Bugs from France could be on way to a bed near you
ALOCAL pest control firm say they have seen a surge in reports about bed bugs.
Abbie Glover, Director of Pest Control Manchester, who work across Greater Manchester and East Lancashire, says they have seen a jump of between 30 and 40 percent in people contacting them about the bugs in the last month.
These include hotels and businesses enquiring about the procedures for dealing with them, as well as residents who fear they have got into their homes.
It comes amid national fears a widespread bed bug invasion could be looming.
Data released by Rentokil last month said there had been a 65 percent increase in infestations from 2022 to 2023.
There has been an outbreak in Paris in recent weeks whilst there have also been unconfirmed sightings on the London Underground.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) said it had not been made aware of any issues but that upholstery on trams and buses in the region were being deep cleaned with ‘specialist tools’ and that specialist contractors had been lined up in the event of any suspected outbreaks.
“We’ve definitely had an upsurge in people thinking they’ve got them,” Abbie said. “We are doing a lot more inspections. “
Abbie said her company initially runs people with concerns through a questionnaire.
She said sometimes people who have been bitten by mosquitos or other bugs or ticks can assume they have bed bugs.
If they are unsure the firm sends staff to carry out inspections and she said around 70 percent of those who booked appointments with their specialists were found to have an infestation.
“The tell-tale sign is if people are getting bitten in clusters or in lines,” she said.
“If that is the case we can say fairly certainly they’ve got an infestation.
“If it’s unclear we send someone round and they check the property. Mattresses are the obvious place but although they are called bed bugs they can live on any furniture.
“They like wood as well so headboards or cracks in any woodwork are another hotspot.”
If they are found they spray the entire property
with a pesticide and then ten days later is sprayed for a second time. “However Abbie said the procedure wasn’t cheap and was often difficult.
“Sometimes they can need more treatment.
“There have been cases where we’ve had to go back eight times as they are very resilient” she said.
A single mated female that comes into a home can cause an infestation without having a male present which increased the risk of spreading to homes.
Abbie said her advice was: “If people are conscious of going on public transport, or think they have been exposed check your clothing when you get in and give it a hot wash. Anything above 40 degrees will kill anything on there. The same for sheets as well.
“And also don’t use home treatments or anything like that as they don’t work and can actually make things worse in the long run. With a bed bug infestation, the quicker you can notice it and do something about it, the quicker they are to get rid of.”
For more information about the services that the company offers, contact 0161 210 2536 or visit www.pestcontrolmanchester.org