Bed bugs feed on human blood, and their presence in homes across America and the world has grown significantly in the past few decades. Coby Schal, an entomology professor at North Carolina State University, has been studying bed bugs for the past three years, in an effort to better understand them and potentially develop better treatment methods, Technician Online reports. Schal and his team are working to find more localized ways to deal with the pests that do not involve spraying entire homes with pesticides.

"I know that they are really hard to get rid of, and I witnesses them when I was in New York," Zainab Baloch, a junior psychology major at the university, told the publication. "I heard that if they get into your mattress, then you literally have to throw it away, as well as your other furniture."

Contrary to this rumor, furniture does not need to be tossed out if bed bug infestations occur, according to American Pest Control. Instead, a bed bug mattress protector can be used to contain the infestation. It must be left on the bed for at least a year, as the insects can survive at least that long without feeding. These covers should be implemented as soon as possible to stop an infestation from spreading.