The bedbug that cannot be killed

A massive outbreak of "super" bedbugs has hit London, experts warned today.

Pest controllers believe the bugs have quickly developed a resistance to all the types of pesticide currently in use, and blame the huge number of tourists passing through London for the spread.

Experts predict we could see tourists suing hotels for bites sustained while staying in infested beds.

In recent years some London boroughs have admitted to a tenfold increase in the number of bedbug infestations. Although the bugs do not carry disease, they feed on human blood and can cause allergic reactions.

The new study was carried out by Clive Boase of the company Pest Management Consultancy. He believes that modern lifestyles could be responsible for the fact that bedbugs are flourishing.

"We are travelling a lot now and every time we move on, there is a chance we are taking a few bedbugs with us," he said.

"I think the rise in car boot sales has also been a factor. Suddenly, we have a lot more secondhand furniture and even bedding around, all of which can hold bedbugs."

Alison Bailey, the editor of The Biologist magazine, believes the bugs are now a serious worry for hotel owners.

"I think hoteliers are very concerned, because there is the potential for legal action here if someone is bitten," she said.

Bedbugs breed very quickly, particularly in warm rooms. Experts estimate a single pregnant female can be transformed into a thriving colony within a month.

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