Bed bugs are small wingless insects, usually around 5mm long, with flat oval bodies. They are active at night when they feed on blood. They are light brown, becoming darker after feeding. During the day they hide in furniture, the seams of mattresses and cracks in walls.
Bed bugs cannot fly so they crawl around and into buildings or can be transported by luggage, clothing and furniture. It is wise to check any second-hand furniture thoroughly before bringing it into your home in case it is infested with bed bugs.
You can sometimes see adult bugs in bedrooms near the skirting board or the edges of the bed or headboard. Bites can cause a hard white swelling which can be irritating and sometimes painful. They are not known to carry any serious illnesses but can cause sleep loss and general poor health. You might see blood spots on bed sheets (which are from the bugs, not from the bites).
If you think you have bed bugs you should tell your landlord straight away.
