Bed bugs: How to spot them, prevent them, protect your home

Bed bugs can cause a lot of stress. But knowing what they look like, where they hide and how they spread can help you avoid bringing them home.

These tiny, blood‑feeding insects have become a growing pest problem in the U.S. over recent decades.

Awareness and a few simple habits are the best ways to avoid them, said Robert Puckett, Ph.D., TexasA&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist and associate professorintheTexasA&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Entomology.