Can Bed Bugs Fly Or Jump?​

Bed bugs are a pesky tiny insect that can bring an entire household crashing to its knees.

If you’re wondering how to get rid of bed bugs, then it’s important to understand the basics. Knowing just a few details about these stubborn critters can help you to proactively keep them at bay.

Here we’ll be discussing the essentials to clue you in on what you’re up against:

• Whether bed bugs fly or jump
• How they move
• How and why they commute from one room to another
• Ways to prevent your household being infested

And perhaps most importantly……… 

*cue ghostbusters theme*

• When to hire the EXTERMINATORS

If you suspect that your home has an infestation, it’s time to put your serious face on as these stubborn pests are difficult to get rid of. So, without further ado, let’s jump (or fly) straight into it!

Do Bed Bugs Fly?

Fortunately for the human race, they can’t fly. (you can breathe a sigh of relief now…)

If you do witness an insect resembling a bed bug gleefully flying across the room, we recommend not to panic as chances are it’s just a stink bug. As the name suggests, stink bugs release an unpleasant odor when disturbed or threatened (but thankfully don’t bite!).

Bed bugs are wingless insects that have flat oval-shaped bodies, while displaying a reddish-brown color. They have six legs, with their front two being used for gripping surfaces.

While these little critters don’t fly, they will bite you throughout the night to suck your blood for sustenance. 

Yes, you read that right – they drink blood.

However, despite their vampire-like feeding habits, bed bugs will only feast approximately once every one or two weeks. 

Do Bed Bugs Jump?

Bed Bugs don’t fly like a comic book superhero or jump across long distances. But what about jumping short distances? 

They most certainly can.

However, unlike their more fortunate flea counterparts, bedbugs do not have powerful hind legs that provide them the strength to jump long distances. 

It’s true that bed bugs will always be notorious parasites, but they don’t have any impressive abilities. 

How Do Bed Bugs Move?

Now that we’ve established Bed Bugs aren’t going to fly, let’s understand how they travel around.

Bed bugs move by crawling.

And while they’re not going to be breaking any 100-meter dash records, quick movement just isn’t required since we’re cozily asleep during their feeding time. 

These sneaky creatures like to hide in dark corners and wait to feast. The CO2 you breathe out is like a dinner bell for them, so they will start making their way towards the source after detection. 

What’s worse? They’ll also travel through furniture or cracks in walls if need be.

Can Bed Bugs Climb Walls?

Bed bugs can’t fly or jump far to get to places.

But they can and will climb your walls to get to you.

This spiderman-esque ability enables them to effortlessly pass by any bed bug traps you may have enclosed around your bed.  

However, unlike your favourite neighborhood spiderman, they’re not so good at sticking on people. Bed bugs don’t tolerate heat well and will not stick on you (like ticks and fleas), instead preferring to grip on household surfaces.

There are several ways bed bugs go to your bed, but most commonly they will climb along your bed frame, walls, or furniture. Contrary to popular belief, these pests do not live exclusively in beds. Instead, they prefer dark spaces where it’s difficult to see them, such as rugs or cracks between floorboards. 

How Do Bed Bugs Get From Room To Room?

Bed Bugs thrive off of human blood, so if they find a food source (i.e, you), that’s where they will most likely have their nest and begin infestation.  

To prevent bed bugs from settling in your mattress, we strongly recommend purchasing a mattress protector. However, although bed bugs can’t happily reside in your bed, they will most likely hide in small crevices nearby, i.e. bed frame or wall cracks. 

Other ways bed bugs can move around is to latch onto your belongings, such as luggage, clothes, and backpacks. 

Simply put – Where you go, they go.

How To Stop Bed Bugs From Moving Around?

One mistake people generally make when experiencing their first few bed bug bites is to switch rooms they sleep in.

If you’re in the process of relocating, STOP IMMEDIATELY!

By remaining in one sleeping area, you’re preventing bed bugs from spreading throughout and infesting other rooms. 

And sure, we totally get it that nobody wants to act as bug bait.. 

But it’s an essential step to take before calling an exterminator. 

In the event you do need to transfer items like your child’s favorite teddy bear to another room, put it in a dryer at 120 degrees beforehand. 

The Do’s & Don’ts

If you see a bed bug, your first instinct may be to panic and frantically throw the furniture around. 

While getting the creepy crawly feeling of having bed bugs can be overwhelming, it’s essential to stay calm and understand there are ways to handle them before becoming a bigger problem. 

We recommend following these Do’s and Don’ts: 

Do’s

• Be on the lookout for small, itchy bumps that may not be noticeable to you or others. If these occur during sleep, check your mattress, pillows, and chairs.
• Clean up areas where bed bugs reside. This includes soaking bedding, clothing and curtains in hot water and regular vacuuming.
• Use a glue and water solution to repair the cracks in plaster to prevent bugs from laying eggs. Apply adhesive or wallpaper paste for peeling wallpaper that may be hiding bed bugs underneath.

Don’ts

• Ignore the issue and pray they will amicably decide to go away on their own. Bedbugs are resilient creatures, and can lay dormant for months without feeding.
• Use pesticides or insecticides if you don’t have any experience using them, as these may cause health risks when improperly used.

When to Contact an Exterminator

To a certain degree, homeowners can limit the number of bed bugs by frequently washing and heat-drying bed sheets, bedspreads, and blankets.

Removing them for good? Well, that’s a whole new ball game..

To get rid of bed bugs, you’re going to need the services of an exterminator.

But when do you call them?

If bed bugs keep returning, don’t wait until your infestation is out of control before seeking help – this will only cost you more money down the road!

Exterminators use chemical treatments, heat treatments, spot treatments in cracks and crevices, or a combination of all to get rid of bedbugs for good. An exterminator can also provide recommendations on how to prevent a future infestation.

A Quick Summary

Just in case you prefer cliff notes:

• Bed bugs jump but do not fly
• Bed bugs crawl and feed on us while we sleep
• They can climb on walls, avoiding every bedside trap you set for them. 
• To pursue a new food source, bed bugs will happily move from room to room
• Control infestation through frequent cleaning and sealing off cracks
• Don’t wait to contact an experienced pest control company for bed bug extermination