Bedbugs

Bedbugs are small, parasitic insects that feed on blood. They are nocturnal pests commonly found in:

• homes,
• hotels, and
• public transport.

Although bedbugs are not known to transmit diseases, their bites can cause itching, discomfort, and allergic reactions. Infestations can spread quickly through luggage, clothing, and second-hand furniture. Prevention and early detection are really important.

Identifying bedbugs

Adult bedbugs have small, flat, oval-shaped bodies. They are light brown to reddish-brown in colour and will swell and become a bright red in colour just after feeding. Eggs can be difficult to spot unless you are looking for them. They are usually white in colour and about the same size as a grain of salt.

Unlike fleas, bedbugs do not jump but move quickly over surfaces.

Bedbug life cycle

Bedbugs hatch from eggs. Immature bedbugs are called nymphs. Nymphs go through 5 stages of immaturity where they shed their exoskeleton before reaching mature adult bedbugs. Bedbugs increase in their size with each shedding, and it may be difficult to identify them until their later nymph stages. Bedbugs are also capable of living for up to a year without feeding, so leaving them to starve won't always work.

Females will often move on after mating to avoid being harassed by males. This leads to an infestation spreading throughout a property and other nearby properties.

Signs of bedbugs

• Bites
  Many people do not react to bedbug bites because they assume they are something else entirely, such as eczema or spots. If you have a number of bites in a localised area, check for other signs of bedbugs to either confirm or rule them out.
• Faecal stains
  Bedbug faeces typically appear as tiny brown or black smears with no red streaks, despite the fact they consume blood. If there are a lot of these visible smears on a mattress, bed frame or furniture then it could be a sign of an infestation.
• Shed exoskeletons
  Typically shedding once a day until reaching full maturity, bedbugs will leave behind an exoskeleton with each shed. Despite being small and transparent, enough of them in one area should be noticeable and is a sign of an infestation.
• Dead bedbugs
  If there is an infestation, some will naturally be squashed as we sleep. If you suspect an infestation, check the surrounding area for dead bedbugs.

Preventing infestation

• Inspect beds and furniture when traveling and keep luggage off the floor. They can hide in luggage, clothing and personal belongings. This lets them spread to new locations easily.
• Avoid bringing second-hand furniture into your home without thorough inspection and cleaning. Bringing used furniture, mattresses, or clothing into your home without proper inspection and cleaning can introduce bedbugs.
• Regularly vacuum and declutter your home to get rid of potential hiding spots. Bedbugs thrive when they have numerous places to hide. Decluttering your home will expose hiding spots.

Book an appointment

Book a pest control appointment​​​​​​​

Before your appointment

• Inform technicians if you have any allergies or pets.
• Clear the bedroom floor area of items, (including children's toys) by placing them in a large bag (such as bin bags). Keep the bag in the bedroom to avoid infesting other areas. This is to allow easy access to all areas and to save time on the day of treatment. These bags will remain open so that the contents can be treated by the fog-based insecticide. It is important that these bags remain in the room in which the contents came from to prevent the spread of insects to other areas of the property.
• Take pictures and mirrors off all the walls and put them in a bag.
• Electrical items in the bedrooms such as TV's, videos, computers, alarm clocks etc should also be placed in a bag.
• All bedding should be stripped from the bed and put through a hot wash on the day of treatment. If your bed has drawers and there are clothes and bedding in them, they should be washed in the same way. Clothes in bed side cabinets, chest of drawers and wardrobes should also be removed and washed before the treatment. When the technician carries out the treatment, please make sure all cupboards, drawers and wardrobes are empty so that the insecticide can be applied to those areas. The contents also need to be bagged in the same way as described previously.

Cancelling an appointment

You must give 24 hours' notice to cancel an appointment.