A 50% increase for summer 2025! According to the Union of Canine Bed Bug Detection Experts (SEDCPL), infestations of these pests are skyrocketing compared to 2024. Here’s why.
In brief
➡️ +50% increase in bed bug infestations in France between June 2024 and June 2025.
➡️ However, cases fell by 26% in the first six months of the year.
➡️ With tourist travel and high temperatures, summer is a high-risk period for bed bugs.
➡️ Simple measures can protect you both while travelling and when you return home.
Twice as many bed bugs this summer 2025
Bed bugs are not just a psychosis amplified by Russian hackers on social media. A study conducted by the Union of Bed Bug Detection Dog Handlers (SEDCPL) and reported by BFM TV is clear: the number of infestations increased by 50% between June 2024 and June 2025. France, like many countries around the world, is therefore severely affected.
An encouraging start to the year, however
Although cases skyrocketed during the summer, the start of 2025 has been encouraging. Over the first six months, the study shows a 26% decrease in interventions against bed bugs. 76,000 interventions were carried out against these pests.
According to Sébastien Pizzocaro, president of SEDPCL: ‘There are fewer bedbugs in Occitanie and Brittany, but we don’t know why. On the other hand, the south-east, the Paris basin and Lyon have been badly affected for a long time.’
How can this improvement be explained? It seems that prevention efforts, particularly by professionals, have paid off. Hotels that are highly exposed have implemented prevention protocols on a massive scale.
Summer holidays: a risky time
Tourism: an accelerator of infestation
The summer season is ideal for the proliferation of bed bugs. And for good reason: the large numbers of people travelling by train, plane or bus, as well as staying in tourist accommodation (hotels, rentals, hostels, hiking lodges, etc.) greatly increase the risk of contamination.
Every suitcase placed on a bed, every backpack in a cloakroom and every sheet used by several travellers becomes a potential vector for infestation.
For information, a single female bug can lay up to 5 eggs per day and 500 in its lifetime. If no action is taken, a colony can form in a matter of weeks.
Unfortunately, travellers sometimes bring these pests home with them without knowing it. A bug hidden in the seam of a suitcase or in an item of clothing can easily infest an entire home upon return.
It should also be remembered that France is the most visited country in the world, with over 90 million tourists a year. In summer, large cities such as Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux see their temporary population explode. Bed bugs can therefore move en masse from one place to another.
Bed bugs love heat
Summer, with its high temperatures, creates an ideal environment for them to reproduce.
The warmer it is, the faster the egg development cycle: at 28°C, a bug can go from egg to adult in just three weeks, compared to several months in winter.
Rising temperatures linked to global warming are making the problem worse. Plus, the heat often means people use more light fabrics (thin sheets, piles of clothes, open luggage). All of these are potential hiding places for these insects…
Holidaymakers: what to do if you encounter bed bugs
At your holiday destination
Hotels, Airbnb rentals, hostels, campsites… no accommodation is completely safe from bed bugs, not even luxury establishments!
Here are some good habits to adopt as soon as you arrive to avoid bringing these pests home with you:
✅ Inspect the bed as soon as you arrive
Lift the sheets and check:
- the seams of the mattress,
- the folds of the bedding,
- the bed base and the headboard.
Look for small black spots, translucent skins or pearly white eggs stuck to the edges.
For optimal prevention, you can use our Serenid repellent strips.
✅ Avoid placing your suitcase on the bed or on the floor
Place your luggage high up, preferably on a metal rack or in the bathroom (less exposed). If you have a fabric travel bag, pack it in a sealed plastic bag when not in use.
✅ Use a bedbug-proof laundry bag
Store your clothes in a dedicated bag to limit the risk of contamination. Bedbugs love to hide in folded clothes or clothes left on the floor.
✅ Check for suspicious bites
Lines of bites, often on the arms, back or legs, can be a sign of infestation. If you have any doubts, notify the owner or reception immediately and ask to change rooms or accommodation.
Useful resources:
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When you get home
Even if your trip went well, you need to remain vigilant once you get home. Bed bugs can hide in your suitcases and clothes.
Here are some good habits to adopt as soon as you arrive:
✅ Do not unpack your suitcase in your bedroom
Avoid opening your luggage directly near the bed or in rooms where you will be resting. Set it down in a tiled area that is easy to clean (hallway, bathroom, etc.).
✅ Wash all clothing immediately
Even unworn clothing should be washed at 60°C for at least 30 minutes or put in a hot dryer. This step is essential to eliminate any eggs or bedbugs that may have been transported.
✅ Vacuum your suitcase thoroughly
Vacuum the inside and outside of your suitcase (using a narrow nozzle). Immediately dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed plastic bag.
✅ Monitor your bedding over the following weeks
Regularly inspect your mattress, bed base and skirting boards. If you have any doubts (bites, black spots, etc.), act quickly to prevent the infestation from spreading.
✅ Use a fabric treatment spray on your luggage and clothing
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