Experts warn bedbugs are on the rise in Ireland and share key tips to spot them – Irish Mirror

Pest control experts have advised the public to be on the alert for the presence of bed bugs, especially those who might be returning from a staycation this summer.

Rentokil has said that the likelihood of bed bugs spreading is increased by Irish holidaymakers returning home from their staycations because a common cause for their spread is the transportation of the pests through clothing and other baggage.

Therefore, a hotel or rental accommodations bed bug problem can easily be transported into a domestic residence.

Hotels, B&Bs and holiday rentals are regarded as areas of high risk due to the volume of guests that pass through them.

Bed bugs feed on human blood, usually when homeowners are asleep, and their bites can become sore and itchy in some cases.

For any people who do unintentionally bring bed bugs into their home, they're being asked to check their luggage before packing and unpacking, inspect the bed, wash and dry clothes at the highest possible temperatures, eliminate clutter, and vacuum thoroughly.

These steps can reduce the size of the bed bug population but may not eliminate the problem entirely. If the problem persists, its advisable to call a professional pest control service.

In terms of the indicative signs that bed bugs are present, they include:

Unsurprisingly, Dublin is the county that has accounted for the most callouts for bed bugs so far this year, with 38% of all callouts to the capital.

Elsewhere, Cork (21%), Galway (10%), Kerry (8%) and Monaghan (5%) are the next four counties that accounted for the most callouts for bed bugs from Rentokil.

Speaking on this issue, Richard Faulkner, Advanced Technical Field Consultant for Rentokil has said: Bed bugs lay eggs and multiply at alarming rates, and the size of these pests can make them difficult to spot. As the summer comes to an end and people return from staycations across the country, this, unfortunately, increases the risk of returning home with unwanted guests.

"We consider hotels, B&Bs and holiday rentals to be areas of high risk due to the volume of guests that pass through them. We recommend that holidaymakers be vigilant in both inspecting their room and luggage for signs of bed bugs. We also recommend that if accommodation owners become aware of a bed bug infestation, they have it taken care of immediately

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Experts warn bedbugs are on the rise in Ireland and share key tips to spot them - Irish Mirror