How common are bed bugs in the UK?

The antiquity of bed bugs in the UK begins a while before WWII. The Cimex lectularius is the sort of bed bug that is indigenous to continental Europe and the UK. Bed bugs weren’t common in the UK until the 1930s and ever since then, the dilemma has grown.

In fact, after WWII, it was confirmed that nearly 30% of British homes were infested with these dreadful bugs.

Due to a major increase in bed bugs, their population increased. This was because of the heating structures used in homes, which created more enjoyable living conditions for bed bugs to live in.

Where do bed bugs come from?

Bed bugs are small insects which feed on blood. Bed bugs are related to ticks and fleas and are found all over the world. The most common bed bug species is Climex lectularius which is found all around the world.

As the name Climex lectularius suggests, these bed bugs feed primarily on mammalian and bird blood. Bed bugs do not fly but they can crawl quite a long distance. Also, adult bugs are typically brown and around 4mm in length.

So, the question is how common are bed bugs in the UK? Well, recent studies show that plague levels have amplified significantly over the last decade and over half a million homes were stated to be perhaps diseased between 2009-10 and 2010-11.

The regional difference is also seeming with Northern regions where occurrence was slightly above average at 6% while London had an infestation rate of over 10%.

In August 2011, the largest ever survey of UK hotels showed that 1 in 10 rooms examined had bed bugs present. There is also evidence that bed bugs are developing increasingly resistant to available pesticides.

How to prevent bed bugs?

There are a range of ways to avoid bed bugs. The first way is if you are going on a holiday and staying in a hotel, we suggest you check your bed within the hotel for bed bugs, to prevent you from both being bitten, and stop the chance of you taking them home with you.

Another form of primary avoidance is more focused on your health. Things like dust mites and bed bugs are proven to be the cause of 25% of all allergies and 50% of all asthmatic allergies.

A wonderful way to ensure you and your family’s health isn’t affected by these nasty little critters is by finding some anti-allergy bedding.

If you are assured, you have bed bugs then it is better to call a professional pest controller in as they are experienced and will know how to permanently remove the bed bugs. Although, you can take some actions, such as keeping clear of impacted areas, washing any clothes which might have come into contact and using a tumble dryer to dry them which will kill the remaining bugs.

Bed bugs are a nasty slight problem which unfortunately seems to be on the rise. Being as informed as possible will help you both avoid them and help you deal with them if they somehow manage to sneak into your home.