Bed bugs are more than just a nuisance. They are an extraordinarily stubborn type of infestation that can require multiple treatments to remove. Bud bugs are flat, reddish brown insects that are swollen and reddish after a meal of blood. Bed bugs can survive for up to a year without eating, which is why they are so difficult to get rid of. Infestations tend to be much more extensive than they seem on the surface.