So what are bed bugs, anyway? Everyone has heard of them. They're essentially little bugs that are nocturnal and feed off human blood. There are actually a lot of different kinds, including some that feed off certain types of animals like chickens, but the ones most people are worried about live mainly off humans. They usually live inside of mattresses, where they have convenient access to a food source - you. They crawl out just before dawn and bite you, sucking out blood for about five minutes. You don't feel anything until after the bed bug is already safely back in its home. They will usually bite once a week or so, and they can actually live for a long time without feeding - usually six months, but sometimes over a year.