1. What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are an insect belonging to the order Hemiptera ("True Bugs").

Hemipteran insects have a mouthpart called a proboscis that is modified for sucking fluids. In the case of the bed bug this fluid is blood.

Bed bugs appear flattened when viewed from the side, oval when viewed from the top, and can be anywhere from a couple of millimeters long (nymphs) to 6-8mm long (adults). Their colour varies depending upon their life stage and whether or not they have recently consumed a blood meal. Typically they are translucent yellow as young nymphs and a darker red-brown as adults.