Ask yourself these questions…

1) (Most obvious) Do I have an infestation? Look for the clues; bed bugs will hide in folds and linings of the bed linens. Check the tufts and seams of mattresses too. Look for brown or red spots on the linens.

2) (Second most obvious) When do the bites occur? If one wakes up with new bites, there is a good chance it’s from bed bugs.

3) (Not so obvious) What does the bite look like? The symptom of the bed bug bite is very similar to other reactions. Bed bug bites can be little red bumps; some have a red dot or scab in the middle. The bite area may be inflamed or irritated, and a small white welt may appear at each bite. Some are large, others small, sometimes there in a line or circle. You should know that even doctors have a hard time diagnosing bites. A bed bug bite picture may help; you can find them on the web.

The good news is that, although some have allergic reactions to bites, bed bugs are not known to transmit any infectious agents.

The best way to know you have not been bitten is to keep the critters out. Establish a bed bug control plan and before you sleep in a hotel or motel, check the linens for brown or red spots.

If an infestation occurs, seek an effective bedbug treatment. You can get rid of bed bugs with perseverance.

Well, I’m pretty confident I am bed bug free, so I guess I can ‘sleep tight’. Besides, there are plenty of other things to worry about, like that whole “birds of a feather” thing. Why are they flocking together? What are they planning? And don’t even get me started on that “apple a day” conspiracy…

For more help and a FREE, five part, on-line e-course on bed bugs and how to prevent them, plus what to do if all else fails, click http://www.nobedbugs.info