Chemical-resistant bed bugs triple in number across the UK, approaching ‘epidemic levels’ – The Sun

Scientists are now experimenting to find the best way to tackle the creepy crawlies

BED BUGS are nearing epidemic levels across Britain, with numbers of the pests estimated to have tripled in the past five years and predicted to only get WORSE in spring.

UK homes are being swamped in the nasty insects, with fears many of the mites are becoming resistant to standard chemicals usually able to wipe them out.

Reuters

British Pest control expert Ranjen Gohri warned: Bed bugs are becoming more and more common in the UK, and were close to approaching epidemic levels.

We estimate there has been around a three-fold surge in bed bugs in recent years, based on information from our pest controllers. It is a particular problem in highly-populated areas where the bugs can spread easily.

The pest expert, from 24/7 Home Rescue, said that the growth in bed bug numbers was down to the amount of people travelling between countries, as well as their growing resistance to chemicals.

Alamy

He warned that creepy crawlies also love warm conditions - bad news for Britain heading into spring.

The concerns over growing bed bug population comes asa new type of bio-pesticide was tested in the US, with researchers using a natural fungus to tackle the insects.

The fungus - beauveria bassiana - killed between 95.5 and 99 per cent of all bed bugs within 14 days - even the insecticide resistant strains.

Senior research associate in entomology Nina Jenkins experimented with a fungus called Beauveria bassiana, which invades an insects body, turning them into walking dead as it rots the corpse from the inside out.

And after a series of tests, she found the fungus killed between 95.5 and 99 per cent of all bed bugs within 14 days - even the insecticide-resistant strains.

Commenting on the study, published in the journal Pesticide Management Science, she said: Bed bugs were all but eradicated from the United States and other industrialised nations after World War II, likely due to the use of DDT and other broad-spectrum insecticides.

"But in the last few decades, they have re-emerged globally as an important public-health pest.

"In fact, high levels of resistance to four common neonicotinoids insecticides recently were detected in field populations of bed bugs."

Once in your home,bedbugscan quickly spread from room to room. Wait too long before you identify the problem, and they could completely contaminate yourhome.

- Inspect your mattress andbedregularly for signs of an infestation. Avoid buying second-hand mattresses and carefully inspect second-hand furniture before bringing it intoyour home.

- Keep yourbedroom tidy and remove clutter.Bedbugsaren't attracted to dirt, so they're not a sign of an unclean home, but clearing up any clutter will reduce the number ofplaces they can hide.

If you live in an apartment, you could be more prone to infestation, asbedbugscan move between flats.

- If you suspect youve been infected, the first thing you need to do is strip yourbedand wash the sheets and blankets in hot water, before tumble drying for at least 30minutes.

- Better still get rid of them altogether by wrapping in bin bags and disposing in a bin.

- Make sure you either throw your mattress away, or thoroughly vacuum it, and your carpet under yourbed. Then make sure you take the vacuum outside and dispose of thecontents.

- Because 30 per cent ofbedbugslive in yourbedframe and headboard, its vital that you clean those thoroughly, too.

- While vacuuming will get rid of thebugsthemselves, it wont get rid of the eggs. To do that, youll need to wipe everywhere with a good pesticide.

Adult bedbugs are oval-shaped, flat and up to 5mm long similar to an apple seed.

They don't spread any diseases, but they do suck the blood of victims and according to the NHS, some people have an adverse reaction to the bites.

While you might not spot the creatures at first, an infestation will also see blood spots appearing on your sheets, as you squash the bugs in your sleep, and an unpleasant, musty scent in your bedroom.

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Chemical-resistant bed bugs triple in number across the UK, approaching 'epidemic levels' - The Sun