If you've never lived through an infestation of bed bugs, you likely don't understand what all the hype is about when these critters are discovered in a hotel or other public area. While seemingly harmless, these parasites are one of the most invincible and stubborn insects that can invade your home.

You can squish a spider, spray poison on a line of ants, and light a candle to scare off mosquitoes, but when you discover you have bed bugs, you're in for a brutal war. These seemingly harmless little bloodsuckers are almost as resilient as a cockroach but are much more difficult to eradicate. Many people find themselves waging war with the insects for years, trying nothing short of burning their beds down. You may have even read panicky reports in the newspaper about recent rashes of these pests being uncovered in posh hotels and even on airplanes. So what is it about these little guys that ignite so much fear and stress?

Bed bugs are extremely small and difficult to catch. Adults are normally no larger than an apple seed, are brownish-red in color, and are flat so they can squeeze into the tiniest gaps and cracks in a home. They feed at night in the dark, so it is highly unlikely that you'd catch a glimpse of any. Unlike mosquitoes and other insects that sting or bite, most people won't feel anything when they're feeding until the next morning. Bites are generally quite generic and difficult to identify, but a good sign that they are in fact due to bed bugs and not another pest is if they come in multiple clusters. If you roll or move at night you will disrupt their feeding and they will choose a new spot nearby. Not everyone has reactions to the bites. If two people share the same infested bed one may awake covered in itching bumps while the other won't have a mark.

So what's the big deal about such a small critter? For some individuals, bites can be extremely itchy and leave long-lasting marks. There are generally no serious health risks, except that scratching can cause the bumps to open and bleed, which can then become infected or scar if not cared for properly. Animals can also suffer from bites that cause themselves to scratch their fur off or make their skin raw and infected. Much more serious, a bed bug infestation can be extremely emotionally distressing. Ridding your home of the pests is expensive and difficult. There are some cheap home remedies, but these are not always effective. Bed bugs can also easily infest every area of the home including other rooms, bedding, linen, and clothing. Because they spread so quickly, even a small bed bug problem requires treating the entire household to ensure every last one is eradicated. Failure to dispel of them all can result in re-infestation.

So how do you get rid of these pests? The most effective way is to hire a professional exterminator, preferably one with lots of experience on the subject. They will likely spray your home with strong pesticides and you may have to expose your furniture, linens, and clothing to high heat or extreme cold to kill any lingering pests. It is generally recommended to have several sessions over a period of time as bed bugs can hibernate and leave without food for up to a year, making them one of the most frustrating and nearly invincible of all insects you'll find.

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