Bed bugs are tiny bloodsucking insects that creep out of their crevices at night to feed on blood, according to the NHS.
They live in tiny cracks and crevices around the bedroom, but are usually found around the bed frame.
While bed bugs aren’t necessarily dangerous, they can leave people with bad reactions to their bites.
One of the earliest ways to reveal whether you have a bed bugs infestation is to find their faeces.
Bed bug poo looks like small black spots, that are usually found on or around the bed, said pest control firm Rentokil.
Their excrement is usually no larger than a single millimetre, although there can be tiny collections in certain areas.
If you’re worried you may have an infestation, check the crevices of bed frames for signs of their faeces, it said.
“It isn’t always easy to identify bed bugs or know there’s a problem,” said Rentokil.
“They remain hidden in tiny cracks and crevices during the daytime.
“A further indicator of a bed bug infestation is small-scale black spots appearing on walkways, in their hiding places and during the actual feeding process.
“The average size of their faecal excrement is roughly between 0.5 and 1.0 mm.
“There can be collections of these faecal pellets found in common areas such as mattresses, bed frames and even behind wallpapers.”
When checking for bed bugs, don’t forget to look in the carpet and around the skirting boards of your bedroom, it added.
They could also hide inside electrical sockets, in drawers, or even in mattress seams.
Another common warning sign of an infestation is finding blood spots on your bed sheets.
The spots may seem extra tiny, and are usually arranged in a row, it added.
If you are bitten by a bed bug, it can take up to two weeks for the bites to become itchy.
But, they can lead to red bumps and welts on the surface of your skin. The more you’re bitten, the quicker it takes for the welts to appear.
If you find that you do have a bed bug infestation, be sure to clean all bedding, curtains and clothes in hot water, and dry them on the highest setting.
Vacuum the bed and the surrounding area. After you’ve finished, be sure to empty the entire contents of the vacuum into a plastic bag, and take it straight out to the bin.