Multifamily Property Management: Five Signs You Have a Bed Bug Infestation via Property Management Insider

Colder winter temperatures mean turning up the heat, and that means an open invitation for bed bugs in apartments and dormitories. Although excessive heat can be deadly to bed bugs ( See “Turning Up The Heat on Bed Bugs in Apartment Units”), they are most at home in cozy, warmer climates like heating ducts, electrical outlets, bedding and warm electronics. These are perfect places for the tiny creatures to colonize and multiply.

Because bed bugs are so small, an infestation is often difficult to see. Although they can live a year without feeding, bed bugs seek food about once per week; human and animal blood is their ideal meal. Typically, bed bugs don’t stray far from their food source, and with a five-week cycle from egg to maturity, a small dinner party can turn into a banquet if an infestation isn’t quickly identified.

Bed bugs may feed at night and thus are seldom seen, but they leave noticeable evidence. Here are five signs, based on my experience, of a bed bug infestation in an apartment unit:

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