Yes, bed bugs can climb metal. They might have a hard time finding a grip when climbing it at first, but as long as it can get them closer to their human host, it all will have been worth it.
Bed bugs do not mind living on metal furniture. As long as that piece of furniture has their preferred kind of corners, gaps, and nooks, they will call that place home.
Do bed bugs hide in metal frames?
As mentioned above, bed bugs can live on any material as long as they can hide on the structure. But they do have a noted preference for wooden furniture and mattresses.
Bed bugs are not big fans of the cold, they like to stay warm, which is why they would rather stay on wooden bed frames than metal bed frames.
Wood also contracts and expands depending on the season, which creates more cracks that the bed bugs can squeeze into.
Even if bed bugs prefer the warmth of wood, that does not mean that beds on metal frames do not get infested, because they certainly can.
Can bed bugs climb fabric and wood?
These two materials are the ones that bed bugs prioritize when finding ways to get to their host. Because these materials are found in any room in most homes, this allows bed bugs to move around easily. They make getting from place to place so easy for bed bugs that it almost encourages them to explore even more.
So, even if fabric and wood are very enticing materials to use when decorating and furnishing your house, consider that having too much of these materials can attract bed bugs and much more quickly spread infestations.
Using some plastic and smooth metal components in your interior decorating can help limit the bed bugs’ movements and make it annoying for them to crawl around.
Can bed bugs climb walls and ceilings?
If bed bugs want to or need to, they can climb walls and ceilings. If they need to go through these surfaces to reach their food source, they will. They usually have no problem climbing textured walls, but they may find climbing smooth surfaces more difficult.
Bed bugs can even walk on the roof because its rustic surface is easy for it to walk on. They can drop down from the ceiling to your bed to get within close range to their food source. A bed bug will try to climb, and will be mostly successful, in climbing any material.
Can bed bugs walk on carpet?
Carpets are actually the material bed bugs like the least. The same way bed bugs avoid parts of your body that have hair because they find it difficult to maneuver through the strands, bed bugs find carpets lumpy and a chore to walk through. It is not a flat surface where the bed bug can just crawl on in a straight line, they have to ascend one bump after another.
Can bed bugs climb smooth surfaces?
Smooth surfaces are the ones bed bugs have the most difficulty with, because there are no footholds they can grab on to to push themselves upward. Some surfaces may seem smooth but are actually quite easy for bed bugs. Like wooden surfaces, even if they look and feel smooth to the touch, if you look at them closely, bed bugs will have a lot of spots to grip.
Are there surfaces that bed bugs cannot climb?
As you can probably already tell, bed bugs are great climbers. They are able to climb vertical surfaces with minimal handholds. They are also quite durable, so even if they fall from a great height, they are usually fine. Bed bugs have hooks in their feet that grips onto footholds on the surface they wish to climb.
But there are definitely surfaces that exist that a bed bug cannot climb. It depends on the surface’s texture, whether the bed bug will be able to properly grab onto it and pull itself up. So, a bed bug is only truly successful in climbing when they can grip the surface and move themselves upward. This is very apparent especially when the surface is vertical.
One surface bed bugs cannot climb is glass, because it is completely smooth and it does not have gaps or cracks for their feet hooks to grab onto.
Bed bugs can climb walls, plastic, wood, and a lot more. Most, if not all material in your room is accessible to bed bugs, as long as the texture has footholds for their feet hooks.
What type of flooring can I use to stop bed bugs?
Flooring and wall coverings that are smooth are the best options for stopping bed bugs. Smooth tiles or linoleum flooring are surfaces that they will struggle to walk on, but unfortunately they are not suitable for bedrooms.
It can help, but do not rely fully on designing your room to stop bed bugs. There are much more effective ways to keep bed bugs out than simply choosing a wall or floor covering.
Bed bugs get from one place to another through more than just walking. They can hitch a ride on people and pets around the house. They can squeeze through cracks and gaps in walls and move from room to room that way. They also know to avoid the wall when it is compromised and stick to the wall, and vice versa.
Changing your floor and wall covering will not change the fact that the bed bugs in your home can still thrive on your bed, furniture, clothes, books, and carpet.
Conclusion
Yes, bed bugs can climb metal especially if it is not that smooth. This allows the bed bug’s feet hooks to grip onto the grooves and cracks on the surface to propel themselves upwards.
Bed bugs can climb almost all kinds of surfaces made of all kinds of material. One of the surfaces they cannot climb is glass, because glass is very smooth and there are no cracks to hold on to.
Image: istockphoto.com / John-Reynolds