Bed Bug
Category Bed Bugs
Actual Size: Less than 6 mm
Characteristics: Oval, flat, and mahogany brown to red-brown.
Legs: 6
Antennae: Yes
Wings: No
Habitat: Single-family homes, apartments, hotels, hospitals, schools and college campuses, office buildings, retail stores, movie theaters, and even public transportation.
Habits:
- Bites often go undetected as they are usually painless.
- Feeds exclusively on the blood of humans and mammals.
- When disturbed, their scent glands produce a musty, sweet odor.
Bed Bugs in Florida
Bed bugs are nocturnal insects that are found throughout the 50 states. Bed bugs feed entirely on blood, with humans being their primary host. They are discrete and hide in cracks and crevices during the day so they are not disturbed or found. When their host is sleeping (humans, mammals, or birds), the bugs will come out to feed. Bed bugs can survive a year or longer without a blood meal, making an infestation in the home difficult to eliminate. Their bites usually are painless, so they may not be detected during the feeding activity but after the fact when the bites begin to itch.
Bed Bug Habitat
Bed bugs thrive in areas where humans rest or sleep and are typically transported to new locations unknowingly after travel. They live in groups and will hide in numerous places that can easily be brought into a new location. Some common hiding spots include luggage, bags, furniture, bedding, and anywhere else they can remain hidden. As a result, they are found in hotels, homes, apartments, schools, medical facilities, and other spaces where the public visits. Some favorite spots for the pest to hide include crevices, cracks, headboard seams, luggage, mattresses, backpacks, and upholstered furniture.
Bed Bug Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers
Bed bugs are not vectors of disease and are largely a frustration rather than a danger. The most drastic impact a bed bug can make is a possible allergic reaction that may need medical attention. Noticing bites on your skin or seeing small brownish dots on your bed is an initial sign of a bed bug infestation. This may come after you have traveled to a new place as bed bugs like to stow away in luggage and on clothing. Bugs can also be brought into your home if you bring in old furniture that has not been thoroughly cleaned. Bites from a bed bug appear like a welt that may swell in a straight line on the skin. Contacting a professional bed bug exterminator is the best way to quickly and effectively remove an infestation.