One of the great debates in the Washington, D.C., region is whether bedbugs are a creation of the media or a bona fide scourge.

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Then the little suckers infiltrated the Reagan Building, and bedbug paranoia hit the big-time.

The truth is probably somewhere in between. Experts -- and the federal government -- agree that bedbugs have made a resurgence, but "scourge" is relative considering the bugs don't pose a health risk.

Still, as anyone who has had bedbugs would tell you, living with the pests can be stressful and getting rid of them is a pain: time-consuming, complex, and costly. And don't forget the shame, shame, shame.

Because many of us have never encountered bedbugs outside of nighttime catechisms, we're all good candidates for contributing to the bugs' resurgence.

“If we’re going to have to deal with bedbugs for the rest of our lives, we need to ask what we can do to keep from bringing bedbugs home, and what can we do about keeping bedbugs in our mind,” says Virginia Tech entomologist Dini Miller.

In other words, a little individual knowledge could prevent a lot of collective itching.

With that in mind, TBD has created the most comprehensive, straight-faced guide to dealing with bedbugs in the D.C. region, or maybe anywhere.

Bedbug basics
Preventing bedbug infestations at home
Avoiding bedbugs while traveling
Bedbug treatment
Living with bedbugs
Renting with bedbugs: Who is responsible?