Can Bed Bugs Live in Electronics | Infestation Risks and Prevention Tips

Bed bugs. The word itself makes you imagine tiny little things that crawl into your home, or even scarier, into your expensive electronics!

But, it doesn’t have to be the worst thing in the world to deal with these ‘little guys’ who can grow to the size of an apple seed. Let’s find out everything there is to know about bed bugs and electronics.

Can bed bugs live in electronics? In general, it is highly unlikely, but not impossible. This is because bed bugs will withstand the heat only when they must eat, so it is of no great use for them to be in warm places if they are not eating. Bed bugs like the cold, so if you find them in electronics, it means they had no other place to go, so they had to “settle” for warmed-up electronics.

Bed bugs can be persistent once they are in your home and the level of difficulty of getting rid of them depends on which methods you will use.

Yes, the sight of bed bugs or just the thought of it is not good at all, but don’t panic, you can resolve this. It is still fascinating why bed bugs make us so uncomfortable. They don’t fly and won’t spread diseases, but they move very fast on walls, ceilings, floors and so on. But, why have they infested your electronic devices? Let’s see…

Why Have Bed Bugs Infested Your Electronic Devices?

Electronics are one of the places for bed bugs where they can kinda hide and wait for their feeding time. For example, if you have a TV near the bed or where you sleep, there is a chance they will infest that place.

Or if you have electronics that always get pretty warm, even hot, don’t think that it’s impossible for bed bugs to be there. However, this applies only to electronics that are very close to you, the human host. In other cases, the bed bugs won’t infest electronics that produce heat because they really don’t like high temperatures.

So, in case you sleep with electronics around you, near your bed, beware – bed bugs could be near.

How Did Bed Bugs Get in Your Electronics?

Well, they always come from other infested areas around you and near you. This means they could have ‘arrived’ from old and used furniture. Also, they often come through luggage, backpacks, purses, and similar items.

Or, they also can travel between different rooms in buildings with many units, for example, hotels and flats or apartment complexes.

If I Have Bed Bugs Do I Have To Throw Away My Home Appliances?

No, there is no need to throw away the home appliances. You should at least try the methods that are proven to help in most cases. In this day and age, there are plenty of ways to remove bed bugs.

They could sometimes be found on the TV or the computer, however, they will probably stay away from other appliances. However, the nooks behind the appliances look attractive for hiding, especially because we never move the huge appliances in our home (at least not regularly).

The microwave is another of the appliances that have openings and entries, but again, we must emphasize that bed bugs won’t be interested in spots where food scent is present. They don’t go after our food and leftovers, they are attracted to us.

Can Bed Bugs Live in Different Types of Electronics?

Can Bed Bugs Live On Your TV?

Yes, bed bugs can live on your TV but only if they have to. If you keep a TV in your bedroom, it could be a potential risk for bed bugs because then they will be close to your bed.

Do you recall those old TVs in the past, the huge ones, CRT? They were a nice large space for bed bugs! But, new TVs are flat and they don’t have too much space inside them for bed bugs to crawl.

Also, most of the TVs back then had big air holes to prevent overheating of the TV, and of course, this was a suitable entrance for the bed bugs. The flat-screen TVs we all have today are not so attractive to bed bugs. They are not huge, they have less space inside, and of course, on top of this, they are warm too. And, they don’t have the air holes that old TVs had as well. They do not represent good living conditions for bed bugs.

Can Bed Bugs Live In Computers?

Yes, bed bugs can get inside a computer. The desktop PC is always a good reaching point for bed bugs because they usually can with ease get inside the computer.

If you keep the computer in the room where you sleep in, there is a higher risk of bed bugs near you and the PC. Be careful, the desktop computers are rarely moved around, so there could be bed bugs under them, or around them.

Modern desktop computers have slim monitors, but they still have some hardware parts where bed bugs could get in! For example, the part that both old and new types of PC have in common is the system unit.

Most of us rarely pay attention to the system unit, because it is usually placed under a table or near us where we don’t actually see it or move it, right? And, the back of the system unit that gathers dirt and dust can be a very convenient entrance for bed bugs.

Related: Ants in Laptop | How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Laptop

Can Bed Bugs Live In Appliances?

Did you know that bed bugs can get in and live in some appliances? Appliances offer a lot of spots that are a point of entry for bed bugs. They love to live behind some appliances because appliances are rarely moved. Did you move the washing machine recently? Yeah, you didn’t, maybe even never. So, if you apply this rule for all appliances in your home (that you never move), you do the math. Still, you have nothing to worry about because this rarely happens.

The appliances are not very attractive to bed bugs in the first place. Cockroaches eat foods and leftovers, or food residue on the countertops, but bed bugs don’t do this because they need us (humans) in order to survive.

What about the microwave? It has many entrances as you know, such as vents for cooling, or the edge between the door and the inside itself. But, microwaves don’t offer much to bed bugs, and bed bugs feed on blood, not your food remains in the kitchen. They would be too far from you and your bed, so of course, they would dislike this.

Can Bed Bugs Live In a Laptop?

For a laptop, we all know there aren’t too many entry points and spots where the bed bugs could enter. Only if you leave the laptop under your bed and not touch it for quite a long time, then there is a chance for bed bugs to get inside it. They could maybe get under the keyboard keys, especially if they are large and chunky.

Can Bed Bugs Live In Phones?

No, bed bugs can’t live in phones. The phones we use are simply too small for them, besides, they don’t have big enough openings for bed bugs to enter. The jack for headphones is one opening but is still not big enough for them. Also, the charging port is the same size more or less, and again, bed bugs cannot enter through there either.

This is somewhat good news, right? But, most of us want to use all sorts of phone cases. Now, this could be one potential threat. If you use those soft, fabric cases, and also you keep the phone near the bed (we all do this!), bed bugs could find their way in.

But, overall, the chances of seeing bed bugs on the phone are very slim to none.

Can Bed Bugs Live In Vacuum Cleaners?

Yes, definitely bed bugs can live in vacuum cleaners. If you try to vacuum up the bed bugs, don’t bother too much, because they don’t die from being vacuumed. This will surely shock them, and they can even live inside the vacuum cleaner for a year or more, even at a distance from you! In this case, it is crucial to dispose of the vacuum bag the right way.

Most people have a habit of vacuuming the beds, sofas, mattresses and box springs too, fearing that they have bed bugs or other bugs unseen with the naked eye, and that’s fine. Next time you want to make the home spotlessly clean, and the bedroom too, just know this – bed bugs could be living in your vacuum (possibly!).

So, if you think vacuuming is a smart and good way to get rid of bed bugs, just know in advance that not all bed bugs will be vacuumed, so some could be left behind. In a worst-case scenario, their eggs could be left behind.

To resolve all of this, you can try sprays, fumigation, or even traps which give good results around the home, but most importantly – empty the vacuum bag outside, and make sure it is clean when you get back home with it!

Related: Can Bed Bugs Live in Cars | Infestation Risks and Prevention Tips

Can Bed Bugs Live in Refrigerators?

The fridge is not a desired place for bed bugs. They love the blood of the host, and they do not eat the regular food we store in the fridge. So, it is logical that the fridge and what is inside the fridge are not interesting to them. The other reason is – temperature. In the cold fridge environment, bed bugs won’t be able to move fast or breed, and they won’t be able to reach you and the bedroom easily.

The back of the fridge (on the outside, next to the wall) is a somewhat convenient hiding place, and bed bugs could maybe try to get there.

Can Pre-owned Electronics Have Bed Bugs?

Electronics that had a previous owner are a great danger to your house because they might be infested with bed bugs! This also applies to already-used mattresses.

Not just pre-owned electronics, but also appliances and furniture with previous owners can already be infested with bed bugs.

If you are on a budget you should at least try and be honest with the seller and tell him that you must check the stuff before you buy it. In other words, look for bed bugs when buying used electronics, remember that sometimes bed bugs or their eggs can be seen with the naked eye.

Of course, the best solution is to never buy/use already used electronics, but this is not always possible. The other solution is to buy the electronics and disassemble them in front of your house and check for bed bugs. if you see any of them you can apply some of the methods we mentioned in our other article called – how to get rid of bed bugs in electronics.

Can Bed Bugs Eggs Live in Different Types of Electronics?

It is not very common for bed bugs to live or lay eggs in electronics, mostly because most electronics have a small and low number of openings points of entry for the bed bugs. Also, some types of electronics emit heat which is bad for their eggs.

This means you will find bed bugs eggs in the bed, mattress, or things close to our bedside and they will almost never lay their eggs in electronics.  

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Electronics?

Don’t lose hope, you can always do something to salvage the objects infested by bed bugs. Whether it is something that you can do yourself, or with someone else who knows these things much better, just know that there are solutions to remove the bed bugs for good.

In the next article called “how to get rid of bed bugs in electronics”, we will explain all of those solutions/methods in detail.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs from Getting into Your Electronic Devices

You can always do certain things to prevent bed bugs from entering your home and electronics. If you have devices or electronics near the bed, just reposition the items away from the spot where you sleep.

So, remember these things:

• Always cover every power outlet in your home. The bed bugs often use these entrances to elope or enter.

• Always clean the home regularly; move around the appliances to clean behind them, and after vacuuming you must empty the vacuum bag outside the house.

• Remove the clutter around your home. If you are a hoarder and keep all sorts of stuff you don’t need, don’t be surprised if bed bugs get in your home and you see them even in electronics!.

• Always double-check the used electronics and all used items in your home. Everything that is not brand new, or was used for a long time, or was pre-used is a potential hiding place for bed bugs.

• After vacuuming the whole place, empty the vacuum bag outside!

Bed bugs are the annoying little things that nobody wants to see in his home. They feed on us humans (their hosts) and they are almost always infesting the beds and mattresses (aka, places where we sleep).

It is highly unlikely that they will hide in electronics. Still, it is not fully uncommon either, and it can actually happen!

List of Sources

Bed Bugs Appearance and Life Cycle, United States Environmental Protection Agency

Cimex lectularius Linnaeus (Bed Bugs), University of Florida/IFAS Featured Creatures Web site

Insects in the City, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Diseases & Conditions – Bedbugs, Mayo Clinic