Can Bed Bugs Spread To Neighbouring Properties?

Bed bugs have pestered humans for over a thousand years. One of the reasons for this is because these bugs are extremely good at surviving. Another reason is because bed bugs spread extremely easily. For example, we all know that these bugs are mostly spread through places like hotel rooms.

Along with that, bed bugs spread through public places, transportation, and even through second-hand furniture. In fact, you can even get bed bugs from being out in the wild. But did you know that these pests can also spread from one home to neighbouring properties?

How bed bugs spread from one home to another

Bed bugs spread in properties that share adjacent walls. This includes semi-detached homes, flats, apartments and bed-sits. This usually happens because bed bugs are exploring. They detect the presence of humans and move off in that direction.

This may also happen if the home next to yours is doing something about their bugs. They may have hired pest control, or simply washed their bedding and vacuumed. Either way, the bed bugs are disturbed, and they move off in search of greener pastures.

These bed bugs spread and end up in your side of the building. This is also why, if one person in the building has bed bugs, the entire place could end up infested. But what can you do about this and be around others safely? The answer is very little. You cannot control whether other people in your building bring in bugs. What you can do though, is implement pest proofing.

Steps to reduce the possibility of bed bugs from neighbours

Search your walls for cracks and holes. If you see any, seal them up. It’s also important to keep your flat or home clean and uncluttered. Doing these things doesn’t prevent the bugs (bed bugs aren’t attracted by squalour) but it means they have fewer places to hide.

Also, cleaning and vacuuming will help you pick up these bugs before they reach your bedroom. What you should also do is keep an eye out for the signs of these pests because they hide out of sight. You might want to change your bedding as often as possible – at least once a week.

When doing this, look for dried red spots. These spots are caused by blood droplets which fall when the bugs feed. When doing this, also look for brown spots. These are caused by the bugs faeces. Something else to look for is shed skin.

These pests moult every few weeks. Look for a dried husk, about the size of an apple seed. This should be easily identifiable. If you do see any of these signs (and especially if you’re being bitten), then take immediate action. Start by contacting your landlord if you have one and in some cases, they are obliged to do something about this problem. Otherwise, it’s best to contact a pest control company and request heat treatments.