Bed bugs are parasitic insects whose name derives from their preferred habitat: warm houses and especially near or inside beds and bedding.

They are renowned for leaving itchy, red bumps and welts over the human body.

Leading Australian entomologist Ion Staunton shares some facts about bed bugs and debunks some common myths.

One common myth is that beg bugs are transferred onto luggage on airport carousels, but Mr Staunton said usually this is not the case.

“Bed bugs are not spread through transit means like the airport,” Mr Staunton said.

“They are transferred from sleeping accommodation premises and can be transferred from the bed to clothes or baggage, and can be carried into your home.”

According to the entomologist, they don't live unless they can get regular blood meals from humans.

Unlike mosquitoes, Mr Staunton said that he doesn’t believe they can transfer diseases.

He also said most of the time people don’t know if they have bed bugs until they are bitten.

However, people can determine the culprit through hiring a pest controller who can exterminate them through methods using spray or steam.

“The steam will boil the eggs and kill the young ones with the heat,” Mr Staunton said. “In places like Europe there are dogs that can be trained to sniff out bed bugs. They can find them faster than pest controllers.”