Houseplants sitting on windowsills and bedside tables could be giving bed bugs a place to hide, according to a report by Polish outlet tech.wp.pl. Because the insects are most active at night, an infestation can take hold before it is noticed.
Bed bugs typically enter homes in several ways. They are often carried in on suitcases or clothing after travel, and used furniture or textiles bought secondhand also carry risk. In apartment blocks, the insects can move between neighbouring units.
Bites are one warning sign, but not the only one. Small dark marks on bedsheets, mattresses or bed frames, which are traces of the insects' excrement, can also signal an infestation. If the problem has become severe, a smell resembling rotting raspberries may be noticeable.
According to the report, bed bugs can be drawn to certain plants. Sunflowers, chamomile and dandelions create conditions that favour the insects staying and breeding, largely because of the moisture these plants hold, which makes it easier for bed bugs to find places to shelter.
Which Plants to Check in the Bedroom
Ficuses, ferns, ivy, dracaenas and orchids also deserve closer attention, the outlet reported. Their dense foliage and the humid microclimate around them can make conditions suitable for bed bugs to hide. Houseplants should be checked regularly and the area around their pots kept clean, particularly when they are positioned near a bed.
Getting rid of bed bugs requires a thorough approach. The most effective solution remains hiring a professional pest control service, combined with cleaning and washing bedding and fabrics at high temperatures.
How to Reduce the Risk of Bed Bugs Returning
After an infestation has been treated, the space near the bed, skirting boards, upholstered furniture and other hard-to-reach areas should be checked regularly. Secondhand mattresses, furniture and textiles should be inspected before being brought into the home, and ideally cleaned beforehand.
Sealing gaps, fitting mosquito screens and cutting down on clutter in the bedroom can also help, since a tidier space makes it easier to keep the areas where bed bugs might hide under control.
More on the Fight Against Bed Bugs
It has previously been reported that bed bugs have adapted to insecticides. Until recently, treating a mattress with a strong insecticide was thought to be enough to solve the problem. Yet people have continued to experience bites, skin redness and itching. Experts say bed bugs have gradually built up resistance to the chemicals, with changes accumulating across generations.
As a result, methods that do not rely on an insecticide's effectiveness against bed bugs are being used more often. One such method is heat treatment, in which a room is heated using specialist equipment to a temperature that kills both bed bugs and their eggs.
