tufts, and folds of mattresses and box springs, as well as the cracks in bed frames and headboards. They are also found in the joints of furniture, under loose wallpaper, behind picture frames, and even in electrical outlets near a bed.
While they do not live on a person, bed bugs are notorious for using human belongings as a means of passive transport, often referred to as “hitchhiking”. They move by crawling into items that are stationary for a period, such as luggage, backpacks, briefcases, or clothing that is not being worn. This is how they infest new locations, traveling from an infested environment like a hotel room or theater to a new home.
The goal of this travel is to find a new harborage site that offers a reliable blood source, not to reside on the person carrying the item. They seek shelter and proximity to a host, often remaining concealed in the seams of bags or the folds of clothing until the item is unpacked in a new area.
Immediate Steps After Potential Exposure
If you suspect exposure to bed bugs after visiting an unfamiliar location, immediate action can prevent an infestation at home. Before bringing any luggage or belongings inside, inspect them thoroughly in a well-lit area, focusing on seams, zippers, and pockets where a bed bug might hide. You should also inspect the clothes you are wearing before entering your living space. Any items that cannot be washed or dried, such as books or delicate electronics, should be isolated in sealed plastic bags.
All clothing, including the garments worn during the potential exposure, should be placed directly into a hot dryer. Heat is highly effective at killing all life stages of the bed bug, with temperatures above 122 degrees Fahrenheit proving lethal.