Bed Bug Pest Control
Bed Bugs - Climex Lectularius

In the 1930's one third of all London homes were infected with bed bugs, with the introduction of DDT they were massively reduced. The EU has banned the use of many pesticides and bed bugs are back with a vengeance. Bed bugs are wingless, mahogany brown in colour, 5-7 mm long an oval in shape. The female will lay eggs all her adult life, generally 2-3 a day and around 500 in her lifetime. Eggs hatch to a nymph in about 10 days, if at room temperature. These nymphs will molt about 5 times to reach adulthood and must feed between each molt. Adults can live around 1 year without feeding. Bed bugs are a common parasite of man but can also feed on rodents, chickens, bats, etc.

​They do not carry disease but bites can become infected. They feed mostly at night and find a victim by homing in on temperature, CO 2 and perspiration from the host. A feed will take about 10 min's and they can take 7 times their body weight in blood. Treatment cannot be done half heartedly; it needs to be very thorough to be effective. Bed bugs don’t just live on your bed, they get everywhere, in mattresses, bed bases, in furniture and lighting switches, under skirting, inside books, anywhere and everywhere. Bedding and soft furnishings need to be washed or tumble dried on a high setting. Approved insecticides including sprays and dusts will be applied, not only to infected rooms but also any adjoining rooms. A follow up visit is then planned in around 10 days for another inspection and treatment as necessary.