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We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial board members to share some insights about common bed bug locations. We asked: Other than a bed, where do you most often find bed bugs when treating a residence? Here are some of their responses — including a few extra that didn’t make it into our May print edition.
Stuart Aust: Besides a bed, the most common areas we have found bed bugs are couches, cloth chairs, and the perimeter of wall-to-wall carpeting that has tacking holding it in place.
Paul Hardy: Bed bugs often are in the wall-to-floor junction hidden by objects including furniture, clothes and stored items. Also in closets, which typically are within 3 feet of the bed.
Ray Johnson: We find bed bugs in couches, especially cloth versions. Recently, a husband was using a very elaborately upholstered couch as a bed because his spouse was ill and sleeping in their bed. Although the bed was loaded with bed bugs, the couch probably had 300 plus, too. It was a sad situation for the couple. We recommended fumigation for complete control, as the walls in two rooms also were upholstered.
Kurt Scherzinger: When treating for bed bugs in residences, they are found a lot of time on the couch or recliner in the living room.
Pete Schopen: Leaving the bedroom entirely, we often find bed bugs hiding on the underside of a recliner or attached to the “mudflaps” or “skirt” of a couch.
Mark Sheperdigian: The obvious answer is the nearest piece of furniture to the bed. But I’d also say the couch/recliner or seat that has the best view of the TV.
Dan Baldwin: Bed bugs can be found pretty much anywhere, including nightstands, headboards, pictures, outlets, baseboards/carpet seams, closets, luggage racks, chairs and couches, light fixtures, lamps (on the base and inside), appliances and toys.
Dr. Gary Bennett: If we are counting the headboard as part of the bed, the answer will be other furniture, such as nightstands, that are in close association with the bed.
Ryan Bradbury: Bed bugs are found in closets, basements and couches.
Doug Foster: Bed bugs are often found in the recliner or whatever chair is in front of the television, especially in senior living situations.
Dr. Faith Oi: Bed bugs often are found on the couch or sofa in front of the TV.
(Editor’s note: Another spot? Bed bugs in books. A library system in Lincoln, Nebraska has an inspection process after finding bed bugs in books at branch in 2014.)
I’ve found that bedbugs love curtains and even will hang out on the ceiling. The weirdest place I’ve ever found them was in a customers shower curtain.