Characteristics of Bed Bugs
Temperature Sensitivity: Bed bugs are temperature sensitive. Temperature has a significant impact of developmental time from egg to adult. At 86 
degrees F, development can occur in as little as 21 days and as the temperature drops development time slows. Development is also dramatically impacted by food (blood). When food is scarce, the nymphal period is greatly prolonged.
Resiliency: Bed bugs are extremely resilient creatures. They can live for more than a year without feeding. They can withstand a wide range of temperatures from nearly freezing to temperatures in the low 120 degrees F.
Land Crawlers: Since the adults have nonfunctional wing pads, they cannot jump or fly. They can only crawl, scurrying into dark, tight places to hide, moving about as fast as an ant.
Nocturnal: Like vampires, bed bugs avoid light. Since they hide during the day, they are often not discovered until their population has grown into the hundreds or even thousands.
Stealth: Bed bugs hide during the day in dark, protected spaces.
How do bed bugs get inside my home?
Bed bugs come in as stowaways in luggage, furniture, clothing, boxes and more when items are moved between dwellings. Also, bed bugs may have hitched a ride on your person as you or your belongings accidently brushed against someone or something giving the bed bug an opportunity to “jump ship.” Moving out won’t solve the problem since some of the bed bugs will likely come with you. In fact, when dealing with bed bugs, many suggest that it’s best not to sleep away from home under the notion that it is better to contain your enemy and fight them where they are. Because bed bugs can survive for months without food, moving into a 
new house or clean vacant apartment is no guarantee that the structure is bed-bug free.
In today’s world, there is rapid, constant movement of people and goods within and between countries, regions, cities, and communities. And Bed Bugs are adept at their ability to “hitchhike” on people and their personal effects.
Hotels, motels, hostels, resorts, movie theaters, sports complexes and arenas, schools, office buildings, houses of worship, health clubs, medical offices, restaurants, airports and train stations, crowded subway platforms, any mode of transportations from taxis, passenger trains, jets, subways and cruise ships, close living arrangements including apartments, university dormitories, army barracks, nursing homes, and hospitals all provide great opportunities to be exposed and transfer bed bugs.
Let us not forget places where we share clothing such as dressing rooms in department stores, laundromats, dry cleaners, and consignment shops. And what about the furniture that comes into our homes? Used furniture outlets and private sales of used furniture, moving
and delivery vans that commingle furnishings from different households or remove old furniture or mattresses present a risk of bed bug entry.
The important lesson is that there is always a risk of a possible infestation when accepting pre-owned mattresses, furniture or clothing. Such items being brought into your home must be thoroughly inspected and in the case of clothing, be immediately washed. It is best to avoid used furniture and items left for free pick-up on the curb.
You can read more about us and about our company history. See why you should choose Cowley's. We offer customers help with residential pest control, commercial pest control, residential termite management, and offer other additional services. We help customers exterminate bed bugs, termites, wood destroying insects, beetles, carpenter bees, ants, rodents, ticks, stinkbugs, and offer bird control and nuisance wildlife services.
