Bed Bugs

Even the cleanest homes and businesses can face bed bug issues. These pests are sneaky travelers, hitching rides on luggage, furniture, and clothing, and once inside, they can spread quickly. Knowing how to spot the early signs and take action can save time, money, and headaches down the road.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on human and animal blood. They are primarily active at night, and while they don’t fly or jump, they can easily hitch a ride on clothing, luggage, or furniture. 

During the day, they stay hidden in cracks, crevices, and mattress seams, which makes them hard to spot until bites or other signs appear. Even a small infestation can be stressful for homeowners, renters, business owners, and property managers.

Bed Bug Identification

Size & Appearance

• Small, oval, reddish-brown insects
• Adults: about 4–5 mm long
• Flattened bodies (before feeding), swollen after feeding
• Wings absent

Behavior & Habits

• Nocturnal, feed while hosts sleep
• Hide in cracks, mattress seams, furniture crevices
• Can survive months without feeding
• Travel by hitchhiking on clothing, luggage, secondhand furniture, and other items

Signs of Infestation

• Small, itchy red bites on skin
• Rust-colored stains on sheets or mattresses
• Shed skins or eggs in mattress seams
• Musty, sweet odor in severe infestations

The Differences Between Bed Bugs and Other Biting Pests

Unlike fleas, mosquitoes, or mites, bed bugs are nocturnal and tend to bite exposed skin while you sleep. Fleas jump onto pets and humans, mosquitoes are active mostly outdoors, and mites are usually microscopic and live on skin or clothing. Bed bugs leave telltale signs like small, itchy bites in a line or cluster and tiny rust-colored stains on sheets or mattresses, which help distinguish them from other biting pests.

Why Bed Bugs Are a Problem

Bed bugs are more than a nuisance pest problem; they can disrupt sleep, cause itchy bites, and stress in your home or business. Severe infestations can be difficult to eliminate, and because these pests spread quickly, one overlooked hiding spot can lead to a full-blown infestation. While they aren’t a medically important pest, the emotional and financial toll they can take makes them a serious concern.

How Bed Bugs Enter Homes and Businesses

Bed bugs are notorious hitchhikers. They often enter:

• On bags and luggage after travel
• During visits from friends, family, or neighbors who unknowingly carry them
• In or on used or secondhand clothing, furniture, and other items

Bed bugs can move between rooms or units in multi-unit buildings, hotels, dorms, and offices, quietly spreading before anyone realizes there’s a problem.

Where Bed Bugs Hide

Inside homes and businesses, bed bugs often hide in:

• Seams of mattresses and inside box springs
• Headboards, bed frames, and other furniture
• Cracks along baseboards, walls, and around electrical outlets
• Behind frames, clocks, and other wall hangings
• Curtains, rugs, and any cluttered areas where they can remain undisturbed
• Inside electronics 

How to Prevent Bed Bug Infestations

Preventing bed bugs is easier than dealing with them after they’ve moved in. Property owners can take steps like:

• Inspecting secondhand furniture and clothing before bringing them inside
• Installing protective covers on mattresses and box springs
• Reducing clutter to minimize hiding spots
• Washing and drying bedding on high heat regularly
• Checking hotel rooms and luggage when traveling
• Inspecting luggage carefully after traveling

How to Exterminate Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are tough to get rid of, and trying to handle them on your own often backfires. People have used portable heaters, store-bought sprays, or even tried burning mattresses—only to see the bugs return. They hide in cracks, seams, and tiny spaces, so treating only the visible bugs isn’t enough.

Bizzy Bee Exterminators offers a highly effective approach to bed bug control. Our team uses professional liquid treatments that target bed bugs at their hiding spots, including cracks, seams, and furniture crevices. The treatment works in a way that lets bed bugs move through treated areas and carry the solution back to other hiding spots, helping to reach bugs you can’t see.

Our services are people—and pet-friendly and ideal for homes, multi-unit buildings, and businesses. By choosing Bizzy Bee Exterminators, you avoid the frustration and repeated effort of DIY attempts, giving you confidence that the problem is being fully addressed.

FAQs About Bed Bugs

Can bed bugs transmit diseases?

No, bed bugs are not known to carry or transmit diseases. Although bed bug bites can cause itching, redness, and irritation, the main concern is discomfort and the stress of an infestation.

How long does a bed bug infestation last?

Bed bugs reproduce quickly; even a few left untreated can lead to a full-scale problem.

Can I get rid of bed bugs myself?

DIY methods rarely eliminate bed bugs. Professional treatments are recommended to target all hiding spots and eradicate all stages of bed bug development.

Contact Our Local Pros for Bed Bug Control

Don’t wait for bed bugs to take over. At the first sign of bed bugs, contact Bizzy Bee Exterminators. Since 1972, our locally owned and family-operated pest control company has provided comprehensive bed bug control in Metro Atlanta; you can count on us to completely resolve your bed bug problem!