PEST CONTROL
What we need to know about bed bugs
Sophie Thorogood, Technical Training Manager at pest control solutions manufacturer and supplier Pelsis, discusses how bed bugs have evolved and adapted over the years, and why understanding their changing behaviour is key to effective monitoring, prevention and control.
Bed bugs have long been one of the most persistent challenges facing the pest management industry, but today’s infestations present a very different picture to those of a decade ago.
Increased international travel, growing urbanisation and changing pest
behaviours are all contributing to a rise in infestations, while evidence of insecticide resistance is making effective control more complex than ever before. For accommodation providers, facilities managers and pest professionals alike, this changing landscape demands a more proactive and specialist approach.
Bed bugs have often been associated with travel and temporary accommodation, such as hotels and hostels, but the reality is they can appear almost anywhere humans spend time resting. Today, these resilient pests are found across a wide range of commercial and residential settings, from student accommodation and care homes to offices, hospitals and public transport. Their ability to hitchhike unnoticed means they can be picked up in many different settings.
For cleaning and facilities professionals, this changing landscape presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While pest management companies remain responsible for treating infestations, cleaning teams are often the first to identify the warning signs. With the right knowledge and processes in place, they can play a vital role in helping to prevent a small problem from becoming a costly one.
Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are not attracted to dirt or poor hygiene. Instead, they are attracted to people. As human activity has become increasingly mobile, so too have bed bugs, hitchhiking between cities, countries and continents with remarkable efficiency as human movement has expanded. A single introduction can quickly develop into a widespread infestation if not identified and managed promptly.
What makes bed bugs particularly challenging is their remarkable ability to remain hidden. During daylight hours, they seek shelter in cracks, crevices, bed frames, skirting boards, upholstered furniture, behind headboards – even in electrical sockets, emerging primarily at night to feed. Their flattened bodies allow them to squeeze into spaces little wider than a credit card, making thorough inspections both time-consuming and technically demanding.
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Adding to this challenge is the growing evidence that many bed bug populations are becoming less susceptible to insecticides which have historically been relied upon for control. Through repeated exposure over many years, certain populations have developed resistance mechanisms that reduce the effectiveness of some active ingredients, meaning treatments that may once have achieved satisfactory control are no longer sufficient when used in isolation.
This evolution doesn’t mean bed bugs are impossible to eradicate, but it does highlight why successful management increasingly relies on professional expertise, detailed inspections and integrated pest management strategies rather than a single product or one-off application. For example, steam can be used in conjunction with an insecticide application to target bed bugs effectively.
Early detection remains one of the most important factors in preventing a minor issue from becoming a significant operational and financial problem. Bed bugs reproduce quickly, with females capable of laying hundreds of eggs during their lifetime. As populations grow, they become increasingly difficult to contain, particularly in buildings where rooms, apartments or communal areas are closely connected.
For facilities managers and property operators, recognising the early warning signs can significantly reduce the scale of an outbreak. Occupants may report bites, although these should never be used to confirm the presence of bed bugs, as skin reactions vary considerably between individuals.
More reliable indicators include small dark spotting on mattresses or bedding caused by bed bug excrement, tiny pale eggs hidden within seams and cracks, shed insect skins as nymphs develop through successive life stages, or live insects concealed around beds and furniture.
Complaints should always be investigated promptly. Delaying action while waiting for additional reports allows infestations valuable time to spread, increasing both treatment complexity and associated costs. In hospitality environments particularly, swift investigation also plays an important role in protecting guest confidence and safeguarding business reputation.
Routine inspections should form part of wider pest management programmes, particularly in sectors where there is frequent occupant turnover. Housekeeping teams, maintenance staff and facilities managers are often best placed to identify subtle changes during routine cleaning
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