Bed bugs have been making a comeback in recent years, thanks in part to increased international travel. If you're unlucky enough to encounter these critters, it's important to know how to identify them and take steps to get rid of them. If you are waking up with unusual bite-like marks it might be time to do a thorough inspection of your entire bed. In most US cities there are inspection companies that can help. For example there are many companies in NY like Doctor Sniffs Bed Bug Dogs; that offer a bed bug inspection in NYC.

1. A bug crawling on your bed during the nighttime. Bed bugs like to hide in the daytime and bite us at nighttime. They most often bite you in easy to access places that are not covered up by clothing. Sometimes there are other random bugs people find crawling on their beds. Some other bugs that people find are book lice, fleas, tick nymphs, and beetles. All of these may be mistaken for a bed bug.

2. Bugs found in the seams of mattresses, box springs or other areas around beds. If you see bugs congregating in these areas then they may be bed bugs. A professional bed bug inspection will help you figure out if the bugs you are seeing are bed bugs.

3. Black spots on bed sheets, mattresses, walls, pillows or anywhere near the bed. This is caused by bed bug excrement and is one of the easiest ways to identify bed bugs. There is a test kit called Bed Bug Blue which can help you identify the possible fecal spots.

4. Itchy red bites on your skin, especially on areas that are exposed. Bed bugs feed on human blood and their bites can be quite itchy for some people. However 20-30% of people do not react to bed bug bites. Bed bug bites cause itchy welts on some people, but not everyone. The red itchy spots from bed bugs are just an allergic reaction to the bite. You cannot diagnose bed bugs based on bites, the only way to figure out if you have bed bugs is to find one, hire a professional bed bug inspector, or a K9 inspection.

5. Seeing a shed skin. Bed bugs leave behind shed skins when they molt. A bed bug can go through five molts during its lifetime and shed around once a week after each feeding. Although

they shed skins, not everyone will see them since most live in hard to see places.

If you are experiencing any of these signs, it is best to call a professional bed bug inspector to come and take a look. Bed bugs can be difficult to get rid of, so it is important to identify them as early as possible so you can take the necessary steps to get rid of them. Learning how to do a proper inspection is the most effective way to find bed bugs and it will also save you a lot of money.

A professional can treat your home but a bed bug specialist is quite expensive. Hiring a professional is the best thing for most people, because getting rid of bed bugs is not an easy job.

Bed bugs are often hard to find and identify, but the 5 signs listed here can help you determine if your home is infested. If you think that bed bugs may be living in your mattress or other areas near where you sleep, it's important to get a professional inspection done right away so they can take steps to eradicate them for good. The sooner these critters are found and dealt with, the better off both you and your wallet will be! Hiring a professional allows for peace of mind when dealing with this issue because getting rid of bed bugs isn't easy at all!