Urgent warning over bedbugs in cars & taxis as expert shares signs to look out for
AN EXPERT has issued an urgent warning over bedbugs found in cars and taxis – and has shared signs to look out for.
Motorists are urged to be on the lookout for the blood-sucking insects as national outbreak fears mount.
The nasty hitchhikers have infiltrated dozens of homes forcing Brits to throw sofas and mattresses out.
It sparked fears of a nationwide embedding of Parisian critters after sightings last week on the London Underground and in Manchester.
But the pesky little mites have now entered cars and taxis too.
Dominic Wyatt from the International Drivers Association warned vehicles are a “high-risk” zone for infestation.
He said: “Many people treat their cars as a personal, secure space, but it’s vital to remember that bed bugs don’t discriminate.”
The pests are attracted to carbon dioxide, heat and certain chemicals – which are commonly found in vehicles.
Taxis are especially vulnerable to the blood-thirsty creatures due to people constantly jumping in and out.
Luckily, Mr Wyatt revealed the key signs to look out for of a possible bedbug infestation in your vehicle.
Despite being tiny, drivers can see the bugs in car seats, mats, and upholstery.
They’re usually brown, dark red or yellow, oval shaped and about the size of an apple seed.
If you look carefully you can even spot their eggs or shed skin.
For those who have light-coloured seats, the expert recommends to try to find blood stains inside their vehicles – which are left over from feeding.
He also identified a strange telltale sign of the bugs to help you spot an infestation — their smell.
The critters have a distinctive sweet, musty smell, which could indicate their presence.
But if you’re constantly itchy after every drive, bed bugs could be the cause.
The pests tend to bite in rows, so you’ll likely find two or three little bumps in a row.
It can take several days for the bites to show up on your skin and they tend to be raised and red.
On light skin, bedbug bites usually look red, but on darker skin tones they may look purple and may be harder to see.
However, some people won’t develop a reaction at all so they won’t know they’ve been bitten.
To prevent a bedbug outbreak inside your vehicle, the expert advises drivers to regularly vacuum, use chemical sprays and heat treatment.
Dominic added: “The last thing anyone would want is a rampant bed bug infestation in their car.
“Start early, act fast, and protect your personal space. Staying bug-safe in taxis is largely about awareness and precaution.”
It comes as a video showed the moment a bedbug is spotted crawling on London Underground passenger on the Victoria Line amid invasion fears.
Video appears to show a six-legged bloodsucker scuttle across the commuter’s trousers during rush hour on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, a mum told how her two-year-old has been left covered in bedbug bites after bloodsucking pests took over their home.
Antonia Selby, 28, says her toddler has been “eaten alive” despite repeated attempts by pest controllers to wipe out the horde in Swindon, Wilts.