Bed bug problems are increasing each year around Kansas City. In 2022, around 97% of pest control professionals across the U.S. reported treating homes and buildings for bed bugs. These tiny pests can quickly become a big problem, even if you do everything right. Bed bugs don’t care where they end up. They follow people and hide in items we carry, making it very easy for them to spread from place to place.
Whether it’s your home, apartment, hotel, or even a hospital or public bus, bed bugs can show up anywhere. That’s why understanding how they live and how they spread is important for keeping your home safe.
What Are Bed Bugs and How Do They Spread?
Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that live by feeding on human and animal blood. They’re flat, reddish-brown in color, and are very good at hiding in small spaces like mattress seams, couch cushions, and cracks in furniture.
You can get bed bugs in your home without doing anything wrong. One of the most common ways is through second-hand items like used couches, mattresses, or chairs. These bugs can hide deep inside furniture, and once that furniture is in your home, they start to spread.
Another common way bed bugs spread is during travel. They can easily climb into your luggage or clothes and hitch a ride back home with you. Once inside, they crawl out and begin to find new hiding spots in your home. Apartments and hotels are especially at risk because bed bugs can move between rooms and units.
Bed Bug Life Cycle: From Egg to Adult
Bed bugs go through several life stages before becoming adults. They begin as eggs—each about the size of two grains of salt. An adult female can lay between one and five eggs per day. These eggs hatch in about a week.
After hatching, the young bed bugs (called nymphs) go through five stages. Each time they grow, they shed their skin, a process called molting. Nymphs look like small versions of adult bed bugs but are lighter in color—often yellow or clear. They reach full size in about five weeks if they feed regularly.
Adult bed bugs live for about four to six months, but in the right conditions, they can survive up to a year even without food. Their flat shape helps them hide in tight spots, making them difficult to find.
Signs of Bed Bug Infestation
At the start of an infestation, bed bugs are hard to spot. Many people don’t realize they have them until the bugs have already spread. Early signs can include small, itchy bites that appear at night or in the morning. These bites usually happen because bed bugs feed at night and numb the skin so you don’t feel it happening.
As the infestation grows, more signs appear. These may include:
- Small brown or black stains on mattresses or furniture (bed bug droppings)
- Blood stains on bedsheets
- White eggs or pale yellow nymph skins (molts)
- Actual sightings of live bed bugs
You’ll usually find these signs near places where people sleep or rest—mattresses, couch seams, bed frames, and cushions. Flip over furniture, check along stitching and zippers, and inspect corners or cracks where bugs could hide.
A study from the University of Kentucky showed that 84% of pest professionals said many people don’t realize they have bed bugs at first. Most calls start with complaints about another pest entirely.
Bed bug infestations in Kansas City are becoming more common, and anyone can be affected. These pests can easily travel on second-hand furniture or your luggage and quickly spread throughout your home. Recognizing the signs early—like bite marks, stains, and skin sheds—can help you catch the problem before it gets worse.
Regularly check your home, especially after buying used items or returning from a trip. If you think you might have a bed bug issue, contact a pest control professional as soon as possible. Acting early is the best way to prevent a bigger, more costly infestation later.
