We all know the saying "don't let the bedbugs bite" and many of us use it light-heartedly. However, bedbugs can be a real pain to get rid of and can be more common in the UK than many of us realise.

Bed bugs start to appear more around the Autumn time before the weather gets too cold. This is because in their lifecycle, it is around Autumn time that they have developed enough to feed effectively.

Their name comes from the fact that they are most commonly found around beds or other warm places where humans sleep. Bedbugs like to feed from hosts in the early morning and a bed provides the perfect hiding places for them.

Bedbugs are very small at only 5mm long however they are oval and flat and slightly red in colour which helps to identify them. They cannot fly so crawl from place to place or get carried around by animals or humans. It has been reported that when there is an infestation, it is possible to smell almonds or raspberries!

While they are not carriers of disease like other pests such as rats, they can cause skin irritation, sleep loss and restlessness especially in children if they have been bitten. You will be able to see a red rash or lump on someone who has been bitten which should not be confused with a mosquito bite that is white in the middle.

Bedbugs are very resilient as they can live for up to a year without feeding however their normal rhythm would be to feed every 5 to 10 days.

The best way to avoid a natural infestation of bedbugs is to keep your house nice and clean especially around beds and sofas. However, bedbugs can easily be transported into your home by guests, pets and other animals if the bugs are hiding on them somewhere – so it is not just dirty houses that get hit by infestations.

If you think you have bedbugs in your house, try to find out where they have made their home first as this will be very beneficial. It is possible to buy various bedbug sprays and pesticides from DIY stores however be careful that these will not cause damage to your home, you or any pets you have. If in need of advice, contact a pest control company who will not only be able to recommend the more sustainable products on the market but also eradicate the problem for you if you wish.