What is a bed bug?

Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that feed on the blood of warm-blooded hosts, especially humans. They live near places where people sleep and rest, such as homes, hotels, hospitals and other crowded places, which is how they got their name. Bed bugs have not been proven to transmit disease, but their bites leave red, itchy marks, and scratching can lead to a secondary infection that may need medical attention.