Bed bugs biting as infestation spreads

Cases of bed bugs being reported in the Black Country and Staffordshire are on the up, new figures show.

In Wolverhampton, reports of infestations have jumped more than four-fold in just six years.

The reddish-brown creatures, which are the size of an apple seed and live on blood, normally hide in mattresses carpets and furniture crevices and are a reddish-brown colour. The increase in cases has been put down to more people travelling and the boom in second hand furniture sales.

People who react to being bitten can develop a small red lump and, despite common myths, the bugs don't pick a dirty house over a clean one.

Those who have an infestation in their home can call out the council pest control department to help get rid of them. In Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Stafford it is a free service.

In 2002, Wolverhampton City Council was called out to 15 bed bug infestations, 67 in 2008 and 48 so far in 2009.

Councillor Barry Findlay, cabinet member for environment, said: "The increase reflects a trend found in other developed cities.

"There is a lack of awareness of bed bug infestations owing to the crevice-dwelling behaviour of bed bugs and resistance to some insecticides.

"But if anyone does have any concerns about bed bugs and they contact us, we will be happy to give them advice and help give them a peaceful night's sleep."

Stafford Borough Council has had 18 requests to deal with infestations since April 1, following nine cases in the whole of 2008-09 and six in 2007-08.

Council spokesman Will Conaghan said there was a steady trend of increasing numbers of calls to deal with bed bugs.

"This is a type of infestation that requires professional help to deal with," he added.

Councillor Mahboob Hussain, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, said: "Anecdotally, there does seem to have been an increase in the reporting of bed bugs in Sandwell over recent years."