Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) probably cause greater revulsion than any other insect that invades our homes, these blood-sucking little beasts are thriving like never before and their food..........is YOU !

Lancashire Pest Control deal with bed bug infestations throughout the Lancashire & Manchester Area, swiftly, effectively and discreetly. Ring us we'll get to you fast.

Bed bugs, once almost extinct have staged a miraculous recover and are now public enemy number one.

One of the most hated, feared and misunderstood pests known to man is the bed bug (Cimex lectularius). How many of us dozed off to sleep at night as young ones with the words of our parents in our ears ‘sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite’?

Bed bugs probably started to feed on man at about the time we moved into caves, the ‘bat bugs’ Cimex pilosellus and Cimex pipistrella primarily feed on bats and it is probable that bat feeding species of bug evolved to dine on human blood when our ancesters started dwelling in bat infested caves.

Until the invention of DDT in the early 20th century bed bugs were common unwelcome guests in much low quality homes.

The later part of the 20th century saw pest control companies dealing with very few bed bug problems indeed, their presence being largely restricted to cheap holiday camps and student accomodation etc.

Many people confuse dust mites, which are not visible to the naked eye, with bed bugs which certainly are.

Adult bedbugs are reddy-brown, about a quarter of an inch in size and very swollen after a meal of our blood.

They experience an incomplete metamorphosis which means that the babies are just smaller copies of the adult, they don't have a maggot stage like fleas or flies.

Bed bugs typically feed on human blood every 7 – 10 days, emerging in the hours before dawn and sensing their prey by detecting the exhaled carbon dioxide from respiration and when nearing in on their target, infra red body heat.

In the absence of a suitable human host to feed on they can [lay|lie|stay|remain dormant for periods of up to 18 months.

Signs of a bed bug infestation are spots of blood on bedding and on the underside of mattresses and some people can react badly to their bites.

The early 21st century has seen bed bug numbers increase across the world, the easy availability of international travel and economic migration have both been blamed for the come back.

What is certain is that thet are now making a major comeback not only in low quality homes but high class hotels, schools and even hospitals.

One London borough reports a doubling of bed bug problems every single year from 1995 – 2001.

Just one night away in an infested hotel is all it takes, they hitch a ride in your suitcases or bags. Pest control companies are also now reporting instances of transport related bug infestations on tubes, trains and buses so a simple journey to work on an infested bus or train can be sufficient to spread the infestation to your home.

They are an expensive pest to eradictate as contrary to popular mythology they do not just live in beds. They infest any nook and cranny conveniently close to a sleeping human, beds, electrical sockets, televisions, bed-side bed side telephones etc and dealing with them is both difficult and time consuming. They have even been found living beneath the toe-nails of infirm people and in the folds of flesh on heavily over-weight people.

They are not a pest that can be eradicated by an amateur and a professional will almost certainly be [needed|required.

Bed Bugs feed on blood and they can survive for long periods of time without feeding. Bed Bugs, although traditionally associated with poor, overcrowded and unhygienic conditions, are becoming increasingly common in modern, clean housing due to the increased availability of foreign travel to areas where they are prevalent. 

It is not usually necessary to destroy bedding etc. as modern treatments bring swift and effective relief from these pests.

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES attempt treatment yourself as you are almost certain to make matters worse.