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Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius)
Identify it, prevent it, and know when to call. A South Florida guide from Pro-Spray.
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What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on human blood, usually at night while people sleep. They don't live on people the way lice do. Instead, they hide in tiny cracks close to where people rest and come out to feed. Bed bugs have nothing to do with how clean a home is. They travel in luggage, purses, backpacks, used furniture and clothing, which is why they turn up in single-family homes, condos, apartments, hotels and dorms alike.
South Florida's tourism, travel, cruise traffic and dense multi-unit housing give bed bugs plenty of chances to hitchhike.
How to Identify Them
Adults are flat, oval and reddish-brown, about the size of an apple seed. After feeding they become plumper and darker red. Nymphs (young bed bugs) are smaller and pale yellowish, which makes them hard to see until they've fed. Eggs are tiny, white and often stuck in clusters in seams and cracks.
Common look-alikes:
- Bat bugs and swallow bugs: very similar; linked to bats or birds roosting in or on the home.
- Carpet beetles: small, round and patterned; larvae are fuzzy.
- Young cockroaches: faster, with long antennae. See German cockroach.
- Fleas: jump and are narrow side to side. See cat flea.
Life Cycle and Habits
Bed bugs go through egg, five nymph stages and adult. Each nymph stage needs a blood meal to molt to the next. Adults can survive long periods between meals, which is why vacant apartments can still have them. They're drawn to body heat and the carbon dioxide we exhale and usually feed in the early morning hours.
Signs of Bed Bugs
- Itchy red bites, sometimes in lines or clusters, on skin exposed during sleep (not everyone reacts to bites)
- Small dark spots, like marker dots, on sheets, mattress seams and the bed frame; these are droppings
- Rusty or reddish stains on sheets
- Shed skins and tiny white eggs in seams and cracks
- Live bugs in mattress tufts, box spring corners, headboards and couch seams
- A sweet, musty odor in heavy infestations
Is it dangerous?
- Bites
Itchy bites, stress and lost sleep; not known to spread disease.
How to Check for Bed Bugs
Strip the bed and use a flashlight to inspect mattress seams, tags, piping and the corners of the box spring. Check the bed frame joints, the back of the headboard, nightstand drawers and couch cushions. A credit card slid along seams can push hidden bugs out. Take photos of anything suspicious and save a specimen in tape or a sealed bag if you can.
Travel and Move-in Tips
- In hotels, check the mattress seams and headboard before unpacking, and keep luggage on a rack away from the bed.
- When you get home, unpack directly into the washer and dry clothes on high heat.
- Inspect used furniture, especially beds and upholstered pieces, before bringing it inside.
- In condos and apartments, tell management right away if you suspect bed bugs, since they can spread between units.
What Not to Do
Don't use over-the-counter foggers or "bug bombs." They don't reach bed bugs hiding in cracks and can spread them to other rooms. Don't move from room to room to sleep, which can spread them further. Don't throw out furniture until it's been inspected, because carrying it through the home can scatter bugs.
How Pro-Spray Treats Bed Bugs
Bed bug treatment starts with a thorough inspection of sleeping and resting areas to confirm the problem and see how far it has spread. We'll give you a detailed prep list, such as laundering bedding and clothing on high heat and reducing clutter, then treat beds, furniture, cracks, baseboards and other harborage areas. Follow-up visits are part of the plan, since eggs can hatch after the first treatment. Learn more on our bed bug treatment page.
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+ FREE inspection
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do bed bugs mean my home is dirty?
Can bed bugs spread disease?
Can I get rid of bed bugs myself?
Do bed bugs live in cars or offices?
Reviewed October 2026 by Pro-Spray's family-run team
Pests don't wait.
Protect your home today.
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