There are 4 main areas where bed bugs harbor:

• Bedding: Sheets, pillowcases, mattress seams, headboards, bed frames, and box springs.
• Near the bed: Nightstands, dressers, rugs, and storage boxes.
• Furniture such as couches and cushions, bookshelves, tables, desks, chairs, and rugs.
• Wallings: Wallpaper, baseboards, windows, doors, curtains, posters, electrical outlets, and smoke detectors.

It is notoriously difficult to eradicate bed bugs in densely populated areas like New York City. Although bed bugs are sneaky, they can be detected early by homeowners or apartment tenants.

Yes. Dead bed bugs leave shells behind. It is likely that bed bugs are still present.

This is why you should replace your infested mattress as soon as possible with a new high-quality one (like the Saatva Classic).

When you first look at bed bug shells and casings, you may think they are live bugs, but they are not.

Adult bed bugs are usually between � in (5 mm) and 3/8 in (9 mm) long and look like wood ticks when they are full.

They are wingless, blood-sucking insects that turn red-brown when hungry, and turn purple-red when full.

Since bed bugs are an insect, they have a skeleton on the outside of their body, and like all insects, a bed bug must shed its skin to grow.

Yes. Shedding involves casings and shells.

Bed bugs shed their "skin" during the molting process since all insects (like bed bugs) have their skeleton on the outside of their bodies (exoskeleton). Each bed bug molts (sheds) 5 times before it becomes an adult.

Bed bugs no longer grow or shed their skin after adulthood. Bed bugs leave behind thousands of molted skins when they infest a large area. New infestations, like those in hotels, may be difficult to detect.

Bed bugs' molted skins are very similar to their original skins. Generally translucent, they are the same shape. The size of the molt depends on the bed bug's life stage.

Molted skins can be found almost anywhere in small infestations. A large infestation is typically found where bed bugs gather in large groups.

After WWII, the widespread distribution of DDT reduced the number of bedbugs and was no longer a problem for most homeowners.

Due to its adverse environmental effects, the EPA canceled DDT in 1972. Since then, bed bugs have been on the rise.

Both domestic and international travel has contributed significantly to the rise in bed bug populations. The hotel and lodging industries have been particularly affected by this.

Bed bugs are often transported in clothing and luggage. In many cases, they are brought directly to the rooms they would have sought on their own.

Integrated pest management (IPM) usually helps to control bed bugs in your home. It combines the least hazardous techniques for your health and the environment.

Alternatively, you can try this strategy:

1. Make sure your bedroom is clean and clutter-free.
2. Put your bed away from walls or furniture.
3. Maintain a daily cleaning schedule for molding, windows, and floors.
4. Wash and dry sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and bed skirts in a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes.
5. Seal cracks and crevices where pipes and wires enter the home.
6. Replace your mattress with a high-quality mattress with incredible airflow (like the Saatva Classic).