Bedbugs were common in the homes of the early 1900s and their populations have dwindled over the decades only to resurge again from the late 1990s. This is due to many contributory factors including their small size, their reproductive capability, their ability to exploit refuge in incredibly small cracks and crevices, potential resilience to certain insecticides and their ability to hibernate and withstand long periods without food and live without water! Adult bedbugs can survive a year without food and their young can also survive without food for several weeks. Furthermore, they take in moisture from the air thereby negating the need for water.  

Adult bedbugs fluctuate in size, usually between 5-10mm, and their colour fluctuates between red and brown depending on how recently they have fed (had a blood meal from their host). Males and females feed from their host at night and they locate hosts by detecting warm carbon dioxide which is the gas contained in exhaled air. Their host may experience rows of bites from a bedbug in one location one a part of their body which can be explained by the bedbug repeatedly biting in search of a capillary. Their bite contains an anaesthetic and an anti-coagulant to aid uninterrupted feeding. The sites of the bites can cause distress and secondary infection from repeated itching. They deposit faeces (black marks) and skin husks which can exacerbate the symptoms of those with asthma and allergies.  

Bedbugs are notoriously hardy to exterminate once on scene so prevention is always better than cure. They lay eggs throughout their adult lives, up to 500 in their lifetime which take about 10 days to hatch or sooner during warmer conditions. An infestation may be unknowingly transferred from home to home as they can easily be concealed in luggage and old furniture. One of our expert operatives can offer advice, provide treatment and explain how to prevent a future reinfestation.