There has been a significant increase in bed bug treatments in the UK this year, around a 65% increase on the previous year. This figure is based on “when a pest technician had confirmed the activity”*.
Why are bed bugs on the rise?
One reason is that we have seen an ‘explosion’ of bed bugs across France and particularly Paris, and while travel is returning to pre-pandemic levels, these pesky travellers will find their way to us. They tend to travel on people’s suitcases, travel bags and then jump onto aeroplane seats, the underground trains and the fabric on buses. They move around very easily.
The rise of second-hand furniture is another way for bed bugs to enter our homes. Visitors at your house, putting your bag on the seat next to you on a train – you can see how easily it happens.
Climate change is also likely to be a contributing factor, as most insects breed better in warmer temperatures; so if there are more hotter months in the year, then there’s more chance of insects breeding in greater numbers.
The thing about bed bugs is that they don’t discriminate. They aren’t associated with unclean spaces so we need to adjust our collective ‘shudder’ when we hear about them. The difficulty we feel is that they invade our personal space, and it can be very unsettling knowing you are being bitten while asleep, creating a sense of vulnerability. The resilience of bedbugs also makes eradication difficult, and it can be a drawn-out process, causing further frustration and distress.
What can I do to protect myself and my home from bed bugs?
When you are travelling and staying in hotels, keep your suitcase off the bed and the floor, and keep it zipped closed to stop any unwanted pests getting into your luggage and hitchhiking home with you.
Don’t leave your clothes on the floor – and check them, particularly along the seams, to ensure nothing is hiding there. Bedbugs are reddish-brown, and a few millimetres in length. If you do spot a bedbug in your room, ask to move.
If you are at home and suspect you have a bedbug infestation, act quickly by calling out a pest controller to get it dealt with as soon as possible. Although their bites won’t transmit diseases to humans, they are a nuisance and cause stress and mental health problems for victims.
Arrest The Pest offers a natural, non-toxic treatment. It is a minimum of a three-stage treatment and prices depend on the infestation. We always stress to our customers to follow all our bed bug advice and work closely with the pest controller, otherwise you’ll never solve the problem. There are tasks that homeowners can do to support the bed bug treatment, resulting in the best effectiveness.
Call us
If you would like advice or support with bed bugs or any autumnal pests, don’t hesitate to call or message Jeremy on 07766083234. We offer a very much bespoke service and we are a local team working for local customers.
*Information from Rentokil Pest Control
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