Updated at: 03-10-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Despite your best attempts to rid your home of bedbugs, there are instances when you don’t know why these pests keep re-infesting your property. Pests returning to your house may be due to a variety of factors. Here are some of the most likely ones.

What Caused the Global Decline in Bed Bugs?

As insecticide technology improved in the latter half of the twentieth century, bed bug infections declined in wealthy countries.

The decrease in reported bed bug cases can be attributed in part to better personal hygiene.

Bedbugs were largely extinct from the mid-1950s until the late 1990s. People’s memories of them faded away since they were so uncommon.

Why bed bugs have made a horrifying comeback - Vox

Similarly, the precautionary and preventive precautions against bedbugs that individuals used to take vanished as well

In fact, bed bugs have become so scarce that it is difficult to distinguish them from other insects. Even worse, according to Roberto Pereira, a University of Florida study specialist, the new generation of pest management workers was no longer trained to combat them..

The bed bug plague was virtually eliminated like many previous diseases…

Thus, the question arises…

Exactly how did the bedbugs make their way back?

What is Causing the Current Bed Bug Epidemic

The comeback of bedbugs is largely due to two factors:

Change in Insecticide Regulation:

DDT and other organophosphate pesticides were outlawed in the mid-1970s once safer alternatives were developed. There was a significant decrease in efficacy and a lack of long-term efficacy with these new treatments.

In addition, bed bugs will hide in cracks and crevices in walls, and the new treatment methods will not be able to reach these locations.

Increased Travel:

There was no such thing as a global bed bug exodus, notwithstanding the drop in infestations in affluent countries in the mid-20th century…

Whether on a person’s clothing, personal belongings, or even on their skin, bed bugs are masters of human hitchhiking.

In the early 2000s, people carried bed bugs back to industrialized countries, reintroducing them to locations where they had previously been exterminated.

Why are Bed Bugs Returning Even After Treatment

It is possible that these pests are returning to your home despite the fact that you’ve had it treated. You see, exterminators utilize two different methods of treatment. Insecticides are the focus of one, whereas heat treatment is the focus of the other.

In most cases, exterminators use insecticides and conduct multiple inspections and treatments. A few days after the initial treatment, the exterminator will ask you to sleep in your room so that you don’t end up ingesting the spray residue. In order to determine if the therapy was successful and if additional treatments are required, patients should stay overnight in the treatment room.

As a result, the majority of cases necessitate a second treatment to eradicate any remaining pesticide-resistant younger bed bugs. Most likely, the second treatment will be effective and eradicate all of the bugs.

Often, people think this is prohibitively expensive, so they just request a few rooms to be cleaned. They believe that the insecticides used in the treatment will kill any bed bugs that may be hiding in adjacent rooms. After a treatment, these pests will continue to appear.

Learn how to choose the right exterminator here.

Heat is another common therapy used by exterminators in addition to pesticides. On the first visit, if the treatment is done correctly, it can eliminate all bed bugs. Inexperienced people may not administer the therapy appropriately and may leave some regions untreated, despite the fact that it is effective. This could lead to a re-infestation, wasting your money.

In addition, even after a heat treatment, leaving it to the professionals may still result in reinfestation, especially if constant monitoring is not performed. Preventing these pests from returning to your home requires doing everything in your power to avoid a reinfestation. The cost of this treatment is what deters individuals from seeking it out. It’s prohibitively pricey for the vast majority of individuals.

When exterminators fail to execute their work properly, pests are more likely to return and infest your house. In some cases, you may be the cause of a resurgence. If you bring them back into your house after undergoing any of the treatments listed above, you run the risk of reinfestation and the bugs finding new hiding spots in your house.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs from Returning in your Home

After receiving expert treatment, it is important to keep a check on your property to ensure that the pests don’t return. It’s time-consuming, but it’s well worth it. You can prevent a re-infestation by doing the following:

Vacuum regularly.

In the absence of any evidence of bed bugs, it’s a good idea to vacuum on a regular basis, since it can assist catch any surviving eggs or nymphs.

Stop the urge to change rooms.

Even if it’s tempting to move into an empty room, there’s a good chance your bed will still be infested. Relocating it to an unoccupied room will simply serve to further disperse the bed bugs already present in your house. Hold off on moving rooms until you’re sure there aren’t any bugs nearby.

Use mattress encasements

Protecting your bed from pests that want to hide in it or those that want to flee will be easier with mattress encasements. After the treatment, you can purchase a comprehensive bed bug prevention kit to ensure that your bed is completely protected.

Keep a watchful eye out and use bed bug traps and monitors

Make it a habit to check your home for signs of bed bugs on a regular basis. These pests can also be detected by using bed bug traps or active and passive monitors. You can also use bed bug interceptors, which are efficient at detecting and trapping remaining bugs as they crawl down or climb up your bed.

Bed bug - Wikipedia

There are a number of ways to keep bedbugs at bay, including following the advice in this article. Continue to take precautions to keep bed bugs out of your home even after you’ve hired an exterminator.

Can Bed Bugs Come Back After Treatment?

The most frequently asked question we get from people dealing with a bed bug infestation is: Can bed bugs return after treatment? Is it possible to have bedbugs in your house again after treatment? The short answer is yes. However, our Clegg’s Pest Control team’s bed bug control treatment does eliminate all of the current bed bugs in your house. There must be a way for them to return. Why do I say that?

When you use Clegg’s pest control experts for bed bug treatment, we identify and eliminate the whole infestation in your home. We have two bed bug detection dogs on staff to help our bed bug professionals discover and eliminate any and all traces of the insects in your house. The first step in figuring out why bed bugs could return after treatment is to pose the question:

Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?

There is a good chance that bed bug infestations do not begin in your house. Bed bug infestations are contagious, just like an infection or illness. Most likely, the person or animal that carried the bedbugs into your home or company did so without your knowledge. Even if your home is completely free of bedbugs, you might have a buddy around for the weekend. It’s not unusual for people to bring a suitcase that they use when they travel for work.

Your friend has bed bugs in their luggage, which they acquired while staying in a hotel for work. It’s now in your house, and you’re going to have to deal with it! The bed bugs make their way out of the suitcase and into your furniture or bed, and then it’s game over. Your house has now become a breeding ground for these parasites. Bed bugs may live for a year without eating, so it could be months before you realize that you have a problem and the “patient zero,” if you will, has already passed. This is why bedbug infestations are so prevalent. All over the place, and you might not even realize it!

Now that we know that other individuals can bring bed bugs into your home, we have the answer to the question…

How Can Bed Bugs Come Back After Treatment?

Our Clegg’s team can rid your house or office of bed bugs if the treatment is done correctly. However, it’s possible that even after we get rid of the bedbugs, they could be transferred into the house by someone else. Even when the owner thought the treatment was done wrongly, we’ve seen bed bug infestations occur *after* treatment by a neighbor or a friend of the homeowner!

As a result, it’s easy to conclude that getting rid of bed bugs is a hopeless endeavor. You are incorrect! You can contact our Clegg’s team at (888) MRCLEGG if you have or think that you have bed bugs in your house. Our bed bug extermination services can be tailored to meet your individual needs, and we will do so in a timely and efficient manner. As a company or home owner after treatment, you can take several actions to prevent bed bugs, and one of them is not to prevent anyone from accessing your home!

How To Prevent Bed Bugs

Our free bed bug guide for your house has all you need to know to keep your home free of bed bugs. Preventing bed bugs while you wait is easy with these pointers:

  1. When you return from a trip, be sure to vacuum your baggage, especially if you stayed in a hotel or inn during your travels. Prior to inviting a guest to stay at your home, ask them to inspect their luggage.
  2. Keep your suitcase in a huge plastic bag when you’re staying at a hotel
  3. Keep an eye out for signs of bedbugs in locations where your dogs sleep, as they might carry the pests into your home.
  4. Be wary of buying used furniture like beds or sofas without first having them inspected for bedbugs, especially mattresses. Consider having one of our bed bug experts analyze the furniture in question before bringing it into your home because bed bugs are difficult to spot without training.

We’re here to help if you have any more questions or concerns. Have you ever wondered how termites, or other pests, reappear after treatment? To request an inspection, please contact us at (888) MRCLEGG or submit an online form.

Can Bed Bugs Come Back After a Year?

Even after a year or more of being free of bed bugs, it is immensely frustrating when you treat your house just to have them return.

There is no doubt that bedbugs may be found in almost every environment.

It is possible for bed bugs to reappear after you think the epidemic is over.

1. The dangers of DIY treatment

You can treat an infestation yourself if you desire to do so.

The cost of expert therapy is something we all understand.)

Re-infestation is extremely likely.

If the infestation was minor or in a tight area, DIY solutions can work, but they aren’t always effective in getting rid of the pests completely.

A single female bed bug is enough to ensure that the infestation will recur.

2. Professional Treatment Done Incorrectly

Professionals make mistakes, and the infestation was not completely eliminated. In certain cases, the customer merely wants the exterminator to treat a few rooms in order to cut costs.

Because a single female bed bug can produce up to 200 eggs throughout her lifespan, an infestation can reappear in as little as a few months if one is overlooked (or years in some cases).

3. An Adjacent Apartment Wasn’t Treated

Even if you’ve done everything perfectly, an infestation can still happen.

Bed bugs have been eradicated from your home by following these instructions:

  1. Your landlord was informed of the infestation in a timely manner.
  2. Coordinated with the property manager regarding bed bug treatment issues.
  3. Prepared your home for treatment and left the premises in accordance with the instructions provided.
  4. After the procedure is complete, you can return to your apartment and begin to unwind.

In the midst of all this, why did the bedbugs return?

As a result, you may have bedbugs in your flat because your neighbors are afflicted.

Any time bed bugs leave your house, they can return.

4. The Temperature Drops

Because of their cold-blooded nature, bed bugs go into dormancy when the temperature drops.

In this stage, their metabolism is slowed, allowing them to save energy for when situations improve.

When in this state, it’s pretty similar to mammal hibernation. Without food, they can survive for up to six months.

When in this state, it’s pretty similar to mammal hibernation. Without food, they can survive for up to six months.

It’s a lot like hibernation for mammals while you’re in this state. Without food, they can survive for up to six months without a single drop of nectar.

Even if you haven’t had a single case of bedbugs in a year…

You’re not safe against a new invasion.

Bed Bugs Keep Coming Back (What do I do)?

This treatment should be evaluated and questions like these should be asked if you have already had bed bugs treated in your house by a professional.

Is the pest control service provided by a licensed professional? If so, how did they do it?

How big was your apartment when you had the therapy done? Is it all of the rooms?

Are my neighbors plagued with bedbugs if I live in a multi-unit building?

Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay for another professional to come back and do the same thing.

Consider bed insect heat therapy if you’ve previously utilized conventional or do-it-yourself treatment methods.

Why do Bed Bugs Come Back

How Successful is Heat Treatment for Bed Bugs?

Pest control businesses are increasingly using heat treatment as a method of eradicating an infestation.

Bed bugs cannot survive for more than a few hours at temperatures above 130 degrees Fahrenheit, which these services aim to achieve.

Outside the house, a power source is provided by a heat trailer, and fans are installed in each room to distribute heat uniformly.

Heat Treatment Benefits

  • Using this method of killing bedbugs is more environmentally friendly. It’s safe for you and your pets because there are no lingering chemicals or pollutants.
  • Using heat to kill bed bugs can get the job done in a matter of hours, rather than days.
  • One visit is all that is required for a heat treatment, whereas chemicals may necessitate many follow-up appointments.

Heat treatments destroy bed bugs at all phases of development (eggs, nymphs, and adults) and disinfect the entire living space.

Prevent a Future infestation

After a long and arduous battle, you will want to take the required precautions to prevent a recurrence of bedbugs.

You don’t have to be terrified and give up traveling, despite the growing evidence that travel is the primary means through which humans are exposed to bedbugs.

Instead, inspect your hotel room or Airbnb for signs of an infestation while you’re on the road.

Preparation begins even before the boxes are unwrapped.

Bedbugs are less likely to spread if your luggage is kept in the bathroom.

Check for blood or feces stains on the mattress and headboard before going to bed.

A flashlight should also be used to inspect closets and drawers before putting clothes in them, as well.

Put all of your clothes in a plastic bag and wash/dry them on high heat before you leave.

In the event that you find bedbugs in your suitcase, you should either wash the things thoroughly with boiling hot water, or throw them away totally.

Consider purchasing bed bug-proof luggage liners, laundry bags, or mattress encasements to help prevent further invasion.

How Long After Bed Bug Treatment Can I Return Home?

It’s critical that you leave your house when pest control experts begin treatment. They require a place to put up their equipment and a distraction-free environment in which they can work.

The length of time you’ll be away from your house depends on the treatment you’ll be receiving.

It’s likely that you’ll be able to go home after your heat treatment.

Insecticide treatments may necessitate a 2- to 3-day stay away from home.

Bed Bug Outbreak in 2021?

As a result of the Coronavirus epidemic, the number of bedbugs has been drastically reduced in the United States. Because fewer people are traveling and as a result, less nights are spent in hotels, motels, and other lodgings, reducing the likelihood of being bitten.

The fact that these bedbugs have been exterminated does not mean that they are extinct. Bedbugs have been around since the dinosaurs roamed the Earth, according to a recent research.

It’s mind-boggling how rapidly bed bugs have multiplied in the last two decades. It has become increasingly common for landlords, hotel managers, and property owners in the top 50 cities to be sued for the spread of bedbugs.

Annual bed bug complaints in New York City increased from 537 in 2004 to 10,985 in 2009, according to the City Council.

Some states have passed bed bug legislation, which have led to limitations on activities like dumping mattresses on the street or alley.

Another mind-blowing fact:

Professional exterminators around the world have recorded an increase of more than 4,500 percent in the number of infestations since the turn of the century.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, bedbugs may have an easier year in 2021.

These critters aren’t going anywhere any time soon, that much is evident.

Talk to a Lawyer

As a victim of bedbugs, you may be entitled to reimbursement for your expenses.

As a matter of law, property owners in several states are obligated to provide their residents with a clean and safe living environment.

monetary and non-monetary losses:

  • Injuries to the body
  • Distress and Anguish
  • Lost Income
  • Belongings that have been damaged

A competent attorney in your state will be able to help you assess if you have a legal case based on your individual scenario. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation!

Bedbugs: Symptoms, treatment, and removal

FAQs

Why are bed bugs making a comeback?

Bedbugs thrived. They’re great hitchhikers, whether it’s through clothing, possessions, or even their own bodies. In the early 2000s, people brought bed bugs back to wealthy countries, where they had previously been exterminated, because of the more hospitable climate.

How do you prevent bed bugs from returning in your home?

  1. To catch live bedbugs, vacuum the entire room, including the gaps and seams.
  2. All gaps and crevices where bed bugs lay eggs should be steamed.
  3. After treating the mattress and box spring, put on mattress coverings.

Do bed bug ever go away?

Bedbugs are also difficult to remove from a home. Their one real need, food, is still something they can live without for months, so they won’t move away on their own.

Do bed bugs come back after a year?

After a year, bedbugs can return. You tried to get rid of bedbugs by yourself. An inept and unreliable exterminator was employed to rid the property of pests. You missed the early indicators of a re-infestation of bed bugs.

What is the main cause of bed bugs?

Traveling. Most bed bug infestations occur as a result of long-distance domestic and international travel. Bedbugs thrive in places with a high turnover rate, such as hotels, motels, and Airbnbs.

What kills bed bugs instantly?

Bed bugs are instantly killed by steam at 212°F (100°C). The folds and tufting of mattresses, the seams of couches and bed frames, as well as any corners or edges where bed bugs can be hiding, should all receive moderate steam application.

Are bed bugs still a problem in 2021?

Bedbugs have not gone extinct. They just adapted and went dormant, as a result. Even though we’re still not out of the woods of COVID-19 by any means in the year 2021, improvements in science and medicine have given us enough information to allow more individuals to travel freely and return to their workplaces. Those bedbugs are ready for their alarm clocks to go off.

What smell does bed bugs not like?

This is why the odors of mint, cinnamon, basil, and citrus repel bed bugs and other insects and arachnids. Lavender essential oil or lavender aroma can be helpful, but it isn’t enough on its own to get rid of bed bugs.

Can I sleep in a bed with bed bugs?

Certainly. It’s up to the exterminator to tell you how long it will take to get rid of the bed bugs. It is generally recommended that people sleep on the bed after 4-5 hours of bed insect treatment. However, following a bed insect treatment, always sleep with a mattress cover on.

What happens if you leave bed bugs untreated?

Unchecked infestations of bed bugs will only worsen if left unattended. As many as 200 eggs can be laid by a single bed bug in its lifetime, which means that an untreated infestation can spread quickly. … It is common for bed bug bites to cause red marks that persist between one and two weeks.

Why did my bed bugs disappear?

Between the mid-1950s and the late 1990s, the bugs vanished, according to Potter…. Pereira and Potter speculate that it’s because the once-powerful insecticide has been prohibited, people are traveling more, and bugs have become immune to modern insecticides, but no one knows for sure.

Are there male and female bed bugs?

Male or Female Bed Bug? Except for the pointy end of the abdomen on a male bed bug, male and female bed bugs are essentially identical. Male and female bed bugs have varied patterns of black because the skin of a bed insect isn’t completely opaque.

Are bed bugs caused by poor hygiene?

You don’t have to be filthy or unclean to have bedbugs. Although bed bugs have not been linked to the spread of disease, their presence can still be a discomfort due to the itching and disruption of sleep they can cause. The sooner you begin treatment, the better your chances of eradicating bed bugs from your home.

Can bed bugs make u sick?

Humans are not infected by bed bugs. Allergies, blood loss, or infection are the most common underlying causes of illness in people who have been bitten by bed bugs.