Bed Bugs are among the worst types of pests. Their small (approx 3mm) size makes them very difficult to be seen and therefore incredibly tricky to get rid of. They are usually heard of in news reports which focus on the expose of bed bugs in upscale hotels, where visitors have awoken to uncover dozens of bed bugs bites all over their skin. However, many hotels are actually falsely accused of bed bug infestation, as what several people don’t know is that these pests can be transported through travel luggage or clothing of visitors from infested homes.

Bed bugs only ever appear at night to feed on exposed human skin. Bites are small and pain-free but can often be particularly itchy and might become infected if scratched. As well as beds they can also be found on other items of household furniture including sofas or chairs, infestation is particularly difficult to stop due to their small size and the confusion of many thinking their bites are actually the cause of fleas or other biting bugs. You are able to spot signs of bed bugs by keeping a good eye out for dark faecal spots on bed linens and in cracks around beds, or of course if you are getting bitten in the night on a regular basis, bed bugs will usually bite three times in one area (breakfast, lunch and dinner!)

The good thing is that bed bugs have not been proven to hold any diseases; however scientific studies are still ongoing so it’s often an idea to treat bites with steroid creams or antihistamines to decrease itching and prevent infection. The use of insect repellent to prevent bed bug bites has be tried and examined, uncovering unsuccessful results. Therefore, the ideal way to try and prevent infestation is to use bed bug encasements, which keep your bedding and pillows bed bug free, if your bed has legs you can also obtain climb up interceptors, small bowl like devices that prevent insects from climbing up the bed. Of course washing your bedsheets on a hot rinse on a regular basis will in addition lessen the possibilities of infestation. As mentioned previously bed bugs are also excellent travellers, therefore researching your hotel before you book and performing a quick check around your room will also be beneficial.

Just like other pests for instance mice and rats, there's also trapping techniques you can consider in order to predict whether your home is infested. Basic traps such as, coating your bed legs with Vaseline or even using double sided tape, will lead to the bed bug becoming stuck allowing you to expose to your infestation to your landlord. Pest control organizations will supply more technical trapping devises, such as the ‘Bed Bug Beacon CO2 Active Monitor’, used to lure the pests out of hiding, commonly a good tool for early detection and for keeping the bugs away from your bed during an infestation. An additional great piece of equipment is the ‘Nightwatch Bed Bug Trap and Monitor’, a similar unit to the fly trap, this will lure the bed bugs into the machine using heat and scent and if employed for two weeks or more and no bed bugs have been caught, it is a distinct sign that an individual has no infestation.

For peace of mind and for the health and wellbeing of your household, it's a good idea to hire a pest control expert in order to take a look around your home. In worst cased circumstances people caught in an infestation have had no choice but to throw out and replace household furniture, catching these bugs during the early stages will prevent this and keep your home a healthy and happy place to live in!