There’s a lot to see and do in Las Vegas, whether it’s admiring the miniature replica of the Statue of Liberty or gawking at the impressive Fountains of Bellagio water shows. Unfortunately, there’s a bed bug problem lurking under all the glamor. In this article, you’ll learn everything about bed bugs in Las Vegas, including how to prevent and control a bed bug infestation.
Whether you’re visiting Sin City as a hotel guest or a Las Vegas homeowner, you want to avoid bed bugs. In this article, we’ll show you how:
Are There Bed Bugs in Las Vegas?
Yes, bed bug infestations in Las Vegas are relatively common. Las Vegas may be known for its luxurious hotels and casinos, but even Vegas’ iconic Strip properties aren’t immune to bed bugs. In fact, bed bugs are found all over the globe, including throughout the state of Nevada.
There is a common misconception that dirty and grimy living conditions attract bed bugs, but in reality, Vegas hotels can still suffer from bed bug infestations, just like any other hotel. In fact, because of its tourist culture, Las Vegas is more susceptible to bed bug problems. By hiding themselves in luggage, bed bugs spread by traveling unnoticed from location to location.
It is believed that an increase in travel has contributed to the rise of bed bugs, not just in the Las Vegas Strip, but across the United States, as these annoying pests resurged in the 1990s.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Don’t panic if you discover a bug in your house or hotel that you suspect is a bed bug. First confirm that you have found a bed bug and that you didn’t accidentally mistake it for some other bug. After all, there are several other pests in Las Vegas that look like bed bugs:
- Carpet beetles (Learn How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles)
- Baby cockroaches
- Fleas (Learn How to Get Rid of Fleas)
- Head lice (Learn Ways to Get Rid of Head Lice)
- Mites (Learn How to Get Rid of Dust Mites)
- Ticks (Learn about Types of Ticks: What Do Ticks Look Like?)
A bed bug’s physical appearance depends on its stage of life. Here are the identifying characteristics of bed bugs to keep an eye out for:
- Adult bed bugs resemble an apple seed in shape, color, and size. They grow up to 1/4 inch long. Their bodies are flat and oval-shaped, and they can be recognized by their reddish-brown color. Like most insects, bed bugs have six legs and two antennae
- Nymphs are juvenile bed bugs. Their exoskeleton is typically a pale cream color. Nymphs have to molt five times before they reach adulthood, and they require a blood meal to molt and achieve the next stage of growth. In their early nymphal stages, baby bed bugs are slightly larger than a pinhead.
- Bed bug eggs are tiny and difficult to spot with the naked eye. Bed bug eggs are white and round. You might also find eggshells.
Bed bugs are wingless and can’t jump, so you don’t have to worry about them leaping on you if you get close. However, they can crawl onto clothing or other clutter that was left lying in the room.
Bed Bug Habits
Bed bugs are nocturnal, and they usually emerge from their hiding places only at night. They are also hematophagous, which means they feed on blood and require blood meals to survive.
In hot climates like Las Vegas, bed bugs won’t last more than 70 days without food. Bed bugs don’t drink water, so they rely solely on blood meals to stay hydrated.
Bed Bugs in Hotels in Las Vegas
With all the glamor and ritz of the Las Vegas Strip, you might not think that bed bugs would be a problem. But bed bugs don’t discriminate, so even luxury hotels aren’t exempt from a bed bug infestation.
In recent years, there have been reports of bed bug infestations in several famous Las Vegas hotels on the Strip. Before you travel to Vegas, check bed bug registry websites or recent news stories to see which hotels have recently reported a bed bug infestation.
Hotels are legally obligated to provide clean and sanitary conditions for guests, so it is the hotel’s responsibility to pay for bed bug removal in Las Vegas. With so many travelers coming in and out of Vegas hotels, it makes hotels vulnerable to bed bug infestations, and sometimes hotels aren’t aware of the infestation.
How to Check for Bed Bugs in Las Vegas
Gambling in Sin City may be a fun pastime, but we recommend you don’t take chances with bed bugs.
Even if you’re tired from a long day of travel, checking for bed bugs in your Las Vegas hotel should be the first you do when you enter your room. If you stop to rest first, you risk getting bed bugs on you.
If you are planning a trip to Vegas, there are some things you can do to avoid bed bugs in a hotel:
- Pack clothes in resealable bags. That prevents bed bugs from hiding in the folds of your clothes.
- Pack your belongings in hard-case suitcases. Avoid suitcases that are made out of cloth.
- Place your suitcase in the bathtub, on top of a hard surface, or on a luggage stand upon entering your hotel room. To protect your luggage from bed bugs, don’t set it on the floor or on the bed. Otherwise, bed bugs could climb on it.
- Inspect your hotel room. Use a flashlight to search box springs, the crevices in the mattress, and upholstered furniture. A bed bug can hide in a crack as small as the width of a credit card, so carefully check any tiny cracks. Check the sheets and mattress for bloodstains, as these indicate the presence of bed bugs.
- Notify the hotel staff. If you discover bed bugs, alert the hotel staff. Ask to be moved to a different room or granted a refund.
Tip: Before you book your hotel, ask about the hotel’s bed bug policy. It also helps to search for any customer reviews that mention if they found a bed bug in the hotel and how that incident was handled by the hotel staff.
If you need assistance identifying bed bugs, you can always contact your local Cooperative Extension for help.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs for Good in Las Vegas
In the event that you discover a bed bug infestation in your Las Vegas home, you should immediately hire a pro to get rid of the bed bugs.
You can spray for bed bugs in Las Vegas, although we recommend avoiding pesticides. Chemical insecticides aren’t environmentally friendly, and they can be toxic, so it’s better to avoid them.
Instead, it’s recommended that homeowners rely on an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, which provides lasting solutions for pest control and uses chemical pesticides as a last resort. Instead, IPM relies primarily on other methods to treat bed bugs, including exclusion, modified maintenance practices, and these chemical-free treatment options:
Once you’ve scheduled a bed bug treatment with a local pro, some simple house chores can help eliminate some of the bed bugs in your house and help manage your bed bug population:
- Clean clutter off the floor.
- Thoroughly vacuum the bed and surrounding areas.
- Steam the mattress, box spring, and bed frame.
- Spray a residual and/or contact bed bug insecticide around infected areas.
- Use a mattress cover to wrap up your mattress and box springs.
- Move the bed away from the wall and remove the bed skirt.
- Place interceptor traps under the bed or other nearby furniture.
- Wash and dry bedding and clothing on high heat.
- Treat infested furniture or dispose of infested furniture that is beyond saving.
These are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself from bed bug bites until the infestation is treated by a pro. When you schedule a treatment, the pest control company will provide you with instructions on how to prepare your home for bed bug treatment before the exterminators arrive.
Tenants’ Rights Regarding Bed Bugs Infestations
Landlords are legally obligated to provide safe, sanitary conditions for their tenants. If bed bugs are discovered on a rental property before a tenant moves in, it is the landlord’s responsibility to treat the problem.
However, there are some exceptions where the landlord may not have to pay for bed bug treatments:
- If the tenant or the tenant’s guests are responsible for bringing bed bugs into the rental property, they will likely be required to pay the bill.
- If a tenant is behind on rent payments, the landlord is not required to treat the bed bug infestation.
Bed Bugs Treatment Cost in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is known as the City of Lost Wages, but you don’t want to lose your hard-earned paycheck to bed bugs.
Unfortunately, sometimes it’s inevitable that you might pick up a bed bug or move into a house that already has a pre-existing bed bug infestation. In that case, you’ll have to pay for a professional bed bug exterminator to deal with your pest infestation. On average, a professional bed bug treatment costs $917 to $1,917.
The cost for a bed bug treatment varies depending on the form of treatment you choose. Here are the price ranges per the types of treatments:
| Treatment | Cost range |
| Heat treatment | $2,000 to $4,000 ($1 to $3 per square foot) |
| Freeze treatment | $500 per room |
| Steam Treatment | $250 to $1,000 per room |
FAQ About Bed Bugs in Las Vegas
Can Las Vegas Heat Kill Bed Bugs?
While Las Vegas experiences scorching hot summer days, even the staggeringly high Nevada heat isn’t enough to get rid of bed bugs. However, bed bugs will die if the temperature is hot enough. Bed bugs die almost instantly when exposed to temperatures of at least 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, bed bugs also dehydrate more quickly in hot temperatures. Without food, a bed bug will not survive all that long in hot temperatures. Las Vegas’ heat can speed up the death of starving bed bugs, but they won’t be killed by the natural heat alone.
Do Bed Bugs Spread Diseases?
Bed bugs are not known to carry or transmit diseases. However, they can cause health problems like secondary infections (from scratching bites), anemia, or allergic reactions.
What Do You Do If You Slept in a Room with Bed Bugs?
Don’t panic. Maybe you were unable to detect any bed bugs until you woke up the next morning with bites. If so, know that bed bug bites are uncomfortable and unpleasant to deal with, but they eventually go away and are unlikely to cause serious problems in most cases. When necessary, you can alleviate the itching by using tea tree oil to soothe the bed bug bites.
If you’re staying in a hotel, call and ask to be transferred to another room. Then check your luggage for bed bugs to avoid taking the bugs with you when you go.
Stop the Bed Bug Party
It’s hard to enjoy the Entertainment Capital of the World when you’re scratching itchy welts after a night of being bitten by bed bugs. Bed bug bites can cause stress, anxiety, and insomnia. So don’t let bed bugs party at your place. It’s best to treat a bed bug infestation in your home as soon as possible.
To deal with bed bugs, we’ll help you find a Las Vegas exterminator. They can help you create an effective bed bug treatment plan.
Main Image Credits:
Background: DAPA Images / Canva Pro / License
Bed Bug: Mainely Photos / Canva Pro / License
