Bed bug season normally begins at the end of spring each year and ends at the beginning of the month in November, coinciding with the time most people head away on their holidays
Holidaymakers should look out for seven classic warning signs of bed bugs when staying in hotels.
Of all the common pest infestations in the UK, bed bugs are by far the most disruptive to everyday life. The night-time critters invade bedrooms to drink human blood in a vampiric manner, causing slight reddening of the skin, itchiness and mental anguish.
Last year the bed bug population had a big moment when their populations swelled in European capitals such as Paris, where writhing masses of the critters took over hotel rooms and were spotted bursting out of the padded seats of a public train.
Bed bug season normally begins at the end of spring each year and ends at the beginning of the month in November, coinciding with increased summer travel. Although it is not yet clear whether the scary heights of 2023 will be reached this year, the British Pest Control Association told the Mirror that, anecdotally, call-outs are up.
Research by Direct Line found that there was a 23% increase in callouts for bedbugs last year, from 11,819 visits in 2022 to 14,587 in 2023.
If you don’t fancy bringing home an unpleasant surprise with you from your next holiday, then it’s important to avoid hotel rooms and holiday lets which have bed bug infestations. The experts at Online-Bedrooms.co.uk have shared tell-tale signs that suggest a room is harbouring nasty bed bugs. These tiny creatures can often be found nesting in the mattress but they can also be found in carpets, sofas and blankets.
Nic Shacklock, from Online-Bedrooms.co.uk, said: “Finding bed bugs in your room is a real-life nightmare come true. The critters can be found all over the bedroom from the mattress to the carpet which is why it’s important to check every item of furniture in case they’ve creeped their way into the fabric.
“Some of the common signs which indicate their presence include dark patches on the wall and blood spots on bed sheets. Make sure to take preventive measures to remove their presence immediately if you notice any of these signs.”
Seven signs there may be bed bugs in your hotel room include:
- Blood: bed bugs are easily squashed and when this happens, they tend to leave a lot of blood. If you notice any red patches in your sheets or around the seams of your mattress, they’ve likely been lurking around.
- Musty odours: The smell of bed bugs has an unsettling musty aroma which comes from their scent glands. Regularly check underneath the bed and on the mattress itself for a foul aroma.
- Eggs: An obvious sign of bedbugs is the eggs they surround themselves with. They’re typically around 1mm wide and can be found and have a pale-yellowish appearance. Any signs of eggs mean an infestation is likely.
- Morning itches: If you’re waking up itching, then you could be sharing a bed with the nasty critters. Not all bite marks show up straight away which can explain the need for excessive scratching.
- Dark spots on walls: Bed bugs don’t just linger in the mattress, they also like to crawl up walls. If you notice dark spots along the walls it’s a sign that they’ve been lurking around.
- White spots on furniture: Bed bugs can commonly be found on other furniture such as sofas, bed frames, and clothing. Signs of their eggs are white spots among the furniture and other belongings.
- Red lumps: If you’ve woken up with red, itchy lumps around your body, it’s likely the critters have bitten you in the night. What makes bedbug bites distinct is how the bite patterns are usually grouped in a line, whereas other bugs such as mosquitoes and fleas don’t bite in this formation.
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