When you think of insects living in your bed, the first thing that comes to mind might be bed bugs.
However, insects can make themselves home in your mattress and bedding.
In this blog post, we will examine some of the common types of insects that live in beds and how to keep them away.
1. Beetles
Beetles are a common type of insect that lives in beds. Although they aren’t typically considered dangerous, they can still be a nuisance.
The most common beetle that lives in beds is the carpet beetle, which feeds on woolen fabric, fur, feathers, and other organic materials.
Other types of beetles that may be found in beds include spiders, drugstores, and cigarette beetles.
If left unchecked, all of these beetles can damage fabrics, carpets, and other materials in the home.
To prevent an infestation, regularly vacuum and inspect your mattress, bedding, and furniture for signs of beetles.
A protective cover on your mattress is also important to help keep pests out.
2. Dust Mites
Dust mites are some of the most common insect types living in beds. They feed on dead skin cells and live in beds, furniture, carpets, and other places where humans spend time.
Despite their name, dust mites are not insects but arthropods related to spiders.
Dust mites are very small – they range in size from 0.2 to 0.3 mm, so they’re usually invisible to the naked eye.
They don’t bite people or animals, but their presence can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals.
These allergic reactions can cause sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, and other respiratory problems.
Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments and feed off the proteins in dead skin cells.
The best way to prevent dust mites from living in your home is to keep your home clean and free of debris.
Vacuuming regularly and washing bedding, curtains, and other fabrics in hot water can help reduce the population of dust mites.
It’s also important to keep humidity levels low – use a dehumidifier or air conditioner to decrease moisture levels.
Finally, you can use dust mite covers on mattresses and pillows to reduce their numbers.
3. Cockroaches
Cockroaches are one of the most common insect types living in beds. They are typically dark brown or black and can range in size from 1/4 inch to 2 inches in length.
While cockroaches prefer to live outdoors, they will often enter homes and other structures to find food and water.
If a cockroach infestation is present in your bed, you may find them during the day or at night, as they are nocturnal and active when the lights are off.
Cockroaches can also be attracted to dirty or cluttered areas, so it’s important to keep your bed area clean and free of clutter.
To prevent cockroaches from entering your bed, you should seal any cracks or crevices around your bed frame and mattress, vacuum regularly, and eliminate any sources of food or water that could attract them.
If you find cockroaches in your bed, contact a professional pest control company to assess and treat the problem.
4. Fleas
Fleas are small, dark-colored parasites that feed on the blood of humans and other animals. They are the most common insects in beds, carpets, furniture, and clothing.
Fleas lay eggs in these places and can quickly become a major problem in your home if left unchecked.
Adult fleas are typically 1/6th of an inch long and are brown or black. They have a hard outer shell and six legs.
Fleas are known to jump up to eight inches and can travel from one place to another quickly.
Flea infestations in the home can cause health problems for humans and pets alike, as the insects can spread illnesses such as tapeworms and bacterial infections.
To prevent flea infestations in your home, keep carpets and furniture vacuumed regularly and bathe your pets often.
Use pet flea treatments that contain insecticides to kill fleas quickly and efficiently. Also, limit areas where your pets sleep or play to prevent fleas from spreading around the house.
5. Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are one of the most common insect types living in beds. They can enter a home through open windows, doors, or cracks in the walls.
Once inside, they may settle in dark areas, including mattresses and bedding.
These pests feed on human and animal blood and can transmit dangerous diseases like West Nile virus, malaria, yellow fever, and Zika virus. They can also cause skin irritation and inflammation.
To get rid of these pests, seal any potential entry points, keep your home clean, and invest in bug repellent or mosquito traps.
6. Bedbugs
Bedbugs are small, oval-shaped insects that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. They are one of the most common types of insects that live in beds.
Bedbugs typically hide in cracks and crevices during the day and come out at night to feed.
They can be found in mattresses, bed frames, headboards, footboards, box springs, and other furniture around the bed.
Bedbug bites look like small red bumps or welts, and they can cause itching and swelling. They usually appear in a line or group of three.
If you think you may have bedbugs, you should inspect your bedding, mattresses, and furniture for signs.
To get rid of bedbugs, use insecticides specifically designed to target bedbugs. Vacuuming the mattress and surrounding area is also important to remove any remaining eggs or insects.
7. Cockroach Nymphs
Cockroach nymphs are one of the more commonly found types of insects that live in beds.
Although adult cockroaches prefer to live outside, cockroach nymphs are known to take refuge in the comfort and safety of a warm bed.
Since they require moisture to thrive, they are often attracted to dark, damp areas like mattresses and box springs.
Cockroach nymphs can range from 4 to 15 millimeters and may be reddish-brown or black.
They are generally characterized by long antennae, wings that are too small to fly, and six spiny legs.
Because cockroaches feed on human food, they can transmit harmful bacteria and carry diseases such as salmonella and dysentery.
It is important to keep your sleeping area free of food crumbs, moisture, and clutter to protect your mattress from cockroach nymphs.
Regularly vacuum and clean your bedding and surrounding surfaces to remove potential harborage sites for these pests.
8. Carpet Beetles
Carpet beetles are small, black-and-white insects living in beds, furniture, and carpets. They have six legs and vary in size from 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch.
Carpet beetles are attracted to the warm, dark places in your home, making your mattress a prime spot for them to live.
These pests feed on pollen, pet dander, and hair, making them especially problematic if you have pets.
Regularly vacuum and steam clean your bedding and furniture to prevent carpet beetles from infesting your bed.
Regularly inspect your mattress for signs of infestation and remove any debris or debris-filled fabrics harboring these insects.
You should also wash any clothes and fabrics that come into contact with your bedding regularly to get rid of potential pests.
9. Bat Bugs
Bat bugs, known as Cimex adjuncts, are parasites in homes worldwide. They are closely related to bedbugs but feed exclusively on the blood of bats.
Bat bugs may accidentally find their way inside homes when bats roost in an attic or wall void. Bats do not prefer to feed on humans but will if necessary.
Bat bugs are small, flat insects that live in beds. They are oval in shape and reddish-brown in color.
They have long antennae, and their bodies are covered in short hairs. Unlike bedbugs, they lack wings and have longer legs.
Unlike bedbugs, bat bugs are not known to be a problem for homeowners. They typically don’t survive long away from a bat host, so you won’t see any bat bugs unless there is a persistent infestation of bats in the home.
But if you do see them, contact a professional pest control expert for assistance.
10. Spider Beetles
Spider beetles are another one among the insects living in beds.
They can range in size from 1 to 8 millimeters and come in brown, reddish-brown, black, or mottled colors. Like other beetles, they have six legs and two antennae.
Spider beetles get their name by moving around like spiders, walking sideways or backward.
They are usually found in stored food products but can inhabit mattresses and pillows, feeding on lint and other fibers.
Signs of a spider beetle infestation include seeing the insects and finding small holes in fabric items like mattresses and pillows.
While their presence is usually more annoying than harmful, if left untreated, they can cause significant damage to fabrics and other materials.
To prevent spider beetles from occupying your bed, it’s important to keep your mattress clean and vacuum regularly.
It’s also beneficial to store any fabric items like blankets and pillows in airtight containers and regularly check for signs of an infestation.
11. Booklice
Booklice, also known as Psocids, are small, soft-bodied insects that live in beds. They feed mainly on molds and fungi but eat starch and glue from book bindings or other paper products.
They’re usually found in humid places like bathrooms or laundry rooms but can end up in your bed if they see an ample food source there.
Booklice look like tiny, pale lice, but they’re not related. They’re generally less than a millimeter long, making them difficult to spot.
However, they can congregate in large numbers and leave behind a speck of fine powdery dust that can be seen with the naked eye.
Booklice are harmless to humans and pets. They don’t bite, transmit disease, or cause any lasting damage to structures.
While they won’t harm you directly, they can still be a nuisance and should be dealt with to keep them from multiplying.
Keep humidity levels low and practice good hygiene with all paper materials to prevent booklice from entering your home.
If you have an infestation of booklice, vacuuming and using a pesticide specifically designed for controlling it can help eliminate them.
12. Ticks
Ticks are one of the most commonly found types of insects that live in beds and mattresses.
However, Ticks are usually reddish-brown, oval-shaped, and range from 1 to 10owever mm in size.
They feed on the blood of humans and animals by attaching themselves to their skin with their mouth parts and then sucking the blood out.
They often live in areas with high humidity so they may be found in bedding and mattresses.
They can cause several health risks, including Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
To reduce the risk of getting bitten by a tick, regularly inspect your mattress for any signs of ticks and vacuum frequently.
Additionally, wear insect repellent outdoors and take precautions when camping in the woods.
13. Swallow Bugs
Swallow bugs are insects that live in beds, specifically those near bird nests or roosting areas.
They belong to the family of insects known as ‘Psychodidae’ and are usually dark brown or black.
Swallow bugs are considered nuisance pests as they feed on blood from humans and other warm-blooded animals.
They can bite people and cause skin irritations, especially when living in mattresses, box springs, and bedding.
Check your bed regularly for signs of these bugs to prevent an infestation and keep bird nests away from your home.
14. Termites
Termites are small, soft-bodied, social insects that live in beds and colonies and feed on dead plant material, such as wood and paper.
While termites can often be found outdoors, they can also find their way indoors and wreak havoc on the wooden structures of your home.
Termites may be attracted to wooden furniture, mattresses, and bed frames in the bedroom. They can also infest wallpaper and other cellulose-based materials.
Signs of an infestation include seeing termites swarming near windows or doors, noticing large mounds of dirt near your home’s foundation, or finding small holes in wood that a termite’s mandibles may have made.
If you suspect you have a termite infestation, contacting a pest control professional is important.
They can determine if there is an infestation and advise you on how to get rid of the termites.
If the problem is left untreated, it can cause significant structural damage to your home.
15. Lice
Lice are parasitic insects that feed on human blood. The most common type of lice found in bed is head lice, which typically live and lay eggs in the hair on your scalp.
You can easily spot head lice through their grayish-white color and small size (about the size of a sesame seed).
It’s possible to contract head lice through physical contact with another person who is already infected.
To avoid getting head lice, it is important to practice good hygiene and share personal items such as hats, combs, and brushes with others.
You can treat head lice with over-the-counter medication or professional treatments.
If you think you might have lice, it’s important to seek treatment immediately, as they can spread quickly from one person to another.
16. Ants
Ants may not be the first type of insect that comes to mind when you think about bedbugs, but they are one of the most common types of insects that live in beds.
They are attracted to the crumbs and other food particles that can accumulate in mattresses, especially in homes with pets or small children.
They also love to burrow between the layers of material in a mattress, using it as a safe place to live and breed.
While ants are usually harmless and don’t cause any damage, they can be a nuisance if they become too numerous.
To prevent ant infestations in your mattress, vacuum it regularly and avoid leaving any food particles on the surface.
17. Silverfish
Silverfish are small, flat, and silver-colored insects that live in humid areas around the house.
They feed on proteins like flour and other carbohydrates but can survive without food for long periods.
Silverfish tend to be nocturnal and hide in dark crevices during the day. Their presence can indicate excess humidity.
These insects thrive in damp environments, such as bathrooms and laundry rooms, but they can also enter the bedroom if enough moisture is present.
Keeping your bedroom dry and free of food particles is important to prevent silverfish infestation.
Vacuum regularly, seal cracks and crevices in walls, and keep your mattress off the floor.
You can also use insecticides to eliminate any silverfish that may already be present in your bedroom.
18. Minute Brown Scavenger Beetle
The Minute Brown Scavenger Beetle is an insect that lives in beds. It is found in the crevices and cracks of your mattress, box spring, and bed frame.
This insect is approximately 1/10 inch long and has a dark brown coloration with dark lines on its body. Its scientific name is Anthrenus verbasci, and it belongs to the Dermestidae family.
The Minute Brown Scavenger Beetle typically feeds on organic debris, and the larvae feed on the hair, carpet fibers, lint, and other debris that can accumulate in mattresses. They have even been known to feed on dead insects and spiders.
These beetles may become more active during the warmer months when the temperatures rise.
To help prevent an infestation of Minute Brown Scavenger Beetles in your bedroom, regularly clean your mattress and bedding and vacuum any carpets.
If you find an infestation, contacting a pest control professional is best to help eliminate them.
