Can bed bugs live in leather couches?

If you’re dealing with a bedbug infestation, you may be wondering if your leather furniture is safe from these pests. Unfortunately, bedbugs can and do hide and live in leather furniture.

Bedbugs are so small that they can easily fit into cracks and crevices in leather furniture making them difficult to spot. They’re attracted to the same things that attract them to beds, including warmth and the presence of people.

If you’re worried that your leather couch might be harboring bed bugs, there are a few things you can do to check for them and remove them from your furniture.

Can bed bugs live in leather couches or furniture?

Yes, bedbugs can live in leather furniture and comparative materials like suede, vinyl, and wood. Although leather has a slick and smooth surface, they hide in corners, cracks, and crevices where it’s dark and warm.

How to check for bed bugs in leather couch

In our previous article, we talked about how you can check for fleas on a leather couch and you can do the same when checking for bedbugs too.

Before you get started, you might want to get a flashlight and a magnifying glass.

Adult bed bugs are about 5mm to 7mm in length or about the size of a flattened apple seed while the eggs are the size of a pinhead or around 1mm long.

Although the bedbugs are visible to the naked eye, using a flashlight is necessary since they are most active at night and they hide in dark creases and seams of the couch.

Additionally, you might need a magnifying glass to increase the size of the eggs and larvae so that you can see them clearly.

Is your leather couch infested with bedbugs? 

Unless you’re looking for them, bed bugs can be tough to spot. So, if you think you might have bed bugs in your furniture, look out for the following signs.

• Look for small brownish bugs

The first thing you’ll want to do is look for any visible signs of the insects. Bed bugs are small, brownish-red insects that are about the size of a flattened apple seed. They typically hide in cracks and crevices during the day, so you’ll want to focus your search on these areas.

You might also want to check under cushions and in other dark and warm places where bed bugs like to hide such as seams, tufts, and “buttons” on the couch.

• Keep an eye on reddish-brown stains or spots

You may also see small, reddish-brown stains on the leather surface. These are bed bug feces and can be a good indicator that the pests are present.

The stains might also be blood from bed bugs that have been squashed under the cushions.

• Bedbug bites

Bed bugs are attracted to body heat, so they will often congregate near where people sit or sleep. If there are bed bugs hiding in your couch, you are likely to get bitten.

They normally bite on any area of the body that is exposed such as ankles. You will not feel any pain once bitten by a bedbug but the itching is often so intense and causes a raised bump.

• Bed bug eggs and nymph

Bed bug eggs are small, oval-shaped, and white. They are about the size of a poppy seed.

You might want to inspect the dark corners of your couch because bed bugs usually lay their eggs in dark places to protect them from being squished.

When the eggs hatch, the baby bed bugs are called nymphs, which are also small and pale. Due to their small size, you may need to use a magnifying glass when inspecting the sofa.

• Musty odor on the couch

Did you know that bed bugs have a distinctive smell?

It turns out that bed bugs produce a chemical that helps them to stay hidden from their prey. This chemical also happens to be a pheromone, which means that it can attract other bed bugs.

As a result, when bed bugs are present in large numbers, they can produce a strong musty smell on leather furniture.

So, if there is an unusual smell, your leather couch could be infested with bed bugs.

How to remove bed bugs from leather couch

If you have bed bugs on your couch, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them.

1. Vacuum the couch

First, vacuum the couch and cushions thoroughly to remove any bugs that are on the surface. Then, use a steam cleaner on the couch and cushions.

The heat will kill any remaining bugs since they can’t survive at temperatures over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Food-grade Diatomaceous earth

You can also use Food grade Diatomaceous Earth powder to destroy bed bug nests and prevent your leather furniture from getting infested.

Sprinkle the powder around the corners of the sofa and under the cushions where bugs are possibly hiding. Leave it on the furniture for about 5 days before vacuuming it up.

When applied to a leather couch, diatomaceous earth destroys the bugs. It dehydrates them by piercing their exoskeletons and absorbing the oils and fats.

3. Bed bug spray

Another option is to use a bed bug spray to destroy the bed bugs. The good thing about this method is that the spray can get deep into the crevices and cracks of the leather and kill the bugs.

You can get a bed bug spray and carefully follow the directions on the product or make your own organic spray at home. Sleep Tight Supplies Sterifab is quite effective on bedbugs and fleas and it does not stain the leather or leave marks.

4. Pest control professional or exterminator

Alternatively, you can contact a pest control professional or exterminator if you suspect that your couch may be infested with bed bugs.

With their help, you can get rid of the bed bugs but it will cost you more than if you did it yourself.

FAQs 

Do bed bugs like leather?

Bed bugs are attracted to warmth, carbon dioxide, and the scent of human blood. So while they do not have a particular preference for leather specifically, they can infest any type of furniture, including leather couches, chairs, and even leather headboards.

Do bed bugs lay eggs in leather?

Yes, bed bugs can lay eggs in leather furniture. They typically lay their eggs in cracks and crevices, including the stitching of leather furniture, where they are protected from disturbance.

Can bed bugs eat through leather?

No, bed bugs cannot eat through the leather. This is because feed on human and animal blood and do not have the ability to digest solid materials such as leather.

What material do bed bugs not like?

Bed bugs are known to be persistent and adaptable pests, and they do not have any specific material that they avoid.

However, certain materials can make it more difficult for bed bugs to infest, such as those with tightly woven fibers that do not provide crevices or hiding spots.

Bed bugs can still infest synthetic fibers, but natural fibers such as cotton and silk may be more attractive to them due to their ability to absorb moisture and odors.

While metal and plastic do not provide hiding spots for bed bugs, they can still infest furniture with wooden frames or other crevices.

Conclusion

So, can bed bugs live on a leather couch? The answer is yes, they can. Bed bugs are not picky when it comes to choosing where to live. They can survive on a variety of surfaces as long it’s dark and warm, and there is something for them to feed on.

This means that your nice leather couch could be a potential feeding ground for these pesky critters.

If you think you may have a bed bug infestation in your home, it’s important to take action right away.

You can start by vacuuming and steaming the furniture or use an insecticide and bed bug spray. You can also contact an exterminator to help get rid of these pests if all the other methods fail to work.