This article was written by Kevin Carrillo and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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No one likes to see bed bugs around the house, especially in a property that you own. But if there’s no one living there or if you can stay somewhere else for a while, can the bed bugs live without you? The answer is yes, and we’re here to tell you just how long bed bugs can live without a human host. We’ll also let you in on some of their favorite hiding places, as well as some expert-backed strategies to get rid of them. To take care of your bed bug problem once and for all, read on.
This article is based on an interview with our MMPC-certified pest control specialist, Kevin Carrillo. Check out the full interview here.
Things You Should Know
- Bed bugs can live for 3 to 5 months without feeding, especially in moderate temperatures and high humidity levels.
- If there are no human hosts around, bed bugs will resort to feeding on pests and other animals.
- Look for bed bugs hiding inside or around furniture. If there’s no furniture in the home, check any cracks in the walls, behind electrical outlets, or underneath floorboards.
- Get rid of bed bugs by vacuuming daily and washing soft items on high heat. Call an exterminator to inspect your property and get rid of the bugs for good.
Steps
References
- ↑ https://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/347BBMyths.pdf
- ↑ https://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/347BBMyths.pdf
- ↑ https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/47/6/987/992893?login=false
- ↑ https://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/347BBMyths.pdf
- ↑ https://www.co.marathon.wi.us/Portals/0/Departments/HLD/Documents/bed-bug-fact-sheet.pdf
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/do-it-yourself-bed-bug-control
- ↑ https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/pests/bedbugs.htm
- ↑ https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/pests/bedbugs.htm