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As the threat of a serious bedbug invasion takes hold of transport from the UK to Italy, the thought of the tiny pests is more than enough to make skin crawl.
For those travelling this autumn, there’s a chance hitchhiking bedbugs may have made themselves at home on clothing and luggage ready for a rent-free life in mattresses and skirting boards.
A Qantas flight from Italy to Australia was cancelled after the aircraft had to be grounded for a “deep clean” following a bedbug outbreak.
Southeastern trains operating from the affected West Marina train depot near Hastings in East Sussex have also reportedly been taken out of service as a result of bedbugs in October.
Here’s how to check if you’re rooming with an uninvited plus one and what to do if you spot the bloodsucking bugs in your hotel room.
Read more: ‘Bedbug Express’: Trains cancelled after pests spotted on Southeastern railway
What are bedbugs and what do they look like?
Bedbugs are wingless, small, dark yellow, red or brown insects with oval, flat bodies that feed on animal and human blood.
They typically bite the head, arms and legs – areas on show while you are sleeping – in a zig-zag pattern of raised red bites that are known to be itchy but are unlikely to cause other health problems.
Are bedbugs common?
Cases of bedbugs are rising by about 20 per cent a year in London and other major European cities, a bedbug monitoring company has said.
The blood-sucking pests were seen in one in every 42 hotel rooms observed by Valpas, which produces bedbug traps and monitors, The Times reported.
While there has been a huge rise in global bedbug numbers in the last decade, frequent travel and insecticide resistance are predicted to be escalating the problem now.
Dr Cassie Krejci, vice president of transformation at pest management company Forshaw, said: “Bedbugs are a problem for all travellers, regardless of destination. They are not a symptom of uncleanliness or bad habits otherwise, but rather the consequence of an insect’s success.”
“Visitors should worry about bringing bed bugs home from any trip, particularly those in cities where we are seeing a notable increase in the number of infestations reported.”
How can I check for bedbugs in my hotel room?
As the presence of bedbugs isn’t determined by cleanliness, even five-star suites put you at risk of taking home the unwelcome house guests.
Although the bugs are particularly hard to get rid of or even spot with your own eyes, there are tips to detect the tiny insects once you’ve checked in.
“My biggest tip is to always roll your suitcase into the bathroom or another tiled area prior to starting an inspection of your hotel room”, Krejci recommends.
- Turn off the lights – Before you unpack, turn off the lights and use your phone’s torch to inspect your hotel room for the best chance of spotting the nocturnal bugs.
- Check the mattress, furniture and appliances – Bedbugs are most commonly found in the crevices and seams of mattresses and sleeping areas. Rust-coloured brown and red dots, exoskeletons, tiny blackish specks (dried excrement) and small yellow eggs can all be indicators of a bedbug infestation.
- Follow your nose – A musty odour from the bugs’ alarm pheromones, sometimes likened to the scent of expired raspberries or coriander, is a tell-tale sign of a large group of bedbugs.
- Lift wall hangings – Bedbugs are expert hiders; dark stains on the walls or in picture frames would clue you into their presence even if you don’t come across the bugs themselves.
Krejci adds that cushions and throw pillows should also receive the same “flip and inspect” treatment upon arrival.
What should I do if I spot bedbugs in my hotel?
“Most hotels will have protocols in place that involve relocating you and guests in adjoining rooms to mitigate the spread of bedbugs, along with contacting a professional pest control company for inspection and treatment of the infested areas,” said Krejci.
- Notify hotel staff or your rental host immediately with photos of the bedbug evidence you have found.
- Keep your luggage away from the bed and walls by storing it in the bathroom – preferably on a clean countertop.
- Do not store clothing in chests of drawers. Instead, use the wardrobe, as bedbugs can’t fly.
- Once home, seal your luggage in a dark plastic bag and unpack your clothes on a hardwood floor away from the bedroom so you can spot any suitcase stowaways.
- Dry every item of clothing from your case straight away in the tumble dryer to kill any bugs that crept past customs.
Read more: Passengers stranded in Italy after bedbug outbreak grounds long-haul flight to Australia
