Bedbugs are tiny insects that live in mattresses and carpet, emerging at night to feed on the blood of humans or animals sleeping nearby. These insects can be difficult to get rid of, and they’re gross. They’re also making a comeback in many parts of the world.

Although bedbugs were almost eradicated in the US for many years, they are more common after the ban on DDT in the early 1970’s. An increase in the amount and speed of world travel is another factor contributing to the increase of bedbug problems. People can bring back bedbugs from areas of the world where they are more common.

International travelers can carry bedbugs with them in their clothes and luggage, so hotels are a common site for bedbug problems. In fact, just about every state in the US has had a bedbug outbreak. No hotel or home is safe: several high end hotels in New York and Los Angeles have reportedly had infestations of these creatures.

Since bedbugs stay out of the open most of the time, you probably won’t see them unless you’re looking for them. The most common sign of bedbugs is their bites. The small, red bumps will become itchy. Since the bedbugs are most active at night, this is when the bites will happen.

Eradicating bedbugs is hard since they’re tough creatures. They can survive very hot and cold temperatures, and they only need to eat once in a long while to stay alive. For this reason, you might need to contact a professional in pest control if you think you may have a bedbug problem.