Bed bug invasion in Heilbronn: Hotels and households in danger!

Bed bug invasion in Heilbronn: Hotels and households in danger!

The plague of bed bugs has reached unprecedented levels in Heilbronn and the Heilbronn-Franconia region. After many years of supposed extinction, these unpleasant bloodsuckers are back and multiplying rapidly. Hoteliers, landlords and private households increasingly have to deal with unwanted guests. According to a report by Echo24 Bed bugs are discovered in hotels, guest rooms, youth hostels and even refugee accommodation.

Pest controllers are seeing an increase in bed bug control operations in the region. The German Alpine Association is already warning of the spread in mountain huts. Bed bugs, which are a maximum of 8.5 millimeters in size and are nocturnal, are particularly insidious. Female bed bugs lay up to two eggs per day and can lay between 200 and 500 eggs in total. The larvae hatch after just six to 17 days.

Reasons for return

In recent years, many people have been traveling more frequently, which means that bed bugs are often brought unnoticed from vacation into their own home. You have to fight especially after ski holidays, where these pests are often found in accommodation. The increasing occupancy of hotels means that the desire for a carefree stay is diminishing.

Pest control experts are hearing about unprecedented levels of bed bug cases. The Association of Pest Controllers discussed the risks and the need for effective control methods at a conference. The pests are resistant to many common chemicals and temperatures, making control much more difficult.

Detection and control

Bed bug bites are usually detected through allergic reactions that appear as itchy, reddish pustules or wheals. The pests themselves are remarkably resilient; They can survive for months without eating and find shelter in cracks, sockets and edge ledges. Experts point out that if a discovery is made, a professional should be contacted immediately.

In order to effectively combat bed bugs, various measures are necessary. Recommended methods include heat treatments and special spray applications. Fighting can be costly, quickly reaching four figures, as multiple missions may be required. Some people manage to eliminate the pests with a little skill by crushing them or killing them with a fly swatter, but professional help is often unavoidable.

Another preventive measure is to always lock bags in hotels. This is highly recommended by pest controller Johann Ekov. Practical tips for combating the problem include washing affected textiles at at least 60 degrees or putting the affected items in the freezer for several days.

So fighting bed bugs requires a lot of vigilance and consistency. Additionally, awareness of the dangers and return of these pests to our environment is paramount. It remains to be hoped that the new measures and findings of the experts will lead to the containment of this plague.