Bed bugs in your home originated somewhere else, but pinpointing the exact source might be challenging. One of the most common places to pick up bed bugs is from infested hotel rooms. Before you book your next hotel room, check out the Bed Bug Safe Hotel Finder. These hotels have passed our Bed Bug Safe Hotel Certification course and actively work or keep bed bugs out, so you don't bring them home.

Other sources for bed bugs are public transportation and neighboring apartments. Second-hand furniture, such as a mattress or couch, is a very likely suspect. Look for bed bugs on any used furniture you bring into your home.

Bed bugs can spread within social circles. You might have a friend or family member with an infestation that may unintentionally bring one to your home. Before getting angry, know that a considerable percentage of the population does not react to the bite. Your friend or family member may not even realize they have them. While it might be uncomfortable, sharing your experience might help you find the source. You can help them deal with their problem and stop them from returning to your home.

The telltale signs of bed bugs include: 1) are you, or a family member, getting bit, and 2) did you find a bug crawling around on your bed? If you check yes to either of these, you should inspect your rooms for bed bugs.

Check out the Bed Bug Inspection Checklist for a step-by-step process. You can also download the Bed Bug Safe eBook, "Do-It-Yourself Bed Bug Treatments," which has an entire chapter dedicated to DIY Bed Bug Inspections.

Adult bed bugs can be easily seen with the naked eye. They are reddish-brown and are approximately 1/4 inch in length. Although they can move swiftly across horizontal surfaces, they don't fly or jump.

An unfed bed bug resembles a small apple seed with a flat oval-shaped body. They are shaped like a torpedo with an elongated, brightly colored trunk when fully fed. After consuming blood, they grow approximately 3 to 4 times longer.

You may also find bed bugs at different life stages that may throw you off. Check out the All About Bed Bugs Page for pictures and other signs of bed bugs. Or, get a Bed Bug Education Poster or Bed Bug Life Cycle Puck from the DIY Shop for photos and samples of real bed bugs in different life stages.

The best way to check for bed bugs is to conduct a Bed Bug Inspection in all areas of your home. The first and most crucial step is becoming familiar with bed bugs at all development stages. Then, learn the physical sign of an infestation, such as fecal staining, egg and molting casing, and blood spots.

Once you know what to look for, spend time looking in common bed bug hiding spots, like your mattress, box spring, and bed frames. Also, look at the other furniture around the bed, such as nightstands, dressers, lamps, and bookshelves.

Here is a link to the Bed Bug Inspection Checklist, an excellent resource for DIY Bed Bug Inspections. You can also download the Bed Bug Safe eBook, "Do-It-Yourself Bed Bug Treatments," which has an entire chapter dedicated to DIY Bed Bug Inspections.

Bed bugs are masters at hiding and tend to find homes in small cracks and crevices. When the lights are on and there is an activity in the room, bed bugs will squeeze back into their hiding spot and be very hard to find. So, the best way to find bed bugs during the day is to look for other physical signs. Look for fecal stains (poop), molted skins (casings), blood spots, and eggs.

Click here to see pictures of the physical signs of bed bugs.

You may be lucky and catch one running across a surface. If so, try and grab it and place it in a sealable container for identification.

Call a professional if you are not finding individual bugs or physical evidence and still have concerns. They may charge a fee for the inspection, but it will be worth the cost to know one way or the other.

Bed bug bites are often identified by red bumps that are raised and itchy. They are usually in groups of 3 welts, sometimes called the Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner pattern. Bites resemble the feel of mosquito bites and can be very itchy. Here are pictures of typical bed bug bites

Bed bugs are most known to bite exposed body areas such as the face, neck, arms, and hands. However, remember that some people present no indication of bites after being bitten. They are probably still getting bitten but just not displaying the reaction. You may have an allergic reaction to the bites, but your significant other may not.

Killing individual bed bugs is easy, but your goal is to kill the infestation. Your approach has to focus on the entire bed bug infestation. You can kill a hundred bed bugs by any means, but if you are not dealing with the entire infestations, you will continue to live with the problem.

There are two categories of treatments: chemicals or heat to attack the infestation. Within these categories, you can incorporate a combination strategy that might use some chemical treatment and some heat treatment. In addition, you have the choice to hire a professional or do a DIY treatment. Both approaches can be successful and have pros and cons. Here is a good summary of the Bed Bug Treatment Options to help you decide.