Pest controller discovers ‘hundreds of thousands’ of bedbugs in UK home in worst infestation of his career
A pest controller unearthed hundreds of thousands of bedbugs in a UK home in the ‘worst’ infestation he’d seen across his 38-year career.
Gareth Davis, owner of Pest & Property Solutions Ltd, was called out to a property in Canton, Cardiff, earlier this month.
Over his decades-long career, Davis has seen all kinds but even he was left shocked when he discovered the sheer amount of bedbugs crawling around the home.
In the first of two clips shared to Instagram, Davis, who is wearing head-to-toe protective gear, can be seen lifting up a mattress to reveal ‘hundreds of thousands’ of bedbugs crawling about.
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Sharing the grim video, Davis urged homeowners not to leave an infestation until it reached this point.
In a second clip, Davis proves that - despite the name - bedbugs aren’t confined to the mattress as he peels back a piece of wallpaper to reveal hundreds of the tiny bugs.
A caption alongside the second video warned: “When numbers get this bad, they can spread into cracks, skirting boards, furniture, electrical fittings and even behind wall coverings.
“What you can see may only be a fraction of what’s actually hiding.
“Bed bugs are experts at disappearing into the smallest spaces — which is why simply spraying what you can see isn’t enough.”
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, he said: "This house was just horrific," he told
"Hundreds of thousands of them when you lifted the mattresses up.
"They were coming out of the wallpaper, it was horrendous."
Back in July, it was reported that bedbug infestations have been on the rise in parts of the UK, with one London borough experiencing a 40 percent increase over the same period last year.
The bugs are also becoming increasingly resistant to insecticides treatments making them a nightmare to get rid of.
What are the signs of bedbugs?
Bedbugs are typically a dark yellow, red or brown colour and grow to around 5mm.
Their size means they can be hard to spot, but there are some signs to look out for.
According to the NHS, signs of a bedbug infestation include:
- Bites - usually on exposed skin while sleeping, such as the face, neck and arms
- Blood spots - you might notice blood spots on your bedding from either the bites or a squished bug
- Small brown spots - bedbug poop can turn up on furniture and bedding and looks like a small brown spot
Davis told the BBC: "You'll be bitten and you'll see blood spotting on the sheets.
"As soon as you see them you need to act."
What can you do if you have bedbugs in your home?
Bedbugs can be notoriously difficult to get rid of as they may be resistant to some insecticides.
If you think you have bedbugs, the best thing to do is call your local council or a pest control service.
Davis said that his team used specialist vacuum cleaners to clear out as many bugs as they could.
Then they treated the area with a ‘specialist insecticide’ before bagging the mattress and frames and having them incinerated.
You can also:
- Wash affected bedding and clothing on a hot wash (60C) and then put it through the dryer on hot for at least half an hour
- Put items that can’t be washed in a plastic bag in your freezer for two to three weeks
- Clean and vacuum your home and bed regularly
Topics: UK News
Claire Reid