Can Bed Bugs Be Living In Your Car?

by | Mar 28, 2016 | Bed Bug Infestation

bed bug free car

You hear all the time about how bad bed bug infestations can get in a person’s home. Waking up with red spots on your skin is only the beginning. Soon, you find yourself fighting an enemy that is extremely hard to get rid of. Not to mention costly and time consuming.

bed bug in carpeting

That’s why protecting yourself is important. But many homeowners and apartment dwellers only think about these little parasites getting into their walls, bed, couch, etc. If this describes you, then you may be missing out on a very important location that should be periodically checked: your car.

The reality of an infestation

Many people believe that bed bug infestations are only a concern inside their homes. But the reality is that these infestations must begin somewhere, and your car (or truck) can be a great starting point. Why? Because bed bugs don’t always just stroll into your home from off the street. It’s very common for bed bugs to take refuge in someone’s bag, purse, or even on clothing that a person is wearing. Then, once inside your home, these annoying insects can crawl off and begin causing trouble.

Hiding inside your car

If you’ve ever dropped something beside the seat of your car (and who hasn’t?), then you are surely aware of how many nooks and crannies are inside your automobile. Your back seat, for example, is probably home to lost change, gum wrappers, and a whole slew of other items. These are areas where bed bugs strive. Although they do need to feed on blood in order to survive, bed bugs can live without sustenance for as long as a year — plenty of time to set up shop in a recess of your car.

Avoiding a bed bug problem – Car Bed Bug Infestation

The good news is that inspecting your car or truck for bed bugs is a much simpler task than checking your house. After all, your automobile has a much smaller area to check. Look under the front seats, inside the folds of the back seat, and the trunk, and that’s really about it. For the most part, all of this will be a visual inspection. No need for bed bug traps of any kind. The hardest part will be your backseat, where you’ll need to follow the regimen of searching inside your couch — slip on a pair of latex gloves and check for black spots that indicate feces.

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