Bed Bug Behavior: What to Know About Summer Infestations in Des Moines

When the summer heat rolls into Iowa, it brings more than just backyard barbecues and trips to the lake; it also kicks bed bug activity into high gear. In Des Moines and surrounding areas, bed bugs thrive in the warmth, becoming more active and more challenging to detect.

Whether you’ve dealt with a bed bug problem before or you’re trying to avoid one altogether, understanding how these pests behave during the summer can help protect your home and your sanity.

This guide covers where summer bed bugs in Des Moines hide, how to spot the early signs, and what steps to take if you suspect an infestation.

Key Takeaways

• Summer warmth accelerates bed bug breeding and movement indoors.
  
  
• Signs of bed bugs include reddish welts, dark spots, and shed skins near beds and furniture.
  
  
• Des Moines homeowners should inspect mattress seams, box springs, and upholstered furniture on a regular basis.
  
  
• Heat treatment from a professional pest control company is one of the most effective methods for killing bed bugs.
  
  

Why Bed Bugs Get Worse in the Summer

Bed bugs don’t hibernate, but they do become more active when temperatures rise. Summer creates the perfect storm, warmth speeds up their reproduction cycle, and travel increases the chance of them hitching rides into your home.

These pests are excellent hitchhikers. They can cling to suitcases, used furniture, or even clothing and quietly spread into homes across the Des Moines area. Once inside, they head straight for spots near their preferred food source: you.

Common Bed Bug Hiding Spots

Bed bugs are flat, oval-shaped, and reddish-brown, which helps them hide in the tiniest crevices. They don’t just stick to beds either. In the summer, you’ll often find them in:

• Mattress seams and box springs
  
  
• Inside your headboard or bed frame
  
  
• Along baseboards, under carpet edges, or behind loose wallpaper
  
  
• Within upholstered furniture like couches
  
  
• Around electrical outlets or inside nightstands
  
  

They prefer dark, undisturbed areas near where people sleep or sit for extended periods.

Signs You Have a Bed Bug Infestation

Most people in Des Moines notice bed bugs only after waking up with itchy welts or seeing dark spots on sheets. These spots are often excrement or blood left behind from a recent blood meal.

Other signs of bed bugs include:

• Rust-colored droppings or stains on bedding
  
  
• Shed skins from nymphs as they grow
  
  
• Musty odors from large infestations
  
  
• Bed bugs themselves, mainly adult bed bugs, are found near sleeping areas
  
  

You might also notice rashes from repeated bites. These usually appear in clusters on exposed areas of the skin.

Why DIY Bed Bug Treatment Doesn’t Work

Some homeowners try to handle a bed bug problem themselves with over-the-counter products or DIY methods. Unfortunately, bed bugs are incredibly resilient and often hide in places those treatments don’t reach.

To truly get rid of bed bugs, you need:

• A detailed inspection of all potential hiding places
  
  
• Proper identification of infested zones (including used furniture and crevices)
  
  
• A targeted bed bug treatment plan, often involving high heat
  
  

High heat kills all life stages of bed bugs, including nymphs and eggs, in one go. It’s one of the reasons our team at Miller Pest & Termite recommends professional bed bug extermination over DIY methods.

How to Prevent Summer Bed Bugs in Des Moines

Here’s how you can reduce your risk during the high-travel summer months:

• Avoid picking up used furniture unless it’s been inspected and cleaned
  
  
• Use encasements on mattresses and box springs
  
  
• Inspect your hotel room when traveling, check the headboard, mattress seams, and furniture
  
  
• After trips, wash and dry clothing on high heat, and vacuum out your luggage
  
  

It’s also smart to schedule regular inspections with a pest control company, especially if you live in multi-unit housing where bed bugs spread more easily.

What to Expect From a Bed Bug Control Service

If you suspect a bed bug infestation, contact professionals familiar with pest control services in Iowa. At Miller Pest & Termite, our Des Moines team conducts thorough inspections and recommends heat-based bed bug control solutions specifically tailored to your home.

Just give us a call, and we’ll walk you through the process step-by-step, helping you prepare your home to make the treatment as effective as possible.

FAQs

Are bed bugs only active at night?

Yes, they’re nocturnal and prefer to feed while you’re asleep. But during infestations, they can adapt their behavior.

Do bed bugs live only in beds?

No. They can also hide in couches, behind baseboards, or inside wall crevices.

How long does bed bug treatment take?

Heat treatment typically takes one day. Other methods may require multiple visits.

Are bed bug bites dangerous?

They aren’t known to transmit diseases, but they can cause rashes, welts, and allergic reactions in some people.