“Bed bugs are going ballistic.  This is one of the hottest bug issues in a generation,” said Michael Potter, a professor of urban entomology at the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture. Carol Y. Kauscher, President of D’BugLady Pest Management  agrees that this is a growing pest problem. Bed bugs are world wide hitchhikers traveling on airplanes, furniture, humans, clothing, shoes  and much more.  Insect identification is critical since an infestation can occur in less than two months.  Contrary to popular beliefs, cleanliness  has little to do with most bed bug infestations.  These creatures can crawl into suitcases stored below airplanes and placed on the floor at five-star, $1,000 a night hotel rooms or may be found in cracks of antique furniture purchased from a dealer or at a garage sale. Bed bugs infest single family homes, hotels, motels, apartments, nursing homes, day care centers, vehicles and more.  They can infest every room in a home or building.   They do not jump or fly but simply crawl to find a sleeping adult or child.  A bed bug bite is small, hard and swollen with a white welt. Sensitivity will vary, with some people experiencing severe itching which can cause the area to become infected.  Bed bug bites are painless and normally found three in a row on bare skin that is exposed during sleeping hours. To identify bed bugs, look for insects that are oval shaped, slightly smaller than a lady bug, and reddish-brown or brown in color.  The body is flat; after a blood-meal, the body becomes elongated, swollen and dark red. Bed bugs can be seen crawling on light colored sheets, mattresses and other bedding, and leave dark or red spots on bedding. Ms. Kauscher suggests four steps to address and eliminate bed bug issues. First, early identification of this pest can limit the scope of the infestation.  Secondly, she can suggest preventive suggestions to prevent infestations.  Third, thorough inspection of the infested structure will help in identifying and treating the problem.  Lastly, follow up service and inspection is necessary to ensure that the cause has been eliminated.   D’BugLady® Pest Management offers a least toxic approach to bed bug pest control problems.  Visit www.DBugLady.com for additional information on this and other pest control issues.