Bed bugs are small wingless insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm blooded-animals, including humans. They have oval and flattened shape and brownish color. Adults are about ¼ of an inch long but eggs, nymphs and adults are all visible to the naked eye. They are called bed bugs as some of them adapted to the human habitat and live inside our homes, especially in beds and sofas. They have been recognized as a public health pest, affecting private homes, dormitories, cruise ships, army barracks, and shelters.

How do bed bugs affect humans?

Once inside a home bed bugs feed on human blood. They are lured out of their hiding place by darkness, warmth and increased levels of carbon dioxide. They feed while their human host is asleep. Their bites are virtually painless. However every time they feed, they inject a small amount of saliva into the host's skin. In time the affected person will develop and allergic reaction and the bite mark will become visible, similar to a mosquito bite. Bed bugs will feed every five to ten days, however they can resist without food for up to one year. Despite their very unpleasant presence, bed bugs are not known to transmit or spread diseases from one host to another.

How to detect bed bugs?

Bite marks are not be best way of identifying the presence of bed bugs. Some individuals do not react to bites at all, in other cases the marks will be visible just for a couple of minutes or in other cases visible marks can be easily confused with the bite marks of other insects.

However bed bugs leave other visible signs including:

• Dark spots on fabric that are bed bug excrements
• Reddish stains on bed sheets caused by bed bugs being crushed
• Tiny blood spots on bed sheets resulting from bites
• Eggs or skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger
• Live bed bugs

If you noticed such signs in your home, it is time to take action and get rid of the problem as soon as possible.

How to eliminate bed bugs?

Unfortunately there is no simple and quick way of eliminating bed bugs. Before everything else it is recommended to inspect hotel rooms when you check in, to make sure they are not infected and you are not at risk of bringing the bugs back to your home on your clothes. You should also check furniture and other fabrics when you bring them inside your home.

Once in your home controlling bed bugs takes time and patience. Often combining both chemical and non-chemical methods is necessary to achieve satisfying results. Bed bugs can be physically removed by cleaning, their habitats can be removed, clutters where bed bugs can hide can be reduced and clothes and other fabrics can be washed at high temperatures to make sure the insects and their eggs are killed. These non-chemical methods can be combined with using pesticides or simply contacting a specialized firm for assistance.