Millions of bedbugs were seen crawling out of a mattress and from behind wallpaper in an outbreak described as the worst a pest controller had ever seen. Gareth Davies from Pest & Property Solutions Ltd, who has worked as a pest controller for nearly 40 years, called it the worst he had seen in his whole career.
Infestation found in Canton home
Gareth was called to the private house of a vulnerable individual in Canton on Tuesday, October 6. The bedbug outbreak was found mainly in the main bedroom and had spread from the mattress to behind the wallpaper.
“The size of this infestation says that it has been building over the last two years because there were hundreds and hundreds of thousands of bedbugs,” he said. A video taken by Gareth shows him peeling off the wallpaper and lifting a mattress to reveal thousands of bedbugs emerging from behind it. “It was horrific,” he added.
Rise in cases linked to travel and climate
Gareth said bedbug cases have increased massively since the start of his career. “10 years ago, we would probably get five bedbug jobs a year, at the moment, I'm getting five a week.” He believes the increase could be due to more travelling, as the insects are easily transmitted on clothing or suitcases.
He also said the change in weather conditions could be another cause. “Our climates are getting warmer and warmer. Not so much we would notice, but certainly from a bedbug point of view and cockroaches, it's perfect breeding conditions,” he said. The effect of being bitten varies with each person: one can easily get a “massive skin reaction” whilst another may not notice they have been bitten.
Treatment plan and advice
To tackle the infestation, a specialist vacuum is first used to remove as many piles of bedbugs as possible, followed by a specialist insecticide to kill the rest. Gareth plans to return on Monday, October 12 to bag and incinerate components of the bedroom like the mattress and bed, and steam equipment will be used to melt the remaining eggs.
Gareth said it will take a four-week programme until no trace of bedbugs is found in the property. “We hit it with steam, insecticide, steam, insecticide, until no more,” he added. For those suspecting bedbugs, the main sign is blood on the sheets, as bedbugs feed at night. He also advised checking corners of a mattress and the headboard for “any dark spots”.
