What are bed bugs and how do they infest homes?

Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals while they sleep. These pests are flat, oval-shaped, and brown in color, making them adept at hiding in crevices and cracks in furniture, mattresses, and walls. Infestations usually occur when bed bugs are unknowingly introduced into homes through infested furniture, luggage, or clothing. They can also travel between adjacent properties through shared walls and ventilation systems. Once inside a home, bed bugs quickly multiply and spread. They reproduce rapidly and can survive for weeks without feeding. Bed bugs are primarily nocturnal and attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale, making our bedrooms their preferred dwelling place. Their infestations are often characterized by their bite marks, which result in itchy welts on the skin. Other signs include the presence of tiny eggs, shed exoskeletons, and dark fecal spots on bedding and furniture. Due to their resilience and rapid reproduction, professional pest control is usually necessary to eliminate bed bug infestations effectively.