Bed Bugs Are Suddenly On The Rise In Malta Again, And Here’s One Possible Reason Why
Two decades ago, bedbug infestations were rare in Malta, if not totally unheard off. However, in just a few years, the amount of bedbug infestations and reports regarding the little parasites have increased astronomically.
How did we get here, and what can we do about it? A local exterminator explains why bedbugs are becoming more common, and how to prevent it.
WARNING: Icky photos below
“There are several individuals that like to suck you dry while you’re in Malta, but bedbugs are the worst”
Arnold Sciberras, a local biologist and exterminator, can’t believe just how many bedbug reports he’s been getting recently.
“The species that we have locally is the common bed bug – Cimex lectularius – known locally as Baqqa in Maltese.”
While bedbugs have been known to be a nuisance for “thousands of years”, the situation in Malta became exacerbated following WWII.
“There was definitely a huge problem recorded locally after the second World War, especially in the old straw and feather mattresses and chairs that lined up the churches in the ’50 and ’60s,” he said.
“In fact, these chairs, which today are almost impossible to find, are known as si??ijiet tal-baq,” he said.
Bed bugs extend as they drink their hosts blood
Things started clearing up as Malta exited the 1970s – at least, until recently
“After the ’70s Malta became almost free of this species, and up to 15 years ago having a bedbug case as a pest controller was something uncommon,” he said. “Over the last decade a lot of cases started appearing in hotel and guest rooms and over the last four years now even in private Maltese resident houses, something that was unheard of.”
Sciberras believes that an increase in tourism has led to an increase in bedbugs in Malta
“Since 2017, bedbugs have become quite a major crisis,” he continued. “My hypothesis is that it’s caused by many foreigners coming from infected countries such as the UK, France and Poland. These organisms are carried involuntarily on their hosts from the infected countries.”
an infected host
There are a few ways to get rid of bedbugs
“Eliminating bed bugs from the home is often difficult, partly because bedbugs can survive up to 500 days without feeding,” he said. “Repeated treatments of a room may be required, and these treatments may include heating the room for more than 90 minutes, frequent vacuuming, washing clothing at high temperatures, and the use of various pesticides.”
“The best way of avoiding getting bedbugs in your house is avoid getting second-hand furniture, and avoid keeping foreign baggage overnight,” he said.
What are bedbugs exactly?
“These are insects that feed on human blood, usually at night,” Sciberras explained. “Their bites can result in a number of health effects including skin rashes, psychological effects and allergic symptoms. Bedbug bites may lead to skin changes ranging from non-visible to prominent blisters. Symptoms may take between minutes to days to appear. Itchiness is common, while some may feel tired or have a fever. Typically, uncovered areas of the body are affected and three bites occur in a row. Bites from these insects are not known to transmit any infectious disease.”
“Their size ranges between 1mm and 7mm.They spread by crawling to nearby locations or by being carried within personal items. Bedbugs spend much of their time in dark, hidden locations, like mattress seams or cracks in the wall.”
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