Did you get up this morning covered with an itchy, red rash covering parts of your body? This could be a sign of a bed bug infestation. You should bear in mind nevertheless that other insects and bugs which can trigger similar allergic reactions. For this reason it is always wise to try to find bed bugs in your property before you begin any type of treatment.

Bed bugs retreat during day time into all manner of obscure places. These horrid vampires are actually tiny - only about 1/5th of an inch long, reddish brown in color and oval in shape. It is possible that you may never see any live bed bugs however you should be able to uncover the clear signs of activity they leave behind.

The only tool required for this job is a good flash light, so here is what you need to look for;

1. Poo - small darkish colored marks. If this genuinely is bed bug poo it will smear when wiped with a damp rag.

2. Discarded Skins - As they mature and develop they leave clear, bed bug shaped empty "shells" behind.

3. Blood spots - After an evening meal bed bugs are full of blood, if any are crushed they will burst! Leaving tiny blood spots on bed sheets, mattresses etc.

4. Eggs - If bed bugs are active you will almost certainly find bed bug eggs. These are commonly likened to grains of rice in size, shape and also color.

Knowing what to look for is extremely helpful but where do you begin when you are trying to find bed bugs? Here are a few pointers;

1. Examine the bed - strip off all of the linen and then thoroughly check the mattress, box spring and also along the edge of the headboard.

2. Check out all the furniture in the room - investigate inside and also under drawers, cupboards and so on. Don't forget to carefully examine the contents the chances are the bed bugs will have made themselves at home in clothing etc.

3. You can often find bed bugs in really obscure locations consequently look behind picture frames as well as mirrors, inside smoke detectors, telephones, alarm clocks, electrical sockets, behind peeling wall coverings - the list is endless.

4. Search for all little cracks or crevices along baseboards, in flooring, around window and also floor frames. Although you may have no luck finding bed bugs it would be a great time to fix any damage as a preventative measure.

Finding bed bugs and searching for the signs bed bug activity is like an unpleasant game of hide and seek. The thing is, unless you are 100% sure bed bugs are the cause of your itchy, red rash you may not get the correct kind of treatment and end up wasting a whole load of cash.