Bed bugs are commonly seen in bedrooms, living rooms – and practically any other place that provides a warm hiding spot for them. But the bathroom?
You’d think that it’s impossible to find one in there, but believe it or not – bed bugs can be found in the bathroom too.
While seeing bed bugs inside the bathroom isn’t that common, it’s possible to find them in this particular part of the house.
One of the possible reasons behind this is that we may have unknowingly carried bed bugs in this specific part of the room. In short, there are already bed bugs living in our bedroom, and we’ve simply brought them in the bathroom.
Simple Facts About Bed Bugs and Why It’s Not Common to Find Them in Your Bathroom
There could be some scenarios where it’s possible to find bed bugs inside your bathroom. Here are some simple facts that can explain why:
Bed Bugs are Thigmotactic Organisms
Thigmotactic refers to the ability of an organism to find or stick to a surface with its whole body. Bed bugs, being thigmotactic creatures, tend to cling to surfaces with their entire body.
If you’ve recently returned from a trip, or if other people have been inside your bathroom, it’s possible that some bed bugs may have clung onto their skin (or clothes) and eventually ended up in this part of your home.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll find a full-on infestation inside your bathroom. As mentioned earlier, it’s rare to spot a bed bug inside the bathroom.
But if you do, it may be a single bed bug, or even just an egg – especially since this part of your home is usually not as warm and humid as compared to other areas in your bedroom.
They’ll eventually find their way out, finding a place inside your home where they can get their next blood meal.
They Don’t Need Water or Food Crumbs (Like Roaches or Other Pests Do)
What are some of the reasons why roaches and other common house pests can be found in the bathroom? It’s because they need water, and sometimes even crumbs – something that bed bugs don’t require.
A bed bug’s meal is composed of blood, and you won’t typically find them searching for food inside your bathroom.
Bed bugs survive on blood – and this is the only thing that they need to survive. This means that the water coming from your bathroom, or the small crumbs from the kitchen, won’t be able to sustain them.
Blood is what they need for survival and these pests can usually find their meal in areas where humans sleep or rest.
Bed Bugs Are Attracted to CO2
The way bed bugs track humans is through the carbon dioxide that our bodies produce. Whenever we exhale, it gives off a certain scent – one that bed bugs can easily detect.
Knowing this, they’ll try to find a spot in our room where they can quickly and easily feed on us.
The bathroom isn’t the ideal spot for them because it’s usually void of humans – unless you’re sleeping or lounging around there.
Possible Reasons Why Bed Bugs May Have Been Spotted in Your Bathroom
If you’ve recently spotted a bed bug or two inside your bathroom, there might be a few explanations, aside from them hitchhiking on somebody else’s skin. Here are some reasons why:
You Have a Laundry Basket Inside
Whenever you take out your pillowcases, bed sheets, and other clothes from your bedroom, you usually place them inside a laundry basket.
This one may be inside your bathroom – which makes it a perfect spot for transferring bed bugs in this part of the house.
Neighbors Doing Some Pest Control Treatments
Sometimes, your neighbors may be doing some pest control treatments and may have set up some bed bug bombs. It could either be a DIY bed bug bomb, or a professional pest control treatment.
In an effort to survive, bed bugs may have started to move out from the said apartment or area, and they may have ended up traveling to other areas through pipes, vents, and even radiators.
Neighbors are Experiencing an Infestation
If your neighbors are experiencing an infestation and they use some DIY bed bug bombs, the chances of them ending up inside your home are high. However, if your neighbors leave their bed bug infestation untreated, they may be spreading the pests to other parts of their homes.
As the infestation gets more severe, the bugs may even spread out to other areas in the building, including your home.
Hitchhiked from the Office
Recently, we’ve talked about how a large percentage of offices are also infested by bed bugs. If your office is currently dealing with a bed bug infestation, you may have brought it from the office, going to the laundry basket in your bathroom.
Public Transportation Vehicles
Unfortunately, bed bugs are widespread, and they don’t just stay in homes. As long as they have a source for a blood meal, they can transfer from one place to another.
And what better way to get in contact with people than in public vehicles? Subway trains, taxis, and even buses can all be filled with bed bugs.
With the possibility of travelers and passengers carrying and leaving bed bugs in public transportation, it’s possible that these bed bugs may have already infested these areas.
And with you taking public transport frequently, there’s a chance that these bed bugs may have ended up sticking to your clothes, and later on transferred to your home – including your bathroom.
Important Things You Should Do If You Find a Bed Bug in Your Bathroom
As alarming as it may sound, and before you even conclude that you have an ongoing bed bug infestation, let’s first remember that not all bed bug sightings mean infestation.
While it’s true that it’s a cause of concern, before panicking, here are a few things you should do when you see a bed bug inside the bathroom.
Take a Photo, If You Can
This might not be the first thing that comes to your mind when it comes to a bed bug infestation, but it helps if you can identify the bug found in your bathroom.
As mentioned earlier, finding one in the bathroom is incredibly rare, but it helps to know which kind of bug it is.
Have a Clear Tape Handy
What’s the tape for? Just in case a photo might not satisfy your curiosity, you can also use the tape to capture a bed bug and place it in a plastic bag. Don’t forget to label and include the date and time when it was collected.
Why does this matter? For bugs, the color and size can be clues to their species.
Check for Bed Bug Droppings or Exuviae
Another way to confirm if you have an infestation is by checking for bed bug droppings or exuviae.
Both of these are signs that indicate the presence of bed bugs, and the size, shape, and color of these droppings or exuviae can also be clues to which kind of bug it is.
Call Pest Control Professionals
It’s very important to remember that bed bugs are difficult to get rid of on one’s own. If you suspect an infestation in your bathroom or
Perform a Thorough Inspection Inside Your Bathroom – And Other Nearby Rooms Too
A single bug sighting may not be enough to declare that you have a bed bug infestation. As previously mentioned, these bugs don’t just stay in one place – and they rarely set residence in the bathroom.
It’s important to see and check if the bug you’ve seen is a lone hitchhiker, or if it came from a large group of infestations somewhere inside your house.
Call a Professional Pest Control Service
You can always refer to your photo and identify which kind of bug is found in your bathroom. However, if you wanted to be sure, you can always contact a professional pest control company, especially if you’ve found some others in other parts of your house.
Bed bugs or not, it’s best to be vigilant and understand the importance of checking, so you can prevent an infestation from happening – not just inside your bathroom, but in all parts of your home.
If it’s not a bed bug, these pest control professionals will be able to give you enough information on what kind of bug it is, and provide appropriate treatments to eradicate them.
Final Thoughts
The lack of blood meal, cracks and crevices, and other hiding spots can make bathrooms less attractive for bed bugs, making it rare to find them in such areas. However, with the high possibility of travelers and passengers carrying these pests home with them when taking public transport, there’s a chance that you might encounter one in your bathroom – or any other part of your house.
Thus, it’s important to be vigilant and recognize the signs of a possible infestation. If you see one bug, it doesn’t always mean that your house is already experiencing an infestation.
It’s best to take preventive measures and investigate further, to act quickly if there is any sign of an infestation.
Contacting a professional pest control service can help you determine if it’s bed bugs or something else, and provide appropriate treatments to eliminate the problem.
