A widespread misconception has been quietly circulating online, and it needs a clear, factual correction. An article recently described an insect problem using the term “bedbugs,” but the description did not match bedbugs at all. This matters because confusing insects leads people to take the wrong preventive steps, waste time on ineffective remedies, and misunderstand what they are actually dealing with in their homes.
True bedbugs are a very specific pest with well-documented behavior. They do not live outdoors, they are not seasonal garden insects, and they are not casually wandering into homes from plants or windows. When people mistake other insects for bedbugs, panic often follows, even though the real situation may be far less serious and much easier to manage.
Bedbugs, scientifically known as Cimex lectularius, have one primary purpose: feeding on human blood. They are parasites, not general insects. They do not eat plants, do not live in soil, and do not survive outdoors in gardens. Their entire life cycle is tied to human environments, especially sleeping areas.
They hide in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, furniture seams, baseboards, and tiny cracks in walls. They avoid light and only come out when people are resting. If an insect is visible crawling on walls or windows during the daytime, it is almost certainly not a bedbug.
Bedbugs are also not green. They are small, flat, oval-shaped, and reddish-brown, becoming darker and more swollen after feeding. Any description involving green coloring immediately rules them out. Color alone is often the fastest way to identify that you are dealing with something else entirely.
Another key distinction is how bedbugs spread. They do not migrate from gardens or outdoor plants. They are transported almost exclusively through human activity. Luggage, used furniture, bedding, clothing, and shared living spaces are the main sources of infestation. Hotels, public transport, dormitories, and apartments with shared walls are common transfer points.
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