The bed bug scare has left millions of Americans afraid of these tiny parasites. People are spending tons of money trying to identify and get rid of so-called bed bugs as a result of the epidemic. Bed bugs are often mistaken for ticks or tiny roaches, which illustrates their small size. There are three species of bed bugs to worry about and they look about the same. They are characterized by flat, oval shaped bodies and wings although they can't fly. Adults are brown in color whereas babies are normally clear, although appear red after feeding on blood. These insects thrive in dirty or clean environments and are capable of living for two months without food.

Bed bugs love to hide in crevices, which is why they're attracted to mattresses. They have been known to dwell in sheets, curtains, carpets, wallpaper, and in furniture. Since they burrow in almost anything, they spread easily from house to house or inside of hotels. Like most blood suckers, they prefer to attack at night. The bites are painless, but victims will notice itchy red bumps concentrated in the arms, face, and hands. The bites tend to be mistaken for mosquito nips and it's difficult to distinguish between the two. Fecal matter tends to accumulate in infested areas as well. They are visible to the naked eye, so it's possible to identify them by sight alone.

Getting rid of bed bugs usually entails professional assistance, although a minor outbreak may be handled using cleaning agents and throwing away an infested mattress. Other pieces of furniture may have to be discarded as well to prevent a recurrence. Most of the time, home remedies aren't enough to get the job done permanently. The good news is that these pests are not known to carry communicable diseases and the bites don't demand immediate medical attention unless they become infected.