Worm Infestation in Paris: How Bed Bugs Spread and How to Get Rid of Them
Watch the video: Plague of bed bugs – reporter reveals what you need to know about the little insects and how to get rid of them. More
Bed bugs nearly disappeared in the 1950s, but now they’re back, more numerous than ever. Not only do eco-friendly insecticides contribute to this, but also Airbnb and climate change.
People who prefer to stand rather than sit on empty subway seats, cinema seats covered with plastic wrap – more and more photos of this kind of Paris appear on social media. Behind this is a plague of bedbugs in the French capital. 11 percent of apartments in France are said to have been infested with bedbugs between 2017 and 2022, according to French health authority Anses. Public facilities are not included here.
Bed bugs measuring four millimeters in size can hardly be seen with the naked eye. Six-legged parasites like to play in warm, dark places, like our beds. This is where shy insects attack – or rather, bite. The hives caused by their bites are itchy, painful, and can become infected if you scratch them. Allergic reactions to bed bug bites are also possible.
Bedbugs are not considered pests in Germany
It is a common misconception that Cimex lectularius, as the common bed bug is also called, occurs due to poor hygiene. They occur regardless of hygiene conditions and can infest even the best-maintained environments. Insects feed exclusively on blood and, after gorging themselves, can survive without blood for several months. It is not known how widespread bedbugs are in Germany. In this country, bedbugs are not listed as pests, which is why infested families do not have to report them. For example, in apartment buildings they can move and spread unnoticed through small openings in the walls.
However, bed bug pests are by no means a new phenomenon. Parasites are said to have existed more than 3,500 years ago, in the era of ancient Egypt, as archaeological finds show. Since the 1950s, bed bugs have been considered nearly eradicated thanks to the insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). In the early 1970s, the use of DDT was banned in Germany. At that time, the highly toxic chemical was still added to wall paint, wallpaper and wood preservatives in the GDR. In 1988 it finally became widespread in the GDR and thus throughout Germany.
Why are there more and more bed bugs?
The more environmentally friendly insecticides currently approved in the EU do not appear to be sufficient to combat the spread of bed bugs. But there are even more reasons why wingless parasites are wreaking havoc in more and more places – like climate change. As temperatures continue to rise, bed bugs also feel increasingly comfortable.
Sharing economy offerings also contribute to bed bug migration. If you shop at secondhand stores, you often get bed bugs for free. And those who like to travel and stay in hotels or Airbnb apartments may unknowingly share a bed with parasites. The French government has published a list of various measures to ensure they don’t end up returning home with them after their trip.
This helps against bed bugs
Therefore, travelers should, if possible, place their luggage in the trunks provided for this purpose and not on the floor or bed. In general, the authority advises against leaving items of clothing on beds in hotels or holiday apartments without first inspecting them thoroughly for bed bugs. After returning from a trip, tourists should wash their fabrics as hot as possible, at 60 degrees. This also applies to clothes that have not been worn.
If none of this helps, the pest controller should come. Here, one visit is often not enough to capture all the insects and the eggs and larvae they lay.
Sources: Federal Environment Agency, Spiegel, Süddeutsche Zeitung
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