Bed bugs, also spelled bedbugs with no space, are insects similar to fleas that feed on the blood of humans and other warm blooded animals. Their name comes from their typical living areas, in mattresses and other areas near where people sleep. At night is when they are the most active, although they are not entirely nocturnal, and they often can bite people without being noticed. Bed bugs were an especially serious problem back when beds were made of organic materials like leaves, reeds and straw, which tended to rot. People would try to keep the bugs away by doing things like keeping the beds away from walls and putting the bedposts in cans of kerosene. There were also sleeping rules to keep the bugs at bay, like not letting sheets touch the floor. These rules are the most likely origin of the phrase don’t let the bed bugs bite.

Bed bugs had been largely eradicated in the 1940’s in the U.S. but in the past decade they have come back in a big way. Their return is mostly the result of increased traveling to areas like the Middle East and Asia, with the bugs finding their way into suitcases. It’s likely that you have an infestation in your home if you find that you have a lot of bug bites that look like mosquito bites, but with many of them arranged in even rows. Often, however, you just get a general feeling of itchiness with no signs of bites. If this kind of unexplained itching occurs you should check to see if there is an infestation by looking in your bed and areas nearby for dead bugs and bug parts, and dark spots left by bed bug feces. Although bed bug bites rarely pose a serious health threat, it’s important to get rid of them if there is an infestation.

Bed bugs can be eradicated in several ways. Whatever method you use, you should clean infested rooms and launder your bedding very thoroughly. Be especially thorough with beds and the areas nearby, and it may be necessary to discard mattresses. Cleaning alone is not likely to get rid of all of the bed bugs, so a pest eradication professional should be hired. Exterminators generally use insecticide liquids and sprays to kill the bugs along with their eggs, but another option is to try another, newer technique which doesn’t involve poisonous chemicals. With this new method, high temperatures are used to kill the bugs. Remember, Don’t let the bed bugs bite!