How to Spot Bed Bugs in Florida
Bed bugs are tiny, so knowing their usual hiding places is an important way to locate them in your home or when you sleep in a new space. One of the easiest ways to find bed bugs is by looking in their common hiding areas: box springs and mattresses, behind baseboards, mattress tags, and upholstered furniture.
There are other areas where bed bugs can be found:
- Luggage
- Power outlets
- Wallpaper
- Bedding
- Picture frames
Can You See Bed Bugs?
Adult bed bugs are only the size of an apple seed and can be hard to spot. They’re especially hard to find for two reasons: they often hide out of sight, and they’re commonly confused for other bugs. In addition, bed bugs are nocturnal and nest in their cracks and crevices until they come out to feed at night. This makes it difficult to know when you’re dealing with an infestation.
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What Do Bed Bugs Look Like
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects about the size of an apple seed, ranging from 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch in length. Their flat, oval bodies allow them to hide easily in cracks and crevices. Their bodies become more elongated and reddish in color after feeding on blood. Bed bugs don’t have wings and cannot fly, but they are agile crawlers.
Adults can be mistaken for beetles or cockroaches, but their size, shape, and coloring make them identifiable once you know what to look for. You can learn more about what bed bugs look like in our separate article.
Bed Bug Eggs and Droppings
Bed bug eggs are tiny, about the size of a pinhead, and are usually white or translucent. They are often found in hard-to-reach places like cracks in furniture, baseboards, or along mattress seams. A single bed bug can lay up to 500 eggs during its lifetime, so spotting even a few can indicate an infestation.
Bed bug droppings are another sign to watch for. These droppings appear as small, dark spots (similar to pepper grains) and are often found on mattresses, furniture, and walls near infested areas. These dark stains are the result of digested blood and can be an indication that bed bugs have been feeding on you or your family.
Early Signs of Bed Bugs: What to Watch For
The early signs of a bed bug infestation can be subtle, but being alert can help you address the issue before it worsens.
A common early symptom is waking up with unexplained bites on your skin, often appearing as red, itchy welts. The bites are usually found in a zigzag or cluster, often on exposed skin areas like the arms, legs, or face. Learn more about bed bug bites and how to treat them to avoid further irritation.
Other indicators include rust-colored stains on bedding, small dark droppings resembling pepper, a musty odor, and visible bed bugs themselves. Additionally, you may find bed bug eggs or discarded shells and notice disrupted sleep due to nighttime itching.
Common Early Signs of Bed Bugs in Bedrooms and Furniture
In bedrooms, bed bugs tend to hide in places close to where you sleep, such as along mattress seams, behind headboards, or inside cracks in the bed frame. Check for small blood stains on your sheets or pillowcases, possibly from crushed bed bugs.
Furniture can also be a common hiding place for bed bugs. Upholstered furniture like sofas and chairs can harbor them in seams, underneath cushions, and within the furniture frame. If you see tiny dark spots or notice a musty odor, it’s worth inspecting these areas more closely for bed bugs.
Interested in where bed bugs come from? Read our article on the main cause of bed bugs.
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Where to Look for Bed Bugs in Your Home
When an infestation begins, it’s often when the bed bugs have been carried inside. Bed bugs hide inside purses, backpacks, luggage, and clothing. This is why infestations commonly occur after returning home from a trip. Once the bugs are indoors, they will spread to multiple areas to find adequate hiding spots for the daytime. They will rest in those places and become active at night.
How to Identify Bed Bug Hiding Spots
For the most part, bed bugs hide wherever people tend to sleep or rest. This includes bedding and mattresses, but also upholstered furniture, chairs, and more. They can also be found behind wallpaper, under the edge of rugs or a carpet, inside wall cracks, electrical outlets, and any other narrow spot inside your property. If you’re worried about a potential infestation, these are the key places to check:
- Mattresses and Box Springs: Bed bugs often hide in the seams, edges, and underneath mattresses and box springs. These are the primary hiding spots for bed bugs.
- Bed Frames and Headboards: Inspect the cracks, joints, and behind headboards, where bed bugs may be lurking.
- Upholstered Furniture: Another way that bed bugs are transferred is when infested used furniture comes into a new home. Bed bugs don’t usually travel on people like some other insects do. Some common hiding spots include sofas, chairs, and cushions which can harbor bed bugs in the seams, under cushions, and within the frame.
- Baseboards and Walls: Look for cracks in the walls or gaps in the baseboards, as bed bugs can hide in these spaces.
- Cracks and Crevices in Wooden Furniture: Check wooden furniture and drawers for hidden pests.
- Electrical Outlets and Switch Plates: Bed bugs can squeeze into these tight spots.
Mosquito Bites vs. Flea Bites vs. Bed Bug Bites: How to Tell the Difference
It can be difficult to distinguish between mosquito bites, flea bites, and bed bug bites, but there are key differences to help you identify the culprit:
- Mosquito Bites: These are usually swollen, red, and itchy welts that appear immediately after being bitten. Mosquito bites are often isolated and occur on exposed areas of the skin, such as the arms, legs, or neck. They don’t typically follow a pattern.
- Flea Bites: Flea bites are small, red bumps with a central puncture mark. They tend to appear in groups or clusters, often on the lower legs, ankles, or feet. They are intensely itchy and may develop into scabs if scratched.
- Bed Bug Bites: Bed bug bites often appear in a zigzag or cluster pattern on exposed skin, such as the arms, legs, face, or neck. The bites are red, swollen, and itchy, and may take a few hours or even days to appear.
How to Check for Bed Bugs: A Step-by-Step Guide
Checking for bed bugs can feel overwhelming, but with this simple guide, you’ll know exactly where to look and what to do.
Start with the Bed:
Begin by stripping off all bedding and carefully inspecting your mattress. Pay extra attention to the seams, edges, and underside for any signs of bed bugs, such as small bugs, tiny eggs, or dark droppings. Grab a flashlight to help you see into the nooks and crannies of your box spring and bed frame, focusing on cracks and joints where bed bugs love to hide.
Look at Furniture:
Bed bugs don’t just stay in beds—they can hide in furniture too. Check the seams, folds, and crevices of upholstered furniture, like chairs and sofas, near your bed. Don’t forget to look under cushions and in any cracks or corners of wooden furniture.
Check the Walls and Baseboards:
Inspect the areas around your bed, including the baseboards, corners, and any gaps or cracks in the walls.
Don’t Forget Unusual Hiding Spots:
Bed bugs can sneak into unexpected places. Look at your curtains, behind any loose wallpaper, the edges of wall hangings, and even inside drawers or books near your bed.
Use Bed Bug Monitors:
If you’re still unsure, consider using traps or monitors under the legs of your bed. These tools can help confirm whether bed bugs are present.
What to Do If You Think You Have Bed Bugs
If you suspect you have bed bugs, act quickly to address the problem. Because bed bugs are active at night, it can be hard to know where they are during the day. Hiring a professional is your best strategy for removing bed bugs throughly.
Florida Pest Control specializes in tailored bed bug treatments, helping you reclaim your home from these pests. Contact us for a FREE quote today.
FAQs
How do you confirm if you have bed bugs?
Check for signs like dark droppings, eggs, shed skins, or live bugs in mattress seams, furniture cracks, and crevices. Look for reddish-brown bugs, especially in sleeping areas.
What are the first signs of bed bugs?
Early signs include red, itchy bites in clusters or zigzag patterns, bloodstains on bedding, dark droppings, or a musty odor in the room.
Can you see bed bugs with the naked eye?
Adult bed bugs are visible, about the size of an apple seed, and reddish-brown. Eggs and nymphs are smaller but can also be seen in crevices and cracks, especially with a magnifying glass.
What scent repels bed bugs?
Certain scents, like tea tree oil or lavender, may repel bed bugs, but professional treatment with heat or pesticides is necessary for effective eradication.
What if I have bed bug bites but no evidence?
Check hidden crevices and cracks thoroughly, as bed bugs are experts at hiding. Call a pest control professional for an in-depth inspection if no signs are visible.
What kills bed bugs permanently?
Heat treatment and professional pesticides are the most effective ways to kill bed bugs in all stages of the life cycle, including eggs.
Can you feel bed bugs crawling on you?
Bed bugs are light and stealthy, so you typically won’t feel them crawling. Most people notice bites or signs of infestation rather than the bugs themselves.