Remember the old saying, "Good night; sleep tight; don't let the bed bugs bite?"

Well, the bugs are biting in record numbers.

They are small, brown, oval in shape and ugly.  Bed bugs prefer to dine on humans; their bites look like small mosquito bites.

They are not known to spread diseases.

But bed bugs are always looking for places to live - and eat. 

"They are spreading faster now then in recent history, and they are very hard to get rid of," Shad Mattingly, Mattingly Home Furnishings (www.mattinglyfurnishings.com), said.

Located at 5001 Pacific Avenue SW in Lacey, the store is owned by Mattingly and his wife, Lisa.

"Bed bugs live in clean and dirty houses, and they don't just live in bed mattresses," Mattingly said.

Not only has there been a rise nationwide in the number of bed bugs, there has also been a corresponding ability on the part of the bugs to resist attempts to eradicate them.

In a recent study titled "Biochemical and Molecular Analysis of Deltamethrin Resistance in the Common Bed Bug," studies showed that some bed bugs are growing immune to some commonly used pesticides.

In fact, the study claimed that bed bugs in New York City are 264 percent more pesticide resistant than bed bug strains found in Florida.

So what is one to do?

"The first thing to remember is to be cautious about where you buy your furniture," Mattingly explained.

"Used furniture - the upholstery - is a favorite spot for bed bugs to live.  If you buy used, check it over thoroughly."

As to mattresses?

They are the ideal place for bed bugs to live.  Figures.

If bed bugs are found, Mattingly said to take quick action as the problem will only get worse.

While there are a number of pest control remedies on the market, they can be unreliable and time consuming.

To combat the problem, a thorough cleaning is the first order of business.  Wash all sheets, comforters (separately from clothing) and scrub floors and surfaces.

Secondly, carefully inspect all furniture with an eye for cracks or rips in upholstery and mattresses.

"You can buy a bug resistant mattress cover," Mattingly counseled.

As to infested furniture, he said that extermination can be difficult and replacement of the affected piece may be the best solution.

"Last, a professional exterminator can come into your home and solve the problem," Mattingly said.

For more information about bed bugs and how to deal with them, visit www.mnn.com.