Nocturnal and oval-shaped, bed bugs can reach lengths of up to 5mm and while they lack the ability to fly, they can crawl very quickly. They feed on both human and animal blood and are considered public health pests by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. They have six legs, antennas and are a brownish color when adults, but can be lighter in their younger years. Bed bugs are commonly found in bedding or furniture and cause itchy, red lumps on your skin when they strike. You can exterminate these critters by washing clothes and bedding in hot water (120°F for 30 mins) before drying them in high heat. Mattresses and other infested pieces of furniture should be steam-cleaned thoroughly while the use of sticky traps and alcohol are ineffective. Based on Orkin pest control’s treatment data for 2023, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia are the top 3 states impacted by bed bugs.