House Of Parliament Crawling With Bed Bugs?

OK so I know this would creep many people out, and some would say it’s not the bed bugs that are the real pests in parliament…….but it seems bed bugs are not afraid to annoy the powers that be!

We’re not talking about Canberra here either, we’re talking the Houses of Parliament in the UK.

According to an article in the Standard.co.uk, London’s Houses of Parliament is crawling with bed bugs.

“A statement on parliament’s intranet system read: “It is clear that the infestation did not originate on the parliamentary estate and was brought in from outside,” it said.”

It’s thought that the infestation could of been prevalent for 100’s of years, and has meant many politicians calling for the complete renovation of the premises. So this got us thinking…….what bed bug horror stories can we dig up?

What Are Bed Bugs?

If you’ve ever had a bed bug infestation, you’ll understand that these little critters are not only a nuisance, but certainly not an insect that you want anywhere near your home or family.  Whilst they are one of the most common household pests, and have been infesting homes for time and again, the can be tricky to remove, especially if the infestation has be prevalent for a long period of time.

They are small wingless insects and can be found all over the world. They feed on the blood of humans and have highly developed mouth parts that can pierce the skin easily.  They cause reddening around the area where they bit, but as it’s painless, the victim generally only know they’ve been bitten when the itching starts and the skin around the bite begins to become more red.

Typical Features Of Bed Bugs

  • are wingless
  • are half a centimetre long
  • have a flat, oval-shaped body
  • have six legs
  • are light brown in colour, changing to rust-red after a meal of blood
  • have a squat head
  • have large antennae
  • have large mouth parts (mandibles)
  • have a complex life-cycle involving many stages of development
  • have the ability to survive without feeding for months at a time
  • are susceptible to extremes of temperature

Source: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/bedbugs

Bed Bug Horror Stories

 As you know from some of our previous posts, we get to see and hear some amazing pest infestation stories. Because we are pest guys, we also like to hear stories from all over the world. Below are some bed bug horror stories from around the world.

1. Living With Bed Bugs

2.  Bed Bug Hostel Story

3. Baby Bed Bug Story

4. A Pest Controllers Story

This is one of the worst infestations you’ll ever see.

What To Do If You Have Bed Bugs

As one of the oldest pest control companies in Adelaide, we’ve seen our fair share of infestations. While family homes can be prone to bed bugs, large infestations are more common in hotels and hostels (travellers accommodation).

The most common method of control includes application of synthetic pyrethroid insecticides. If the problem is excessive, removal of items such as mattresses, beds, pillows and sheets may be required. In some cases it will be recommended that these items be removed from the premises and destroyed.

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