Unfortunately, bed bug problems will start spreading and becoming more serious in the months ahead. According to a new study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology of the bed bug problem in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bed bug infestations reach a low in February of each year, then start increasing, reaching a peak number of new infestations in August.
It is suspected that bed bugs are migrating over short distances, such as between rooms or apartments, but sometimes even between houses. But these blood-suckers are also hitching rides on people or personal effects over longer distances, and starting new infestations that way.
A different study of the entire U.S. a couple years ago had similar findings, but reported a “peak bed bug season” of July through September. There was a noticeable surge in people requesting bed bug treatments during that period. The study noted that bed bugs not only become more active and move around more during that warmer period; it also takes them less time to mature and reproduce when it is warmer.