Say “bed bugs” and you’re likely to see faces as white as the sheets on the bed. Every homeowner knows that bed bugs are bad news – but not everyone really understands why. Most people just have a vague notion of how hard they are to eradicate. Others just get creeped out at the idea that bugs are crawling all over their bodies and biting them while they sleep.

Understanding why bed bugs are such a problem can help you know how to spot bed bugs and how to control them.