Mystery bugs are swarming Seville’s parks and terraces, what we know about them so far

Pictures of tiny insects huddled together on benches, cafe tables and even football stands have been doing the rounds on in Seville this week making maybe people shudder and peer under their duvets. Here is what we know about the little creatures taking over the city.

What the authorities are saying

Andalucia’s regional health department says there are “no outbreaks or infestations”. Bed bugs are the species that bites people, and officials say the have not triggered a health alert because they cannot pass infectious diseases from one person to another. Public Health calls the reports isolated cases, each handled with the usual control measures.

Seville City Council agrees that nothing worrying has been reached. It has, however, noticed more calls to its local animal heath centre about the field bug, a plant-feeder that leaves people alone.

So what are these insects?

Nobody has confirmed an exact species as yet. Many of the photos online are too vague to settle it, and experts consulted by Diario de Sevilla expect the episode to fade within days.

The most detailed explanation comes from the San Juan de Aznalfarache area. Mayor Maraa Luisa Moya described them as “little critters” that look like bed bugs but are not, and linked them to crop changes in the rice fields, with the insects looking for damp places. Those are first findings from the council’s technical team, not a lab result. The same team says they do not bite and pose no risk to people.

Where people have spotted them

Reports have come from the Setas de la Encarnacion dining area and Plaza de San Agustin, plus Utrera, Los Palacios y Villafranca and several Aljarafe towns. Some football fans also claimed to have seen them at last Friday’s Trofeo Antonio Puerta, though no one has confirmed what they were. San Juan’s parks will close for two days while they are disinfected, and the town hall’s own social media post says its services are already working to cut numbers on streets and in public spaces.

What people are saying online and hospital findings

Reaction under the town hall’s Instagram post has been a mix of applause and unease. One person applauded the council’s response with another demanding answers around what they mean for pets. Others questioned whether the fumigation may be worse than the insects themselves.

Staff at Hospital Virgen del Rocio found bugs while treating a patient in the trauma emergency consulting rooms. The hospital followed the Public Health protocol and closed several rooms for cleaning, with notices put up for staff. Some workers told the local paper they want proper protective equipment before going back in, and feel the situation at the patient’s home is not fully resolved. The hospital has informed social work, liaison nursing, the local health centre and the city council, so the home can be assessed.

What you should do if you do find them

Nothing so far suggests people in Seville need to panic, but a few habits are cheap and sensible. Pest control specialist Carlos Pradera of Anticimex Spain suggests checking a bed before sleeping in it if you have any suspicion, and vacuuming suitcases and rucksacks after a trip before putting them away. Experts also warn that bed bugs can resist some insecticides and come back within weeks, so a professional is the safest route if you do find them.

If you spot a cluster, take a clear close-up photo. It will help officials work out what you are looking at far faster than a viral post will.