UK pest control firms flooded with bed bug calls after French insect infestation
Pest control firms are being inundated with calls about bed bugs following an infestation in France.
The nasties are on the rise in the UK, with data released by Rentokil last month finding there had been a 65% increase in infestations from 2022 to 2023. Paris has seen a bed bug-related panic, with plagues of the insects being reported in schools, hospitals and cinemas.
And experts are now warning Britons to be on the lookout for signs of bed bugs following outbreaks in the UK. Abbie Glover, of Pest Control Manchester, said the north west has seen a surge in enquiries about the pests in recent weeks.
She said: “We have seen an increase in the number of reports in the last few weeks from 30 to 40%. A lot more companies have been calling up such as hotels to find out about the proper procedures to deal with them. Bed bugs are one of the worst pests as they are so hard to get rid of and they can multiply with themselves.”
Brits have reported a huge rise in bed bug infestations (Getty Images)Luton Council in Bedfordshire said it was carrying out an ‘alarming’ number of jobs to get rid of bed bugs, while in London they have been found in offices and cars as well as homes.
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Tony King, owner of Pied Piper Pest Control based in the capital, said: We’ve been inundated with calls about bedbugs - we’ve been flat out for at least the last eight or nine months with them.”
Meanwhile, David Cain founder of London-based pest controllers Bed Bugs Limited said the problem was out of control, saying he is called out to around 15 to 20 cases a week compared to four a week in 2007. He added: “The problem is worse now than it’s been since probably the 1930s and 1940s”.
After a skin-crawling video of a suspected bed bug crawling up the trouser leg of somebody sitting on the London Underground has been viewed almost two million times on Tik Tok, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan vowed to tackle the problem and said TFL disinfected seats every day.
Mr Khan said: “We are speaking to our friends in Paris to see if there are any lessons to be learned but for a variety of reasons we don’t think those issues will arise in London; but there is no complacency from TfL.”
Bed bugs are small, brown insects that are close in size to apple seeds. They hide in mattresses, emerging at night to bite and feed on human blood. They can be spread unwittingly after latching on to clothes and luggage, with fans in France for the ongoing Rugby World Cup being warned to check their suitcases before heading back to the UK.
The problem got so bad in Paris people began dumping entire mattresses (Bloomberg via Getty Images)Usually there is an uptick in the insects in the summer months, as more people are likely to be travelling around. The return of international travel following the coronavirus pandemic is also believed to be a partial factor behind the increase.
Dr Richard Naylor, director at the Bed Bug Foundation, advised that a good way of bringing the bugs home is to keep bags off and away from the bed when visiting hotels and hospitals. Aside from spotting the creatures with the naked eye, other signs you make have a bed bug infestation include rust-coloured stains on mattresses from blood, a musty smell in the bedroom and seeing tiny, yellow eggs.
If you believe you have an outbreak, contact a pest controller accredited with the British Pest Control Association as attempting to treat the problem yourself can lead to further infestations.
Your bed bug questions answered:
What are bed bugs?
They are parasitic insects with a knack for travel. The adults are oval and flat, measuring between 4 to 6mm in length. They feed on blood, and not just people’s – they’re a known parasite of bats too.
What causes them and how do they spread?
John Horsley, technical officer at the British Pest Control Association, says: “It’s not always obvious where they’ve come from, but commonly they can be introduced to your property after attaching themselves to luggage, bags, clothes or through second-hand furniture and even laptops.
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“Bed bugs can also move from one room to another in search of food or after mating. This means that your infestation could have come from a neighbouring property if you live in a multi-occupancy building.”
Do they pose health risks?
Mr Horsley says although there are no known diseases risks associated with bed bug bites, they can lead to acute irritation and distress.
He says: “Everyone reacts differently to a bed bug bites - they can be itchy and cause painful swelling, with excessive scratching sometimes leading to infections.
“Bed bugs also cause mental distress and can, in extreme cases, lead to ongoing delusional parasitosis, even after successful treatment has eradicated the infestation.”
Why are bed bugs on the increase?
They are more active during the summer months in terms of feeding and mating, and people are travelling more during these times bringing them home with them.
Mr Horsley adds: “Studies have also found that there is an increase in resistance to some pesticides, which can make treatment difficult.
“Additionally, DIY treatment of bed bugs regularly leads to failure which sees infestations spread further.”
How do you prevent an infestation of bed bugs?
Mr Horsley says, unfortunately it’s almost impossible to prevent a bed bug infestation as they are generally spread through bad luck.
“However, you can do some things to reduce your chances of getting an infestation,” he says.
“Before staying or moving into accommodation, make sure you check for signs of bed bugs, paying particular attention to the edges of the mattress and the headboard.
“If you’re buying second-hand furniture, do not take it into your home without checking it thoroughly.”
How do you get rid of them if you are unlucky enough to get them?
Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to treat and DIY attempts are likely to fail, so the infestation will become established and spread further -
you need to call in a professional pest control company.
Mr Horsley adds that while bed bugs don’t discriminate between clean and dirty environments, regular housekeeping will help you spot the signs early.
“The sooner you know you have a problem, the easier it will be to solve.”
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