Bed bug infestations have been rising steadily across Greater Manchester over the past two years, and Wigan has seen a notable increase in reported cases. If you've woken up with unexplained bites, noticed small dark spots on your mattress, or spotted tiny insects in your bedding, this guide will help you understand what you're dealing with and what to do next.
Several factors are driving the increase in bed bug infestations across Wigan and the wider Greater Manchester area:
Increased travel — Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers. They spread through luggage, clothing, and second-hand furniture. As travel has increased, so has the spread of bed bugs between hotels, holiday lets, and homes.
Second-hand furniture — The growth of online marketplaces for used furniture has made it easier for bed bugs to spread from infested properties to new homes. A second-hand mattress, sofa, or bed frame can harbour an infestation that isn't visible to the naked eye.
Resistance to insecticides — Some bed bug populations have developed resistance to commonly used insecticides, making DIY treatments less effective and allowing infestations to persist longer.
Delayed treatment — Many people mistake bed bug bites for other insect bites and delay seeking treatment, allowing infestations to become established and harder to eliminate.
Bed bugs are small (approximately 5mm long), flat, and reddish-brown. They are most active at night and hide in cracks and crevices during the day. Key signs of a bed bug infestation include:
- **Bites** — typically appearing in lines or clusters on exposed skin (arms, neck, face). Not everyone reacts to bed bug bites, so the absence of bites doesn't rule out an infestation.
Bed bugs are one of the most difficult pests to eliminate without professional help. They hide in tiny cracks and crevices that over-the-counter sprays cannot reach. A single female can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime, and eggs are resistant to most insecticides. Without treating all life stages — eggs, nymphs, and adults — an infestation will recover.
Heat treatment is one of the most effective methods for eliminating bed bugs at all life stages. Professional pest controllers use specialist equipment to raise room temperatures above 50°C, which is lethal to bed bugs and their eggs.
We provide professional bed bug treatment across Wigan, Leigh, Golborne, Ashton-in-Makerfield, and the surrounding areas. Our RSPH-qualified technicians use a combination of targeted insecticide treatments and heat treatment to eliminate bed bugs at all life stages.
We offer discreet, flexible appointments and can often attend the same day. Call us on **01744 382 482** for a free, no-obligation quote.
Available 7 days a week across St Helens, Warrington, Liverpool and the North West.