What are bed bugs?

What are bed bugs? Bed bugs are insects that feed on the blood of people and animals.  They are small, flat, brown, and oval. They do not have wings. Bed Bug Identification

What do bed bugs look like?

• Bed bug eggs are white and pear-shaped. When they first hatch, bed bugs are clear, and lighter in color.  As they get older, they become browner.

• Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown, flat, and oval.  If you look closely, you can see short, golden-colored hairs. Bed bugs do not have wings.  They give off a musty, sweetish odor.  After they eat, they become swollen and dark red.

Why are bed bugs a problem?

Bed bugs are becoming an increasing problem in many cities and towns.  This may be because more people are traveling out of the country to places where bed bugs are a problem.  It may also be because certain pesticides for bed bug infestations have been banned.

How do bed bugs get in people’s homes?

Bed bugs usually get into your home through luggage, clothing, or other personal items during travel.  Sometimes hotels have bed bugs.  Bed bugs can crawl into your luggage and get carried back to your home.  It only takes one bedbug to get an infestation started in your home.

Bed bugs may also get into your house by crawling onto your clothes, but this is not likely. A more common way to bring bed bugs into your home is if you buy and wear used clothes or used furniture that have bed bugs in them.