Advice for holidaymakers: avoid hitchhiking bed bugs

The insects are often prevalent in densely populated buildings, particularly those with a rapid resident turnover such as hostels, hotels, holiday camps and blocks of flats.

They will hide in bed frames and mattresses but have also been found in crevices in surrounding furniture, behind skirting boards, under loose wallpaper and even in plug sockets.

Bed bugs need to feed on blood, but their bites are sometimes mistakenly attributed to mosquitoes or other insects.

Natalie Bungay, Technical Manager at BPCA said: “Bed bugs will feed on exposed areas of skin during the night, and their bites can result in small red lumps that may be irritating and itchy.

“Everyone reacts to bed bug bites differently, and while there are no known disease risks, bites can become infected through excessive scratching.

“Anyone who discovers these bites alongside any other signs of bed bugs while on holiday should immediately report it to the accommodation manager or provider and ask for treatment to be carried out by a trained and experienced professional.”

Other signs of bed bugs include:

• Small reddish-brown clusters or dark faecal spots (similar to ink dots) on the bed frame, upholstery or underside of the mattress
• Small blood smears on bed linen or headboard
• Bed bug moult skins, pale white eggs, or empty egg shells – these are quite small but still visible to the human eye
• Seeing the insects themselves in and around the bed frame or sleeping area.

Bed bugs are natural hitchhikers and will hide in luggage, bedding and clothing, which can then transport them to a new location.

Natalie added: “If you have been on holiday and experienced any signs of bed bugs, it is important to do everything you can to avoid bringing them home with you.

“Washing holiday clothes at a minimum of 60° is a good start, as is examining your luggage carefully - however, neither of these are failsafe methods.

“A bed bug infestation is distressing and in extreme cases can lead to ongoing delusional parasitosis, even after successful treatment.

“If you return home and find bed bugs have hitched a ride, contact a BPCA member as soon as possible.”

BPCA members are trained, experienced professionals with access to a range of specialist products not available to the public.

They are trained, qualified and regularly assessed to the British Standard in Pest Management BS EN 16636.

BPCA members are also endorsed by the Government via the TrustMark quality scheme.

To find a BPCA member, visit: bpca.org.uk/find.