What attracts bed bugs?

Cimex lectularius, known as the common bed bug, is attracted to carbon dioxide and warmth. Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are not especially attracted to dirty environments.

Factors such as unwashed sheets, dirty laundry and poor hygiene are believed by many to attract bed bugs. However, bed bugs are attracted to both clean and dirty environments.

Nocturnal in nature, bed bugs hide in the warmth of the fibers in mattresses, cushions, bed frames and crevices of other warm structures. They come out to feed between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. When people are in bed emitting large amounts of heat and carbon dioxide, the bug comes out to feed off the humans by sucking their blood.