Bed bugs most often spread in the following ways:

• Infested college students returning home
• Traveling with an infested suitcase or staying in an infested hotel
• Bringing infested furniture into the home

Can Bed Bugs Fly or Jump?

Bed bugs do not have developed wings, and thus do not fly. They also are not capable of jumping long distances unlike some bugs their size (such as fleas). So how do bed bugs get around? They crawl! Bed bugs actually are relatively slow crawlers. Because they tend to hide near where they feed, there’s no need for them to crawl quickly. After feeding, they’ll crawl back to their hiding spot until they emerge again. In rare cases, the bugs can be seen crawling on walls.

Do Bed Bugs Spread Quickly in Georgia?

As mentioned before, bed bugs thankfully do not fly or jump long distances. So how do they spread from room to room? Bed bugs most commonly latch onto purses, suitcases, backpacks, or luggage. From there, they can easily transport from one spot to another. This is why bed bug infestations frequently are tied back to travel, and why it’s important to stay vigilant when traveling to avoid bringing them home with you.

Bed bugs may be somewhat slow crawlers, but they’re expert hiders and can move from room to room in your home. Especially because of their life cycle, it’s important to keep them from spreading.

Are Bed Bugs Contagious?

Although bed bugs commonly spread from latching onto suitcases or purses, they are not contagious in the sense that they pass from person to person. Bed bugs do not like heat, and thus do not live on humans and transmit to other people that way. Although they aren’t directly contagious, it is very common for bed bugs to spread from one building to another through the ways mentioned above.